Jon - if your 'busy clinician' actually has time to do a search, he
could apply limits and look specifically for a review. I'm concerned
that he would be able to identify 'decent' abstracts. On what criteria?
Certainly, unless the single full text article was published in a
reputable peer reviewed journal, and was adequately referenced (to
provide some level of confidence in the content), 5 abstracts should
allow the formation of an appropriate quasi-evidence based conclusion.
But either is subject to bias.
Ian
K Ian Johnson
Technical Director
Evidence Research Unit
19-21 King Edward Street
Macclesfield, Cheshire
SK10 1AQ, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1625 624048, Fax +44 (0)1625 619812
[log in to unmask]
www.evidenceresearchunit.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Evidence based health (EBH)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jon Brassey
Sent: 05 November 2008 11:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 1 full text or 5 abstracts?
Hi!
I'd welcome comments on the following scenario.
A busy clinician has a limited amount of time to answer a clinical
question. They carry out a quick search and find 5 decent abstracts.
They have two options:
1) Look at one full-text article.
2) Look at 5 abstracts.
Which do people think is preferable?
Best wishes
jon
Jon Brassey
TRIP Database
www.tripdatabase.com
-----------------------------------------
Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email
Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam
This email may contain confidential or legally privileged information, intended only for the addressee.
If you have received this email in error, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or reliance upon the contents of this email is strictly prohibited. Please contact the sender to arrange for correct delivery, and then delete this email.
Any views or opinions presented in this email are those of the author. Please check the email for viruses, as the sender accepts no liability for damage caused by a virus transmitted via this email.
Registered Office: Complete Medical Group Limited, Complete House, 19-21 King Edward Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 1AQ, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1625 624000, Fax: +44 (0)1625 619812, Email: [log in to unmask], Web: www.complete-grp.com
Registered in England No. 2503062
|