This question is not specific enough. We need to know more specific information about the 'painful knee' and what benefit or outcome is expected. "); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q2() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
This question is too vague. We still need to know why the patient needs the therapy (patient problem). We would also like to know what the therapy will do for the patient (outcome)."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q3() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
This is a good clinical question. We know the patient problem (osteoarthritis of the knee), the intervention (physical therapy techniques) and the expected outcome (improved mobility)."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q4() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
This search is too general. This gives you information on physical therapy (related to the profession, not to the techniques) and the knee, but not specific to osteoarthritis of the knee."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q5() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
This search, while specific to clinical trials, is still too general. It does not address the specific problem related to the knee."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q6() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
This search strategy includes the specific patient problem, the intervention which could include a variety of physical therapy techniques. It also limits retrieval to clinical trials and aged patients."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q7() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
It states that blank folders were numbered from 1 to 100 and were given concealed codes for the group assignment, determined by a random-number generator. (SeeMethods/Procedure on p. 174)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q8() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
Usually this information can be found in a methods section, which describes how the study was carried out. Look under procedure in the Methods section on p.174."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q9() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
69 out of the 83 patients finished all treatments and testing. Follow-up was 79% for the treatment group and 88% for the control group. All patients were accounted for, including the 14 that dropped out of the study. (See Results on p.174)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q10() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
The RESULTS section on p.174 provides detailed information about follow-up for the study."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q11() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=350"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
Only the 69 patients who completed the study were analyzed within their groups. The 14 dropouts of the study were excluded from the analysis. These 14 patients seemed to differ substantially from those that completed the study, but further testing revealed statistical significance only for the difference in initial WOMAC scores. (p. 177)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q12() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
The 14 patients who dropped out of the study were excluded from the analysis. Any loss of outcome data regardless of how it occurs reduces the statistical precision of a trial and may introduce bias if the losses vary by treatment group. The authors address this concern on p.177. "); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q13() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
Obviously the physical therapists could not be blinded to the treatment assignments. Patients in the placebo group were given subtherapeutic ultrasound. The outcome assessments were done by a trained research assistant who was blinded to group assignment. (p.174) "); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q14() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
Patients did not know the treatment assignments. The research assistant measuring the outcomes was blinded to group assignment. (See Procedure on p.174)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q15() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
The groups were similar with respect to age, body mass, sex and medication use. There does seem to be differences between the groups for number of days of vigorous physical activity. The treatment group appears to be more active. (Table 1 on p.176.)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q16() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
The authors provide a table listing the baseline characteristics. (Table 1 on p. 176)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q17() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
The researchers went to great lengths to ensure that the patients were treated the same. Each group came for the same number of treatments, even though the placebo group received sham treatments. (p. 174-5)."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q18() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
Under Procedure they discuss in detail how the groups were treated. (p. 174-5)"); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q19() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
Overall this is a well designed study and appears to be methodologically sound. The issue of analysis of patients could potentially be a problem, but it was addressed by the authors."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function q20() { fenster = open("", "Anzeige", "width=200,height=300"); fenster.document.open(); with (fenster.document) { i++; write("
There are no major flaws with this study. The issue of analysis of patients could potentially be a problem, but it was addressed by the authors. It does appear to be methodologically sound. You should now look at the results."); write(""); } fenster.document.close(); } function close() { fenster.document.close(); }