A Systematic Approach to Evidence-Based Design for Measurable Health and Wellness Outcomes: Curating and Translating Evidence to Practice

OBJECTIVES

Evaluating evidence from peer-review literature for use in evidence-based design is often challenging for the design disciplines, requiring access to the peer-reviewed literature, expertise in evaluating methods and findings, and translating the results into actionable design and operational recommendations.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this methods paper is to elucidate the process for systematic evaluation of research to translate evidence into practical application to improve design for occupant health and wellness.

BACKGROUND

Researchers have found strong connections in environmental design influence on health and wellness that have proven to be substantiative in the effort to improve health and well-being. Design has the capacity to encourage healthy choices and decisions within the built environment. Translation of evidence into applied design solutions may improve public health.

METHODS

A protocol is presented that culminates in the translation of evidence into design recommendations focused on improving occupant health. The protocol includes preparation for the literature search and review, search strategy, study selection, data analysis, and development of the literature review.

RESULTS

After evaluation of the evidence is completed, there were several positive findings in the example that stakeholders could utilize to improve the health of building occupants with programs and design to support nutrition, physical activity, and circadian entrainment.

CONCLUSIONS

There are a variety of software tools and processes to utilize in the curation of evidence to improve the built environment with relevant design recommendations and operational considerations affecting the personal, social, and economic health of our society.

Paper 2: Performing rapid reviews

BACKGROUND

Health policy-makers must often make decisions in compressed time frames and with limited resources. Hence, rapid reviews have become a pragmatic alternative to comprehensive systematic reviews. However, it is important that rapid review methods remain rigorous to support good policy development and decisions. There is currently little evidence about which streamlined steps in a rapid review are less likely to introduce unacceptable levels of uncertainty while still producing a product that remains useful to policy-makers.

METHODS

This paper summarizes current research describing commonly used methods and practices that are used to conduct rapid reviews and presents key considerations and options to guide methodological choices for a rapid review.

RESULTS

The most important step for a rapid review is for an experienced research team to have early and ongoing engagement with the people who have requested the review. A clear research protocol, derived from a needs assessment conducted with the requester, serves to focus the review, defines the scope of the rapid review, and guides all subsequent steps. Common recommendations for rapid review methods include tailoring the literature search in terms of databases, dates, and languages. Researchers can consider using a staged search to locate high-quality systematic reviews and then subsequently published primary studies. The approaches used for study screening and selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment should be tailored to the topic, researcher experience, and available resources. Many rapid reviews use a single reviewer for study selection, risk-of-bias assessment, or data abstraction, sometimes with partial or full verification by a second reviewer. Rapid reviews usually use a descriptive synthesis method rather than quantitative meta-analysis. Use of brief report templates and standardized production methods helps to speed final report publication.

CONCLUSIONS

Researchers conducting rapid reviews need to make transparent methodological choices, informed by stakeholder input, to ensure that rapid reviews meet their intended purpose. Transparency is critical because it is unclear how or how much streamlined methods can bias the conclusions of reviews. There are not yet internationally accepted standards for conducting or reporting rapid reviews. Thus, this article proposes interim guidance for researchers who are increasingly employing these methods.

Management of whiplash-associated disorder in the Italian emergency department: the feasibility of an evidence-based continuous professional development course provided by physiotherapists

PURPOSE

The management of whiplash and associated disorders (WAD) in the Italian Health System is still empirical and influenced by a single professional's expertise. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to describe a structured management changes in an Italian emergency department (ED) after an evidence based continuous professional development (CPD) course.

METHODS

A CPD course was organized by Orthopedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (OMPT) for personnel of ED in the hospital Girolamo Fracastoro (San Bonifacio, Verona, Italy), based on latest scientific evidence. Data regarding the number of X-Rays, computed tomography (CT) scan, orthopaedic referrals, neck collars and WAD IV (i.e., severe diagnosis) before and after the course were compared.

RESULTS

3066 cases of WAD have been analyzed in 2016 and 2185 in 2017/2018. The number of X-Rays dropped down from 15.1% to 13.5%; the CT scans increased from 1.3% to 1.9%; the WAD IV diagnosis increased from 0.7% to 1.6%; the orthopaedic referrals dropped from 1.5% to 1.1%; the collars prescription dropped from 8.8% to 2.5%.

CONCLUSION

An updated framework increased the efficiency of ED's maintaining the same level of safety (i.e., WAD IV diagnosis). Given that, it can also be argued that, in line with other countries, the implementation of an OMPT role within the ED multidisciplinary team is advised also in Italy.Implications for rehabilitationPhysiotherapists were commissioned to organize a management change of patients in an Italian Emergency Department clinical setting for the management of whiplash;Guidelines and other appropriate clinical rules facilitate the delivery of an evidence-based and more appropriate management and care plan;An inter-disciplinary continuous professional development course has the potential to positively influence patients' journey and to optimize the use of departmental resources;The involvement of other health professionals (e.g., Physiotherapists) within the Italian Emergency Department organizational chart might lead to further improvement of service provided.

Musculoskeletal injury quality outcome indicators for the emergency department

High standards of care for musculoskeletal injuries presenting to emergency departments (ED) must be maintained despite financial constraints, the model of care in place, or the pressure to reach time-based performance measures. Outcome quality indicators (QIs) provide a tangible way of assessing and improving the outcomes of health-care delivery. This study aimed to develop a set of outcome QIs for musculoskeletal injuries in the ED that are meaningful, valid, feasible to collect, simple to use for clinical quality improvement and chosen by experts in the field. The study used a multi-phase mixed methods design, commencing with a systematic review of available outcome QIs. An expert panel then developed a set of preliminary QIs based on the available scientific evidence. Prospective observational data collection was undertaken across eight EDs with subsequent retrospective chart audits, follow-up phone calls and audit of administrative databases. After statistical analysis, validated results were presented to the expert panel who discussed, refined and formally voted on a final outcome QI set. A total of 41 preliminary outcome QIs were field tested in EDs, with data collected on 633 patients. Using the field study results, the expert panel voted 11 outcome QIs into the final set. These covered effectiveness of pain management, timeliness to discharge, re-presentations to the ED and unplanned visits to health professionals in the community, missed injuries, opioids side effects and the patient experience. An evidence-based set of outcome quality indicators is now available to support clinical quality improvement of musculoskeletal injury care in the ED setting.

The ABC and pain in trauma

Musculoskeletal trauma in the emergency setting is a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Life- and limb-threatening injuries of the extremities should be treated as soon as possible, since major musculoskeletal trauma can be the cause of significant bleeding. However, musculoskeletal trauma is often related to thoracic trauma. Management of the former should be performed only after patient's airway is maintained and breathing is secured with appropriate pain monitoring and management by expert anesthesiologists. This article discusses the association of musculoskeletal with thoracic trauma care and emphasizes on pain as a vital sign in trauma.

Review article: Best practice management of common knee injuries in the emergency department (part 3 of the musculoskeletal injuries rapid review series)

Knee injuries are a common presentation to the ED and are often difficult to assess and definitively diagnose due to the patient's acute pain, effusion and guarding. The quality of ED care provided to patients with fractures or soft tissue injuries of the knee is critical to ensure the best possible outcomes for the patient. This rapid review investigated best practice for the assessment and management of common knee injuries in the ED. Databases were searched in 2017, including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, TRIP and the grey literature, including relevant organisational websites. Primary studies, systematic reviews and guidelines were considered for inclusion. English-language articles published in the past 12 years that addressed the acute assessment, management, follow-up plan or prognosis were included. Data extraction of included articles was conducted, followed by quality appraisal to rate the level of evidence where possible. The search revealed 2250 articles, of which 54 were included in the review (n = 8 primary articles, n = 28 systematic reviews, n = 18 guidelines). This rapid review provides clinicians managing fractures and soft tissue injuries of the knee in the ED, a summary of the best available evidence to enhance the quality of care for optimal patient outcomes. There is consistent evidence to support undertaking a thorough history and physical examination, including the application of special tests and clinical decision rules for imaging. In the undifferentiated knee injury, expedited follow up and further imaging is recommended to improve patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Review article: Best practice management of common ankle and foot injuries in the emergency department (part 2 of the musculoskeletal injuries rapid review series)

Ankle and foot injuries are the most common musculoskeletal injuries presenting to Australian EDs and are associated with a large societal and economic impact. The quality of ED care provided to patients with ankle and foot fractures or soft tissue injuries is critical to ensure the best possible outcomes for the patient. This rapid review investigated best practice for the assessment and management of common ankle and foot injuries in the ED. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, TRIP and the grey literature, including relevant organisational websites, were searched in 2017. Primary studies, systematic reviews and guidelines were considered for inclusion. English language articles published in the last 12 years that addressed the acute assessment, management or prognosis in the ED were included. Data extraction of included articles was conducted, followed by quality appraisal to rate the level of evidence where possible. The search revealed 1242 articles, of which 71 were included in the review (n = 22 primary articles, n = 35 systematic reviews and n = 14 guidelines). This rapid review provides clinicians managing fractures and soft tissue injuries of the ankle and foot in the ED a summary of the best available evidence to enhance the quality of care for optimal patient outcomes. Following a thorough history and physical examination, including the application of the Ottawa ankle rules, ED clinicians should not only provide a diagnosis, but rate the severity of soft tissue injuries, or stability of fractures and dislocations, which are the pivotal decision points in guiding ED treatment, specialist referral and the follow-up plan.