Evidence-Based Research Series-Paper 3: Using an Evidence-Based Research approach to place your results into context after the study is performed to ensure usefulness of the conclusion

Hans Lund; Carsten B Juhl; Birgitte Nørgaard; Eva Draborg; Marius Henriksen; Jane Andreasen; Robin Christensen; Mona Nasser; Donna Ciliska; Peter Tugwell; Mike Clarke; Caroline Blaine; Janet Martin; Jong-Wook Ban; Klara Brunnhuber; Karen A Robinson; Evidence-Based Research Network

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.021

Evidence-Based Research Series-Paper 3: Using an Evidence-Based Research approach to place your results into context after the study is performed to ensure usefulness of the conclusion

J Clin Epidemiol. 2021 Jan:129:167-171. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.021. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Authors

Hans Lund¹, Carsten B Juhl², Birgitte Nørgaard³, Eva Draborg³, Marius Henriksen⁴, Jane Andreasen⁵, Robin Christensen⁶, Mona Nasser⁷, Donna Ciliska⁸, Peter Tugwell⁹, Mike Clarke¹⁰, Caroline Blaine¹¹, Janet Martin¹², Jong-Wook Ban¹³, Klara Brunnhuber¹⁴, Karen A Robinson¹⁵; Evidence-Based Research Network

Affiliations

¹ Section for Evidence-based Practice, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Hans.lund@hvl.no.
² Faculty of Health, Institute of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Herlev & Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
⁴ The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Health, Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Alborg, Denmark; Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
⁶ Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Rheumatology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
⁷ Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research, Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University, Plymouth, England, UK.
⁸ Section for Evidence-based Practice, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway; School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁹ Department of Medicine and Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
¹⁰ Northern Ireland Methodology Hub, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
¹¹ BMJ Knowledge Centre, London, UK.
¹² MEDICI Centre, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
¹³ Evidence-Based Health Care Programme, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
¹⁴ Digital Content Services, Data Platform Operations, Elsevier, London, UK.
¹⁵ Johns Hopkins Evidence-based Practice Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

PMID: 32979490
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.021

Abstract

Background and objective: There is considerable actual and potential waste in research. Using evidence-based research (EBR) can ensure the value of a new study. The aim of this article, the third in a series, is to describe an EBR approach to putting research results into context.

Study design and setting: EBR is the use of prior research in a systematic and transparent way to inform a new study so that it is answering questions that matter in a valid, efficient, and accessible manner. In this third and final article of a series, we describe how to use the context of existing evidence to reach and present a trustworthy and useful conclusion when reporting results from a new clinical study.

Results: We describe a method, the EBR approach, that by using a systematic and transparent consideration of earlier similar studies when interpreting and presenting results from a new original study will ensure usefulness of the conclusion.

Conclusion: Using an EBR approach will improve the usefulness of a clinical study by providing the context to draw more valid conclusions and explicit information about new research needs.

Keywords: Clinical health research; Clinical trials; Evidence synthesis; Evidence-based research; Medical ethics; Research ethics; Systematic review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomedical Research* / methods
Biomedical Research* / organization & administration
Clinical Trials as Topic* / methods
Clinical Trials as Topic* / organization & administration
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Evidence-Based Medicine / methods*
Humans
Reproducibility of Results
Research Design* / standards
Research Design* / trends
Systematic Reviews as Topic / methods*
Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

G0901530/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom