Qualitative research is used to explore and understand people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behavior and interactions perhaps through focus groups or in-depth interviews. It generates non- numerical data, ex. a patient's description of their pain rather than a measure of pain. In health care, qualitative techniques have been commonly used in research documenting the experience of chronic illness and in studies about the functioning of organizations.
Quantitative research generates numerical data or data that can be converted into numbers, for example clinical trials or the National Census, which counts people and households.
Bandolier. http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/glossary/qualres.html
Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Retrieved on August 24, 2016 from http://www.cebm.net/study-designs/.
Type of Question |
Type of Study/Methodology |
MEDLINE Filters |
---|---|---|
Therapy: information needed about treatments (effectiveness, cost, etc.) |
Double-Blind |
Randomized Controlled Trial [PT] |
Diagnosis: information needed about a diagnostic test (sensitivity, accuracy, etc.) |
Sensitivity and Specificity [MH] |
|
Prognosis: information needed about the course of the disease over time, expected complications, etc. |
Cohort Studies |
Cohort Studies [MH] |
Etiology/Harm: information needed about causes of disease or contributing factors of disease |
Cohort Studies [MH] |
|
Prevention: information needed about the prevention of disease (immunization, social factors, etc.) |
Randomized Controlled Trial [PT] |
|
Quality Improvement: information needed about clients' and health professionals' experiences and concerns |
Randomized Controlled Trial [PT] |
(Abbreviations: MH=Medical Subject Heading; PT=Publication Type; SH=Subheading; TW=Text Word)
The practice and teaching of Evidence-Based Medicine has outcome products which help the health care provider and consumer keep up with the medical literature and assess the evidence. This secondary literature synthesizes, filters, and evaluates the primary research literature. Dissemination and incorporation of valid clinical research findings into medical practice is the ultimate goal.
Filtered or Synthesized Information |
Description/Definition |
How To Find This Type of Information |
Systematic Reviews |
-differ from traditional review articles in that conclusions are evidence-based rather than commentary -start with a clearly articulated question -use explicit, rigorous methods to identify, critically appraise, and synthesize relevant studies -appraise relevant published and unpublished evidence before combining and analyzing data -include description of how primary data sources are identified -assess individual studies for validity |
*Cochrane Collaboration *In MEDLINE: *In PubMed Clinical Queries "Systematic Review" is available as a limit option. |
Meta-Analyses |
-specific methodologic and statistical technique for combining quantitative data -type of systematic overview |
*In MEDLINE: |
Evidenced-based Practice Guidelines |
-gather, appraise, combine evidence systematically -include statements designed to assist practitioner and patient decisions -developed by professional groups, government agencies, local practices -include a structured abstract: objective, option, outcomes, evidence, values, benefits/harms/costs, recommendation, validation, sponsors |
*National Guideline Clearinghouse *Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality *US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations
|
Critically Appraised Topics (CATs) |
-scan literature for clinically relevant studies -critically appraise the studies -provide commentary on strength of study and clinical significance -provided in a one-page format |
*EBM Reviews -- ACP Journal Club (UIC access via Journals) *Essential EvidencePLUS - InfoPOEMS -- (UIC access via Databases A-Z) |
Decision Analyses |
-studies that analyze decisions faced by clinicians for an individual patient, about clinical policy, or a global health care policy -application of explicit, quantitative methods to analyze decisions under conditions of uncertainty -risks and benefits of a decision are made fully explicit -decision tree is included |
*In MEDLINE: -Decision Support Techniques [MH] -Cost-Benefit Analysis [MH] -decision analysis [TI]
|