Family practice research journal
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Review
Single-subject experimental designs: a practical research alternative for practicing physicians.
Single-subject research designs offer a viable alternative to the more customary group-comparison designs. The flexibility and practicality of these designs make them particularly well suited for practicing family physicians interested in testing their clinical hunches. ⋯ Either visual inspection or statistical approaches can be used to evaluate these designs. By being aware of their limitations and by following simple practical steps, the practicing physician can use these designs to improve care of individual patients while simultaneously contributing to our general knowledge.
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The literature to date on Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) decision-making is based upon data derived from structured questionnaires, hypothetical scenarios, descriptive epidemiology, or simulated discussions. Lacking in the literature has been a critical examination of the health care professional-patient-family relationship and its impact on decision-making regarding resuscitation. ⋯ Thematic analysis of these interviews revealed that a variety of cultural and professional values, as well as previous personal experiences, influenced the assumptions that providers made when engaging in DNR decision-making. Specific recommendations are made to help family physicians identify communication strategies that foster understanding and lead to participatory decisions about resuscitation among patients and families.