Clinical Research Methods for Surgeons

Clinical Research Methods for Surgeons is a comprehensive guide for the surgical scientist, and serves as both a critical review of existing literature and a reference guide for clinical research methodologies as they apply to surgery. The text addresses the clinical research questions facing 21st century surgeons, and provides clear direction on how to incorporate sophisticated research techniques into practice. In addition to the surgical generalist, this practical volume is specifically oriented to surgeons who treat unique diseases, yet have no single resource to facilitate clinical research in these specific areas. This comprehensive and easy-to-use guide encompasses the entire process of clinical study design, application, and assessment. Part One is aimed at the young surgeon about to engage in new studies, and gives a general overview of the infrastructure of clinical research. Parts Two and Three are geared towards experienced investigators interested in pursuing clinical research and surgeons reviewing the literature for practical application. Part Two focuses on study design and related statistical issues, while Part Three is concerned with measuring and assessing the outcome of clinical studies. Part Four presents topics of interest to the active investigator, such as quality of care and cost-effectiveness analyses. Clinical Research Methods for Surgeons is relevant to both beginning investigators and established researchers, and addresses the unique concerns of surgical diseases and acknowledges that they require special approaches to deal with clinical questions.

clinical Research Methods For Surgeons Is A Comprehensive Guide For The Surgical Scientist, And Serves As Both A Critical Review Of Existing Literature And A Reference Guide For Clinical Research Methodologies As They Apply To Surgery. The Text Addresses The Clinical Research Questions Facing 21st Century Surgeons, And Provides Clear Direction On How To Incorporate Sophisticated Research Techniques Into Practice. In Addition To The Surgical Generalist, This Practical Volume Is Specifically Oriented To Surgeons Who Treat Unique Diseases, Yet Have No Single Resource To Facilitate Clinical Research In These Specific Areas.

this Comprehensive And Easy-to-use Guide Encompasses The Entire Process Of Clinical Study Design, Application, And Assessment. Part One Is Aimed At The Young Surgeon About To Engage In New Studies, And Gives A General Overview Of The Infrastructure Of Clinical Research. Parts Two And Three Are Geared Towards Experienced Investigators Interested In Pursuing Clinical Research And Surgeons Reviewing The Literature For Practical Application. Part Two Focuses On Study Design And Related Statistical Issues, While Part Three Is Concerned With Measuring And Assessing The Outcome Of Clinical Studies. Part Four Presents Topics Of Interest To The Active Investigator, Such As Quality Of Care And Cost-effectiveness Analyses. Clinical Research Methods For Surgeons Is Relevant To Both Beginning Investigators And Established Researchers, And Addresses The Unique Concerns Of Surgical Diseases And Acknowledges That They Require Special Approaches To Deal With Clinical Questions.

doody Review Services

reviewer:david J. Dries, Md(university Of Minnesota Medical School)
description:this Guide Describes The Evolution Of Clinical Research Standards And Development Of Clinical Research Projects Using Surgical Models.
purpose:clinical Study Design Applications And Assessment Are Emphasized And Methods For Reviewing Scientific Literature Are Presented.
audience:senior Trainees, Reviewers, And Workers With Scientific Literature Are An Appropriate Audience For This Work. Authors Include Leaders Of The Clinical Research Groups Of Major North American Universities And The Veterans Administration Hospital System.
features:after A Review Of The History And Principles Of Clinical Research Organization, The Heart Of This Book Reviews Statistical Techniques With References Displaying Various Types Of Research Design. Strengths And Weakness Of Contemporary Studies Are Discussed. Experimental Methods Include Observational Trials, Risk Adjustment, Survival Analysis, And Secondary Data Analysis Techniques. Concluding Chapters Discuss Contemporary Outcome Measures Including Cost Effectiveness, Meta-analysis And Quality Of Life. Chapters Are Written In An Easy Conversational Style And Make Excellent Use Of Tables And Line Drawings For Display Of Raw Data. Each Chapter Is Referenced With Primary And Secondary Sources. Where Contemporary Topics Are Discussed, References Are Appropriate In Number And Date To Within One To Two Years Of Publication.
assessment:excellent Details With Effective Examples Are Provided For The Beginning Or Experienced Investigator. The Methods Included Here Are Essential To Justify Use Of Techniques And Technologies With Growing Cost And Complexity. In Conjunction With A Statistics Package, This Is An Effective Guide To Clinical Research.

With his keen analytical mind and penchant for organization, Charles Darwin would have made an excellent clinical investigator. Unfortunately for surgery, his early exposure at Edinburgh to the brutality of operations in 1825 convinced him to reject his father's plan for his career and pursue his interest in nature. His subsequent observations of how environmental pressures shaped the development of new species provided the essential mechanism to explain evolution and the disappearance of those species that failed to adapt. Today, surgeons face the same reality as new technology, progressive regulation by government and payers, medico-legal risks, and public demands for proof of performance force changes in behavior that our predecessors never imagined. We know that surgeons have always prided themselves on accurate documentation of their results, including their complications and deaths, but observational studies involving a single surgeon or institution have given way to demands for controlled interventional trials despite the inherent difficulty of studying surgical patients by randomized, blinded techniques. That is why this book is so timely and important. In a logical and comprehensive approach, the authors have assembled a group of experienced clinical scientists who can demonstrate the rich variety of techniques in epidemiology and statistics for reviewing existing publications, structuring a clinical study, and analyzing the resulting data. Planning the research / Eugene Blackstone Ethical issues in clinical research / David F. Penson Budget development and staffing / Judith Fine and Peter C. Albertsen Non randomized interventional study designs (quasi-experimental designs) / David Axelrod, Rodney Hayward Randomized clinical trials of surgical procedures / Michael P. Porter Use of observational databases (registries) in research / Deborah P. Lubeck Risk adjustment / William G. Henderson and Shukri F. Khuri Basic statistical methods / David Etzioni, Nadia Howlader, and Ruth Etzioni Survival analyses / Rodney L. Dunn and John T. Wei Assessing the performance and validity of diagnostic tests and screening programs / David C. Miller, Rodney L. Dunn, and John T. Wei Secondary data analyses / Andrew Rosenberg, MaryLou VH Greenfield, and Justin B. Dimick Traditional outcome measures / Aruna V. Sarma, and Julie C. McLaughlin Health-related quality of life / Mark Litwin Measuring patient satisfaction / Arvin Koruthu George and Martin G. Sanda Quality of care / Jessica B. O'Connell and Clifford Y. Ko Cost-effectiveness analyses / Lynn Stothers Qualitative research / Donna L. Berry, Sally L. Maliski, and William J. Ellis Systematic reviews and meta-analyses / Timothy J. Wilt and Howard A. Fink. Provides a guide for interpreting published clinical research. This book is useful for the surgeon who wishes to conduct clinical research either to answer scientific, hypothesis-driven questions or simply to evaluate one's quality of care