• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to identify ways to improve the quality of physical therapy research and ultimately review the current situation to improve evidence-based decision-making in physical therapy. Methods : For better evidence-based decision-making in physical therapy, researchers should review the quality assessment of articles in more detail and report their findings for valid and appropriate level of evidence and strength of recommendations. The level of evidence affects how well the findings are derived from well-designed literature. The evaluation of the evidence focuses primarily on the study design and the degree of bias that may compromise the validity of the findings. The final recommendation is based on a combination of the study design and literature quality. To uncover gems of information in each paper, a risk of bias assessment should be performed after the literature has been initially selected. Results : Researchers should consider the complexity of the intervention, appropriate grouping, and calculation of effect sizes for the intervention. Researchers conducting systematic reviews should provide a detailed description of the quality assessment performed and present a detailed analysis of their interpretation of the results. The results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses should be interpreted with caution and include a risk of bias assessment. Guidelines for the level of evidence and strength of recommendations should be developed and utilized more broadly to improve reporting practices in physical therapy. Conclusion : Researchers should be knowledgeable about the strengths and limitations of each study design and methodology. In the future, researchers will also need to improve their ability to critically evaluate their findings, given the potential for their results to influence clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2010

This study aimed was done to analyze recent trends in nursing research published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing by focusing on the content of nursing interventions and their level of evidence. Methods: A total of 209 studies published between 2007 and 2008 were reviewed using analysis criteria developed by the researchers. Results: The number of quantitative studies was greater than that of qualitative studies. There was a slight increase in the number of qualitative studies and studies including elderly populations, which reflects the recent population trend in Korea. More randomized controlled trials with a low risk of bias were needed to support more evidence-based nursing practice. Concerning the low rate of ethical consideration, stricter application of research ethics needs to be encouraged. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest the recent trends in nursing research and the direction of nursing research and review in the Journal.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2015

Objective: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are systematically developed statements aimed at helping optimal care of the patient in a given clinical circumstance. Because of the increasing evidence that active implementation of CPGs improve health outcomes, there is a growing awareness of the importance of guideline development and dissemination. The objective of this study was to investigate the status of CPG development and availability of the CPGs in Korea. Method: We searched in the Web sites of 180 organizations to identify CPGs which were developed and/or published in Korea until 1 July 2014. The data of titles, published year, publisher, distributer, and accessibility at the internet web of all CPGs were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 172 CPGs were developed and 80% had been released since 2009. Most (51.2%) were developed for management of 4 diseases: 28 for digestive system disease; 27 for infectious disease; 18 for endocrine and metabolic diseases; and 15 for neoplasms. Of the 172 CPGs, 150 CPGs were publicly available. Among the 150 CPGs, 78.7% (118/150) were developed by only one organization. Conclusion: To ensure the production of high-quality CPGs, it is necessary to collaborate with other relevant professional societies in guideline development process. In addition, stronger efforts on wider dissemination of CPGs must be employed at the country levels to promote implementation of CPGs in clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.319-331
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate current criteria for insurance coverage by Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) on the systemic therapy used in the treatment of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), by reviewing all available clinical evidences including a variety of clinical practice guidelines. Methods: We searched clinical databases and collected data from published phase 1 through 3 randomized clinical trials on all systemic therapies used in RCC, including novel targeted therapies. Additionally, current clinical practice guidelines on the management of kidney cancer or RCC were reviewed. Based on the collected data we evaluated the appropriateness of the HIRA criteria for insurance coverage on the systemic therapy of RCC whether they are evidence-based and up to date. Results: On the basis of the collected data we concluded that there was a need for a revision in HIRA criteria for systemic therapy of RCC. Despite recent emerging therapeutic advances and changes in therapeutic strategies of management of RCC, some of anticancer regimens were inappropriately listed even though they were not proven to provide efficacy or safety superior to those of other therapies. We thus proposed an updated recommendation based on current clinical evidences. Conclusion: Systemic therapy of RCC is being rapidly changed with the advancement of understanding of the molecular biology of cancer. Consequently newly developed targeted therapies are becoming the standard therapy in the management of medically or surgically unresectable advanced or metastatic RCC. To provide effective and safe therapy to patients with RCC, the criteria for insurance coverage should be made carefully taking into consideration of most up-to-date and high-quality clinical evidences, and should be continuously reviewed so as to reflect evidence-based clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2018

Background: Clinical Pharmacy Practice Experience (CPPE) is an important curriculum that offers students patient-centered disease prevention and treatment with evidence-based optimal pharmacotherapy for better clinical outcomes. However, few studies have evaluated the perception of pharmacy students regarding CPPE in tertiary and secondary hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of pharmacy students regarding the learning program of CPPE. Methods: The survey questionnaire consisted of 15 self-administered questions regarding pharmacy practices, barriers, and improvement of practical training. Fourteen institutional pharmacies located in seven regions responded to a survey questionnaire from March 1 to June 30, 2017. The participants were pharmacy students doing clerkship in a hospital setting. Results: The response rate was 73.6%. Thirty-five participants (22.4%) had used a hospital library, but 121 (77.6%) had never used the library for drug information resources. Eighty-one (50.0%) responded that clinical knowledge and drug information was the most beneficial practice. Thirty-seven (31.1%) respondents in the tertiary hospitals and 19 (46.3%) in the secondary hospitals answered that they were filling prescriptions during the daily break. On the other hand, 72 respondents (60.5%) in the tertiary hospitals and 17 (41.5%) in the secondary hospitals did literature research to prepare for presentation. Conclusion: More students in secondary hospitals continue to fill prescriptions during the daily break, as compared to those in tertiary hospitals. Therefore, the authors suggest self-directed learning to improve clinical performance and each institution considers offering onsite or online library service to improve evidence-based CPPE for pharmacy school students.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.42-55
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to update nursing practice guidelines for intravenous infusion published in 2017. Methods: The guideline update process was carried out using 22 steps developed by NICE and SIGN. It was agreed to update domains related to central venous infusion therapy. Contents related to peripheral infusion would be updated later. Results: Updated guidelines for central venous infusion therapy consisted of 6 domains and 195 recommendations. The number of recommendations by domain was 11 for general instruction, 14 for central vascular access devices (CVAD) and add-on devices, 13 for nursing management before insertion of CVAD, 30 for management during insertion of CVAD, 51 for management after insertion of CVAD, and 76 for complications. A grade was 29 (14.9%), B grade was 87 (44.6%), and C grade was 79 (40.5%) in the strength of recommendations. A total of 37 (19.0%) recommendations were newly developed and 23 (12.3%) previous recommendations have been modified. The newly developed recommendations were mainly related to the infection control methods. Conclusion: The updated guideline is focused on safe maintenance of central venous infusion therapy. Through this guideline, it is hoped to minimize the occurrence of complications and improve the standardization and efficiency of nursing practice.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.203-213
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to develop a Korean medicine (KM) clinical practice guideline for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) via the collaboration of clinical and methodological experts. Methods The study will include an initial survey to establish a common understanding of MPS. To develop the clinical guideline, a multidisciplinary development group was formed. The group will finalize the clinical questions based on a preliminary draft. The GRADE methodology is going to be applied to determine the level of evidence and grading of the recommendations. Finally, approval from the relevant medical societies will be obtained. Results A protocol for developing a KM clinical guideline for MPS was presented. Before finalizing the clinical key questions, a literature search was conducted according to the protocol, and a draft of 19 clinical key questions was established. Conclusions An evidence-based KM clinical guideline for MPS is expected to contribute to the management of MPS. This may also serve as a reference for the development of other KM clinical practice guidelines in the future.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.312-319
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• 2013

Over the past decade, driven by advances in educational theory and pressures for efficiency in the clinical environment, there has been a shift in surgical education and training towards enhanced simulation training. Microsurgery is a technical skill with a steep competency learning curve on which the clinical outcome greatly depends. This paper investigates the evidence for educational and training interventions of traditional microsurgical skills courses in order to establish the best evidence practice in education and training and curriculum design. A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases was performed to identify randomized control trials looking at educational and training interventions that objectively improved microsurgical skill acquisition, and these were critically appraised using the BestBETs group methodology. The databases search yielded 1,148, 1,460, and 2,277 citations respectively. These were then further limited to randomized controlled trials from which abstract reviews reduced the number to 5 relevant randomised controlled clinical trials. The best evidence supported a laboratory based low fidelity model microsurgical skills curriculum. There was strong evidence that technical skills acquired on low fidelity models transfers to improved performance on higher fidelity human cadaver models and that self directed practice leads to improved technical performance. Although there is significant paucity in the literature to support current microsurgical education and training practices, simulated training on low fidelity models in microsurgery is an effective intervention that leads to acquisition of transferable skills and improved technical performance. Further research to identify educational interventions associated with accelerated skill acquisition is required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Objectives: This study is aimed to develop a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on acupuncture treatment for the patients with post-stroke spasticity. Methods: Experts committee, consisting of stroke or methodology specialists, searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and 19 Korean medicine journals. The search terms were selected to screen the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews for the effectiveness of acupuncture on post-stroke spasticity, compared with placebo or conventional group. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were appraised based on Recommendations for Development of Clinical Practice Guideline in Korean Medicine. Results & Conclusions: One systematic review and 7 RCT were included to build the CPG. There was a strong evidence to support the effectiveness of electroacupuncture treatment for post-stroke spasticity. However, it did not show any sufficient evidence to treat the patients with post-stroke spasticity with the sole acupuncture. The moderate evidence was presented that over 3 times of the electroacupuncture treatments with 1-100 Hz frequency should be performed every week on the acupoints, such as LI11, LI10, TE5, LI4, ST36, GB34, ST40, or LR3, for 20-30 minutes. It was also suggested that the procedure should begin at the acute stage just after the vital signs of the patients are stabilized. Finally, there was a moderate evidence to support safety of acupuncture treatment for post-stroke spasticity.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2012

Purpose: Quality of nursing research should be evaluated before it is applied as an evidence for evidence-based nursing practice. This study attempted to analyze and to compare tools for the quality assessment and reporting standards of nursing research using CONSORT and STROBE checklist by types of research design. Methods: We searched the tools for quality assessment in nursing research based on the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) publication. Then, we analysed and compared the tools for quality evaluation by types of research design. Results: According to the analysis using CONSORT checklist, ROB shows coherence in 17 items, Jadad shows coherence in 3 items, SIGN (for RCT) shows coherence in 26 items, and Downs & Black shows coherence in 24 items. According to the analysis using STROBE checklist, MINORS shows coherence in 25 items, NOS shows coherence in 21 items, SIGN (for Cohort studies & Case-control studies) shows coherence in 29 items, and RoBANS shows coherence in 21 items. Conclusion: Based on our analysis, we recommend that nursing researchers should report according to the reporting standards of tools for quality evaluation. We hope that our analysis can be helpful to develop evidence-based nursing.