Healthcare Informatics and Information Synthesis: Developing and Applying Clinical Knowledge to Improve Outcomes / Edition 1

by John W. Williamson, Charlene R. Weir, Charles W. Turner, Michael J. Lincoln, Keely M. W. Cofrin

Overview

"Comprehensive, thoughtful, and well-organized . . . an excellent guide to searching, evaluating, organizing, and reporting the results of information syntheses. "
—CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

As healthcare policy and practice turn toward the use of evidence-based medicine, there is a heightened need for resources that cover the process of research synthesis for the purpose of healthcare outcome improvement. Healthcare Informatics and Information Synthesis integrates the conceptual and procedural dimensions of research synthesis in each of the five stages of the process to produce step-by-step instructions for clinically applicable research syntheses. Explicit instructions are given for tasks ranging from computing a kappa to aggregating effect sizes. The authors provide seven detailed meta-analytic examples that cover a variety of data types, ranging from mean differences to odds ratios, allowing the reader to replicate the results exactly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761908241
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/20/2001
Pages:	704
Product dimensions:	7.38(w) x 9.12(h) x (d)

About the Author

Williamson, John W., MD, PhD; Weir, Charlene R.; Turner, Chales W.; Lincoln, Michael J.; Cofrin, Keely M. W.

Table of Contents

About the Authors
Foreword: How to Read This Book
1. Introduction: Healthcare Information Synthesis and Informatics
Section A. Fundamental Goals of This Book
Section B. Basic Concepts: 'Information Synthesis' and ' Healthcare Informatics'
Section C. Organization of This Book
Section D. Information Synthesis Methods Literature
Section E. Synthesis Evaluation Criteria
Section F. Potential Contributions of This Book
Summary
STAGE I: PLANNING AND PREPARATION
2. Synthese Planning Prerequisites and Conceptual Issues
Section A. Information Synthesis and Resource Constraints
Section B. Informatics and Internet Background
Section C. Alternative Synthesis Designs to Consider
Section D. Formulation of Synthesis Topic and Model
Section E. Synthesis Audience and Their Needs
Section F. Linking Synthesis to Healthcare Outcomes Improvement
Section G. Final Project Planning Issues
Summary
3. Procedures for Synthesis Planning and Preparation
Procedure A. Formulate Topic by Group Consensus
Procedure B. Establish a Project Plan
Procedure C. Obtain Informatics Resources
Procedure D. Recruit and Train Project Staff
Procedure E. Organize Project Files
Procedure F. Finalize Preparations
Products of the Procedures in Chapter 3
Summary
4. Evaluation and Improvement of Stage I
Procedure A. Assess and Enhance Documentation Adequacy
Procedure B. Assess and Enhance Clinical Significance
Procedure C. Assess and Enhance Scientific Soundness
Procedure D. Assess and Enhance Cost-Effectiveness
Summary
STAGE II: DATABASE DEVELOLPMENT
5. Conceptual Issues in Database Development
Section A. Bias
Section B. Levels of Information Soundness
Section C. Strategic Searth Considerations
Section D. Generic Sources of Halth Science Information
Section E. Fugitive Literature
Summary
6. Healthcare Information Search Procedures
Procedure A. Search Prepaation Update
Procedure B. Initial Search Iterations
Procedure C. Subsequent Iterations
Procedure D. Search Termination
Summary
7. Evaluation and Improvement of Stage II
Procedure A. Assess and Enhance Documentation Adequacy
Procedure B. Assess and Enhance Clinical Significance
Procedure C. Assess and Enhance Scientific Soundness
Procedure D. Assess and Enhance Cost-Effectiveness
Summary
STAGE III: DATABASE VALIDATION
8. Data Extraction and Coding
Section A. Theoretical Issues in Data Extracting and Coding
Section B. Procedures for Extracting and Coding Data
Summary
9. Princip0les of Information Validation
Section A. Importance of Validation of Individual Studies
Section B. Causes of Poor Scientific Quality in Published Research
Section C. Analysis of Quantitative Validity
Section D. Analysis of Qualitative Validity
Section E. Use of Validated Information for Synthesis
Summary
10. Procedures for Database Validation
Procedure A. Categorize Studies by Research Design
Procedure B. Develop Validation Protocols
Procedure C. Select and Train Reviewers
Procedure D. Calibrate and Standardize Validity Ratings
Procedure E. Validate Literature for Synthesis
Summary
11, Evaluation and Improvement of Stage III
Procedure A. Assess and Enhance Validation of Database Documentation Adequacy
Procedure B. Assess and Enhance Validation of Database Clinical Significance
Procedure C. Assess and Enhance Validation of Database Scientific Soundness
Procedure D. Assess and Enhance Validation of Database Cost-Effectiveness
Summary
STAGE IV: INFORMATION ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS
12. Basic Statistics for Quantitative Synthesis
Section A. Basic Statistical Concepts
Section B. Effect Sizes; Calculation and Use
Section C. Hypothesis Testing in Meta-Analysis
Summary
13. Conceptual Aspects of Meta-Analysis
Section A. Designing Multivariate Models
Section B. Selecting Effect Size Index
Section C. Managing Missing Data
Section D. Managing Artifacts and Biases
Section E. Heterogeneity of Effect Sizes Among Studies
Section F. Combining Effect Sizes
Section G. Sensitively Analysis
Summary
14. Step-by-Step Procedures for Meta-Analysis
Procedure A. Develop a Strategic Plan
Procedure B. Implement One of Seven Variations of a Meta-Analysis
Procedure C. Conduct a Sensitivity Analysis
Summary
15. Evaluation and Improvement of Stage IV Results
Procedure A. Assess and Enhance Documentation Adequacy
Procedure B. Assess and Enhance Clinical Importance
Procedure C. Assess and Enhance Scientific Soundness
Procedure D. Assess and Enhance Cost-Effectiveness
Summary
STAGE V: SYNTHESIS REPORT COMPLETION AND EVALUATION
16. Synthesis Manuscript Preparation Primer
Procedure A. Prepare to Write Synthesis Manuscript
Procedure B. Write Body of Synthesis Report
Procedure C. Write Front and Trailing Matter for a Journal Article
Procedure D. Write Front and Trailing Matter for a Book
Summary
17. Applying Synthesis Results for Healthcare Outcomes Improvement
Procedure A. Coping With the Difficulty of Behavioral Change and Diffusion of Innovation
Procedure B. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest and Hazards of Science Propaganda
Procedure C. Achieving Healthcare Outcomes Improvement
Summary
18. Evaluation and Refinement of Synthesis Report
Procedure A. Understanding Considerations for Project Finalization
Procedure B. Finalizaing the Synthesis Project
Procedure C. Self-Assessing the Final Synthesis
Procedure D. Has Your Final Product Been Worth the Effort and Cost Involved?
Summary
Glossary
References
Index
Synopsis of Compendium
Summary

Editorial Reviews

Comprehensive, thoughtful, and well-organized . . . an excellent guide to searching, evaluating, organizing, and reporting the results of information syntheses.

CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Reviewer: Donald P Connelly, MD, PhD (University of Minnesota Medical School)
Description: The book is structured to follow the logical sequence of procedures and processes used to develop and apply a systematic review of the literature to improve healthcare. It is supplemented with extensive tables, figures, practical forms and appendixes.
Purpose: The authors aim to help health literature reviewers produce more relevant, valid, and applicable systematic reviews to be used to improve healthcare outcomes. This is a timely and relevant objective. The book's disciplined structure is tightly focused on the authors' purpose and their objectives are well met.
Audience: The well-qualified authors maintain a tight focus throughout on experienced and non-expert healthcare literature reviewers working to help clinicians or those involved in quality improvement.
Features: Following a succinct introductory chapter, 17 chapters evenly cover the five stages of planning and preparation, assembling the literature database, validating that database, performing the analysis and synthesis, and preparing and disseminating the systematic report. It is well supplemented with relevant "how-to" sections, tables and forms which the reader is invited to duplicate and use. Though the chapters in the analytic section won't substitute for a solid graduate course in meta-analysis, the relevant concepts are logically developed and presented and will be a useful refresher for both the statistician and his less quantitatively-focused colleagues. The title of the book doesn't accurately portray the asymmetric coverage of the two concepts, information synthesis and healthcare informatics. Its coverage of informatics is limited to the thin slice that is pertinent to information synthesis and is not nearly as complete or broadly based. That is not to say that more balanced coverage is needed — just a more accurate title.
Assessment: Look to this book as a thorough compendium on how to do information syntheses. It covers sufficient breadth of the field in admirable depth that the novice can become well prepared to pursue the art and science of information synthesis. More experienced practitioners looking for new ideas or more formalized approaches will also benefit from this excellent book.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody

Comprehensive, thoughtful, and well-organized . . . an excellent guide to searching, evaluating, organizing, and reporting the results of information syntheses.

Canadian Journal Of Public Health