Researchers make the case for evidence-based summaries for pediatricians
Clinical answers (CAs), a synthesized evidence-based summary that supports point-of-care clinical decision-making, will be a useful tool for pediatricians, according to an article published March 20 in BMC Pediatrics.
“Clinicians are increasingly using electronic sources of evidence to support clinical decision-making; however, there are multiple demands on clinician time, and summarized and synthesized evidence is needed,” wrote Iva Seto, BSc, BA, department of pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and colleagues.
According to the authors, CAs have been developed to address this need and created an online survey for pediatricians to test and improve CA format. Eighty-three pediatricians responded to the survey. Most found the CA useful to very useful (93 percent) and agreed or strongly agreed that the layout was effective and allowed them to quickly locate critical information (82 percent).
“Data suggested that respondents thought there should be less detail in the linked figures and tables, but overall respondents seemed to think there was an appropriate level of detail in most sections of the CA,” the authors found.
“Major and minor modifications to the CA format were implemented, such as removing forest plots, adding links in each addendum to bring the user back to the front page and adding an ‘implications for practice’ section to the CA,” noted the authors.
“Our findings suggest we have developed a useful product for pediatricians that has potential for point-of-care use...The research team [is beginning to create] CAs to assist busy clinicians in their day-to-day clinical practice by providing high-quality information for decision-making at the point-of-care,” concluded the authors.
“Clinicians are increasingly using electronic sources of evidence to support clinical decision-making; however, there are multiple demands on clinician time, and summarized and synthesized evidence is needed,” wrote Iva Seto, BSc, BA, department of pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and colleagues.
According to the authors, CAs have been developed to address this need and created an online survey for pediatricians to test and improve CA format. Eighty-three pediatricians responded to the survey. Most found the CA useful to very useful (93 percent) and agreed or strongly agreed that the layout was effective and allowed them to quickly locate critical information (82 percent).
“Data suggested that respondents thought there should be less detail in the linked figures and tables, but overall respondents seemed to think there was an appropriate level of detail in most sections of the CA,” the authors found.
“Major and minor modifications to the CA format were implemented, such as removing forest plots, adding links in each addendum to bring the user back to the front page and adding an ‘implications for practice’ section to the CA,” noted the authors.
“Our findings suggest we have developed a useful product for pediatricians that has potential for point-of-care use...The research team [is beginning to create] CAs to assist busy clinicians in their day-to-day clinical practice by providing high-quality information for decision-making at the point-of-care,” concluded the authors.