Journal of clinical epidemiology
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Comparative Study
Late response to patient-reported outcome questionnaires after surgery was associated with worse outcome.
Nonresponse to patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires after surgery might bias the results. Our aim was to gauge the potential impact of nonresponse bias by comparing the outcomes of early and late responders. ⋯ As nonresponse to PRO questionnaires introduces slight bias, differences in response rates between hospitals should be taken into account when making comparisons so as to avoid overestimating the performance of those with lower response rates and failing to detect poor performing hospitals.
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We sought to evaluate if editorial policies and the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had improved since our 2004-05 survey of 151 RCTs in 65 Indian journals, and to compare reporting quality of protocols in the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI). ⋯ The CTRI template facilitates the reporting of valid methods in registered trial protocols. The suboptimal compliance with CONSORT and ICMJE requirements in RCTs published in Indian journals reduces credibility in the reliability of their results.
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To determine primarily (1) the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among ventilated patients aged 1 month to 12 years and secondarily (2) the risk factors for VAP and (3) common organisms causing VAP. ⋯ Almost one-third of ventilated patients develop VAP. Vigilance for the development of VAP has to be kept on those requiring >4 days of MV. Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus were common bacterial isolates in such patients.
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To systematically identify clinical prediction rules (CPRs) for children with suspected appendicitis and compare their methodological quality and performance. ⋯ The PAS and Alvarado scores were the most well validated but neither met the current performance benchmarks. A high quality, well validated, and consistently high-performing CPR was not identified. Further research is needed before a CPR for children with suspected appendicitis can be used in routine practice.
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To evaluate the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (SC-QDS). ⋯ The SC-QDS has good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct and discriminative validity. The SC-QDS is appropriate for clinical and research uses with Chinese-speaking patients with LBP in mainland China.