At the clinical, management, and policy levels, the use of knowledge and evidence in health care has become a worldwide priority. The contributors to Using Knowledge and Evidence in Health Care seek to broaden our understanding of the complexity involved in health care decision-making by integrating social science knowledge and exploring some of the challenges and limits of evidence in different health care contexts. Louise Lemieux-Charles and François Champagne have brought together an esteemed group of scholars to provide a conceptual framework that illustrates the factors critical to analysing and optimizing the use of knowledge and evidence. Previous studies have focused primarily on the medical literature without acknowledging the social sciences tradition. With its integration of works from political science, public policy, informatics, and other disciplines, Using Knowledge and Evidence in Health Care provides a bridge between both worlds. By bringing together different views on the topic, the volume goes beyond strict disciplinary boundaries to provide the fullest exploration of knowledge and evidence in health care.

This volume will be a collection of chapters from authors with wide experience in their research field. The purpose is to produce a coherent book that reflects the common theme of theory in medical thinking and multidisciplinary research practice. In this context "theory" relates to frameworks of concepts, facts, models etc that help to inform practitioners (clinicians, scientists and engineers) both within their own fields and as they seek to share dialogue with colleagues from other fields. Multidisciplinary Approaches to Theory in Medicine will therefore be integrative across a broad spectrum of fields within medicine. To achieve this the chapters will be associated with others in a number of meaningful ways. Each chapter will share a number of points of contact that will include at least two of the following: Similar biomedical area (e.g., immunity, neuroscience, endocrinology, pathology, oncology, haematology, .) Similar multidisciplinary theoretical contexts (e.g., modelling, analysis, description, visualization, complex systems, .) Similar multidisciplinary medical issues and questions (e.g., clinical practice, decision making, informatics, .) Uniquely explores role of interdisciplinary exchange in the development and expansion of medical theory Timely and insightful essays on the growth and development of medical theories from some of the world's top clinicians and medical researchers, including Werner Arber, Frank Vertosick, and David Weatherall Assembles diverse perspectives on medicine and physiology from biology, statistics, ethics, computer science, philosophy, history Uniquely illuminates the social and historical processes through which theoretical research translates into clinical practice Reveals the growing role of technology, especially computational modelling, in changing the nature of Western medicine

The theory behind the PDU model is outlined and the key principles underpinning it are identified. The PDU approach is clearly differentiated from the Nursing Development Unit model. Implementation of key principles is explored in depth, with reference to specific work carried out in the PDU. Issues of evaluation, potential future developments and applications of the PDU model are also discussed. The book is for nurses and other practitioners working in PDUs and NDUs, and for health professionals in any setting with an interest in clinical innovation, practice development, research and leadership of multi-professional teams.

Thoroughly updated and revised to emphasize the link between research and evidence-based practice, this Eighth Edition of a classic textbook presents state-of-the-art methods for conducting high-quality studies. New chapters offer guidance on developing self-report scales, conducting systematic reviews, and enhancing the integrity of qualitative studies. The ancillary Resource Manual includes application exercises, models of comprehensive research critiques, a full NINR grant application, and a "must-have" Toolkit on a CD-ROM, containing a treasure-trove of exemplary research tools (e.g., consent forms, a demographic questionnaire, statistical table templates)--all in easily-adapted Word documents to meet individual research needs. A watershed edition! Student Resource Manual with Toolkit, ISBN: 978-0-7817-7052-1.

This volume, developed by the Observatory together with OECD, provides an overall conceptual framework for understanding and applying strategies aimed at improving quality of care. Crucially, it summarizes available evidence on different quality strategies and provides recommendations for their implementation. This book is intended to help policy-makers to understand concepts of quality and to support them to evaluate single strategies and combinations of strategies.

A must resource for the millions of people affected by Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes. FMS and CFS, unlike well known and understood diseases like cancer, spring boards a journey for education, understanding and compassion. The book powerfully captures this journey, and is the first to provide patients, family and friends with the imperative resources to find support through their walk. In addition, The Life Planner, is a workbook that maps out a step-by-step guide for adapting and coping with the lifestyle changes fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients must face. The book is divided into four sections: The Syndromes: Provides an extensive look at the cause, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatments. From current research to clinical trials. The Resources: A comprehensive listing of FMS/CFS books, medical journals, association newsletters, periodicals and video's, recommended by FMS/CFS Associations. The Support: Worldwide listings of FMS/CFS Associations, as well as associations for sub categories of these syndromes. Including: Advocacy, pain management, alternative therapies and disability issues. The Life Planner: From diagnoses to acceptance, The Life Planner details how to manage life emotionally and physically. A compassionate look at: What to expect, how to work through feelings, goal planning, worksheets and charts, exercise, nutritional choices, how to educate family and friends and work options. Written by a fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patient, the book outlines not only the journey for the patient, but gets to the heart of awakening family and friends to the devastating effects these illnesses cause, and provides the tools needed for years to come.

This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of the multidisciplinary domain of eHealth – one of the most important recent developments in healthcare. It provides an overview of the possibilities of eHealth for different healthcare sectors, an outline of theoretical underpinnings and effectiveness, and key models, frameworks and methods for its development, implementation, and evaluation. This fully revised second edition brings together up-to-date knowledge on eHealth and includes several new chapters and sections on important topics such as implementation, human-centred design, healthcare systems, and evaluation methods. The first part of this book is focused on the underpinnings of eHealth, and consists of chapters on behaviour change, the possibilities of technology for healthcare systems, and the current state of affairs of eHealth for mental and public health. In the second part, chapters on development, implementation, and evaluation of eHealth are provided, presenting methods, theories and frameworks from disciplines such as human-centred design, engineering, psychology, business modelling, and implementation science. By drawing together expertise from different disciplines, the book offers a holistic approach to the use of technology to support health and wellbeing, giving readers an insight into how eHealth can offer multiple solutions for the major challenges with which our healthcare system is faced. Case studies, learning objectives, end of chapter summaries, and a list of key terms, make this accessible book very suitable for students, as well as researchers and healthcare professionals. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, it can be used by readers from a broad range of fields, such as psychology, health sciences, and human-centred design.

Recent scientific and technological advances have accelerated our understanding of the causes of disease development and progression, and resulted in innovative treatments and therapies. Ongoing work to elucidate the effects of individual genetic variation on patient outcomes suggests the rapid pace of discovery in the biomedical sciences will only accelerate. However, these advances belie an important and increasing shortfall between the expansion in therapy and treatment options and knowledge about how these interventions might be applied appropriately to individual patients. The impressive gains made in Americans' health over the past decades provide only a preview of what might be possible when data on treatment effects and patient outcomes are systematically captured and used to evaluate their effectiveness. Needed for progress are advances as dramatic as those experienced in biomedicine in our approach to assessing clinical effectiveness. In the emerging era of tailored treatments and rapidly evolving practice, ensuring the translation of scientific discovery into improved health outcomes requires a new approach to clinical evaluation. A paradigm that supports a continual learning process about what works best for individual patients will not only take advantage of the rigor of trials, but also incorporate other methods that might bring insights relevant to clinical care and endeavor to match the right method to the question at hand. The Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care's vision for a learning healthcare system, in which evidence is applied and generated as a natural course of care, is premised on the development of a research capacity that is structured to provide timely and accurate evidence relevant to the clinical decisions faced by patients and providers. As part of the Roundtable's Learning Healthcare System series of workshops, clinical researchers, academics, and policy makers gathered for the workshop Redesigning the Clinical Effectiveness Research Paradigm: Innovation and Practice-Based Approaches. Participants explored cutting-edge research designs and methods and discussed strategies for development of a research paradigm to better accommodate the diverse array of emerging data resources, study designs, tools, and techniques. Presentations and discussions are summarized in this volume.