YSN Library January 2 - January 6

These are the hours that I will be in the Nursing Library this week.
Questions, comments, concerns, please email me: janene.batten@yale.edu

Monday 1/2
University Recess - HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Tuesday 1/3
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Wednesday 1/4
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Thursday 1/5
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Friday 1/6
8:30 - 4:30

Library Classes

AHRQ - Comparative Effectiveness Review

Drugs can be as effective as surgery for management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a new AHRQ report, "Comparative Effectiveness of Management Strategies for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease."

The report is the first Comparative Effectiveness Review from AHRQ's new Effective Health Care Program that synthesizes and then compares alternative treatments for health conditions. GERD, one of the most common health conditions among older Americans, results in $10 billion annually in direct health care costs. The study compares treatment approaches for chronic uncomplicated GERD, where the condition is likely to require life-long management but does not involve more serious disease of the esophagus.

Read the AHRQ press release and the report.
Also see other Effective Health care topics in progress, as well as reports in draft form

Conscientious objection

Do nurses have the right to refuse health care on the basis on conscience? Renece Waller-Wise give an interesting commentary about the ethics, legalities and standards, as well as the responsibilities of nurses and their employers in concientious objection.

To read the article:
Waller-Wise, R. Conscientious objection. Do nurses have the right to refuse to provide care?AWHONN Lifelines. 2005 Aug-Sep;9(4):283-6.

Antiperspirant Use and Breast Cancer

The FDA is aware of concerns that antiperspirant use -- in conjunction with underarm shaving -- may be associated with increased risk of developing breast cancer. FDA continues to search scientific literature for studies examining this possible adverse drug effect. Unfortunately, there are many publications that discuss the issue but very few studies in which data have been collected and analyzed. Overall, the studies that contain data are inconclusive in determining whether antiperspirants, in any way, contribute to the development of breast cancer. FDA hopes that definitive studies exploring breast cancer incidence and antiperspirant use will be conducted in the near future.

For more information, go to http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/antiperspirant.html.

Next Steps After a Diagnosis - Web Video

AHRQ just released a short Web video called Next Steps After a Diagnosis, which features information from the recently released AHRQ publication of the same name to help patients who have been diagnosed with an illness to learn more about their condition and treatment options. It aims to help patients not only find information and resources but also deal with the various physical and emotional aspects of a diagnosis. The video provides individuals with important questions they should ask their doctor when they receive a diagnosis and information to help them understand their disease or condition, how it might be treated, and what they need to know before making treatment decisions.

The video is a great resource to share with those patients who may have difficulty reading English, or who prefer information delivered visually. The printed document that the video is based on is available in both English and Spanish.

YSN Library December 19 - December 23

These are the hours that I will be in the Nursing Library this week.
Questions, comments, concerns, please email me: janene.batten@yale.edu
Medical Library Winter Recess Hours

Monday 12/19
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Tuesday 12/20
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Wednesday 12/21
10:30 - 5:00

Thursday 12/22
8:30 - 4:30

Friday 12/16
University Recess - HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Library Classes

Happy Holiday Tips

From the American Academy of Family Physicians:
Choosing Safe Toys

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Holidays the Healthy Way

From the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness This Holiday Season

From the National Mental Health Association
Holiday Depression & Stress

From the National Safety Council
Holiday Season Safety

Courtesy of the AHRQ. For more from this agency ...

• Look for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) (http://www.guideline.gov).
• Look for practical, ready-to-use tools for measuring and improving the quality of health care in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ's) QualityTools Web site (http://www.qualitytools.ahrq.gov).
  
• or subscribe to AHRQ's Electronic Newsletter. Issued periodically as news warrants, AHRQ's Electronic Newsletter describes the results of AHRQ-funded studies, announces new print and electronic resources, updates the status of current funding opportunities, and much more. Subscribe (http://www.ahrq.gov/research/mar00/0300ra35.htm) to this free service.

FDA Patient Safety News Video - Online

The FDA posts monthly editions of Patient Safety News. These are a Web-based video news programs aimed primarily at health professionals. There is a "search" tab that allows you to search for a particular video. If you want to see the entire list, just leave the field blank, and all previous topics will display. Alternatively, if you click the "view broadcasts" tab the entire list of topics is displayed.

Topics go as far back as 2002. The December program features information on new drugs, biologics, and medical devices, as well as FDA safety notifications and product recalls. Topics covered include the risk of suicidal thinking in children treated with the attention-deficit drug Strattera.

It's a great way to get information, in a creative way. Have fun!

Randomized Controlled Trials, Statistics and other Baffling Research Terminology Explained

Linda Shields and Alison Twycross have put together a series of articles that simplify research terminology. The articles have been published over the past few years in Paediatric Nurse. Each article is a quick read explaining the concepts. They are worth the effort for initial concept understanding, as well as memory refreshers.

The articles include:

• How randomised controlled trials (RCTs) work.
• Validity and reliability--What's it all about? Part 1. Validity in quantitative studies.
• Validity and reliability--what's it all about? Part 2 reliability in quantitative studies.
• Validity and reliability--what's it all about? Part 3: Issues relating to qualitative studies.
• Statistics made simple. Part 1. Mean, medians and modes
• Statistics made simple. Part 2. Standard deviation, variance and range.
• Statistics made simple--Part 3 statistical tests terminology.
• Statistics made simple. Part 4. Choosing the right statistical test.
• The difference between quantitative and qualitative research.
• The difference between incidence and prevalence.
• Planning a research project.

Personal and Electronic Health Records - Podcast

AHRQ has released a two-part Newscast Special Report with AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., discussing personal and electronic health records. In the first part, released November 22, Dr. Clancy explains what personal health records include, how they differ from electronic health records, and how those records can help you in an emergency. In the second part, released November 29, she discusses the technology and how electronic health records can, and will, impact the quality of our health care. Select to listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of this audio newscast. You can hear them from your computer's speakers, or you can download them to any portable digital player.

Podcasting is a way of making a radio-type broadcast available on demand. Podcasts typically are downloaded from Web sites and played on your computer or on a portable media player such as an iPod®. More information about podcasting is available through the following Web sites: Wikipedia; Yahoo® Podcasts. If you are unable to listen to the Podcast, there is a link to allow you to view and print the transcript.

Reporting Clinical Trial Results

Hayward RA, Kent DM, Vijan S, Hofer TP. Reporting clinical trial results to inform providers, payers, and consumers. Health Affairs (Millwood). 2005 Nov-Dec;24(6):1571-81.

This article gives a candid account of how the "the conventional approach to reporting clinical trials has fundamental flaws that can result in overlooking identifiable subgroups harmed by a treatment while underestimating benefits to others."

The reporting of some clinical studies can be biased in a number of ways: the perception of the researchers; and professional, political, and financial incentives. This report discusses the bias of "the desire to promote a beneficial treatment for use in as many people as possible".

The authors recommend that the evidence reported in the study can be greatly enhanced by ensuring that "whenever a multivariable prediction tool is available, the observed relative and absolute risk reduction for subjects with higher versus lower predicted net benefit should be reported using risk-stratified analysis.

This discussion is a reminder that all research that reports clinical trials should be carefully analyzed for accuracy.

YSN Library December 12 - December 16

These are the hours that I will be in the Nursing Library this week.
Questions, comments, concerns, please email me: janene.batten@yale.edu

Monday 12/12
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Tuesday 12/13
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Wednesday 12/14
1:30 - 5:00
Class: 5:00-6:00pm Scopus Features (TCC Medical Library)

Thursday 12/15
Call Medical Library for assistance - 737-4065

Friday 12/16
8:30 - 4:00

Other Library Classes