Reviews

Martin Oliver (ed.), Innovation in the Evaluation of Learning Technology, London: University of North London, 1998. ISBN: 1–85377–256–9. Softback, 242 pages, £15.00

Reviews

Mark Kerr, How to Promote your Web Site Effectively, London: Aslib/IMI, ISBN: 0–85142–424–4. Paperback, 87 pages, £13.99

Research Institutes in the ERA: WP2 2007/S 106-12999 FORESIGHT-200702 Lot 2 WP3

This is the final report of a study looking at the past and potential future of research institutes in Europe. In contrast to the universities, which are widely studied, the institutes are barely part of the EU policy discussion and the discussion about the European Research Area. The study therefore focuses on institutes in six fields, aiming to provide a broad spread of analysis that can improve understanding of the institutes and underpin policymaking in the institute sector. The overall aim of the study is to provide a basis for informing EU- and national-level policies about the role of research institutes in the development of the European Research Area (ERA). If the ERA is to become a reality, then aspects of Europe’s institute system will need to be tuned towards effectiveness and efficiency at the European level and not only, as at present, the national level. We therefore place particular emphasis on issues related to internationalisation and the international division of labour

How do caregivers know when to take their child for immunizations?

BACKGROUND: Childhood vaccinations help reduce and eliminate many causes of morbidity and mortality among children. The objective of this study was to compare 4:3:1:3:3 (4+ doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, 3+ doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1+ doses of measles-containing vaccine, 3+ doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, and 3+ doses of hepatitis B vaccine) coverage among children whose caregivers learned by different methods when their child's most recent immunization was needed. METHODS: Between July 2001 and December 2002, a portion of households receiving the National Immunization Survey were asked how they knew when to take the child in for his/her most recent immunization. Responses were post-coded into several categories: 'Doctor/nurse reminder at previous immunization visit', 'Shot card/record', 'Reminder/recall', and 'Other'. Respondents could give more than one answer. Children who did not receive any vaccines, had ≤ 1 visits for vaccinations, or whose caregiver did not provide an answer to the question were excluded from analyses. Chi-square analyses were used to compare 4:3:1:3:3 coverage among 19–35 month old children. RESULTS: Children whose caregivers indicated that a doctor/nurse told them at a previous immunization visit when to return for the next immunization had significantly greater 4:3:1:3:3 coverage than those who did not choose the response (77.2% vs. 70.1%, p < 0.01). However, no significant difference in coverage was found between households that did/did not indicate that reminder/recalls (71.0% vs. 75.5%, p = 0.24) helped them remember when to take their child for their most recent immunization visit; only borderline significance was found between those that did/did not choose shot cards (70.6% vs. 76.2%, p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: A doctor or nurse's reminder during an immunization visit of the next scheduled immunization visit effectively encourages caregivers to bring children in for immunizations, providing an inexpensive and easy way to effectively increase immunization coverage

Reviews

Sally Brown, Steve Armstrong and Gail Thompson (eds.), Motivating Students, London: Kogan Page, 1998. ISBN: 0–7494–2494‐X. Paperback, 214 pages. £18.99

Meta-ethnography to understand healthcare professionals’ experience of treating adults with chronic non-malignant pain

Objectives We aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ experience of treating chronic non-malignant pain by conducting a qualitative evidence synthesis. Understanding this experience from the perspective of healthcare professionals will contribute to improvements in the provision of care. Design Qualitative evidence synthesis using meta-ethnography. We searched five electronic bibliographic databases from inception to November 2016. We included studies that explore healthcare professionals’ experience of treating adults with chronic non-malignant pain. We used the GRADE-CERQual framework to rate confidence in review findings. Results We screened the 954 abstracts and 184 full texts and included 77 published studies reporting the experiences of over 1551 international healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and other health professionals. We abstracted six themes: (1) a sceptical cultural lens, (2) navigating juxtaposed models of medicine, (3) navigating the geography between patient and clinician, (4) challenge of dual advocacy, (5) personal costs and (6) the craft of pain management. We rated confidence in review findings as moderate to high. Conclusions This is the first qualitative evidence synthesis of healthcare professionals’ experiences of treating people with chronic non-malignant pain. We have presented a model that we developed to help healthcare professionals to understand, think about and modify their experiences of treating patients with chronic pain. Our findings highlight scepticism about chronic pain that might explain why patients feel they are not believed. Findings also indicate a dualism in the biopsychosocial model and the complexity of navigating therapeutic relationships. Our model may be transferable to other patient groups or situations

‘It’s like she’s talking about me’ – exploring the value and potential impact of a YouTube film presenting a qualitative evidence synthesis about chronic pain : an analysis of online comments

Background: There is very limited research exploring the value and impact of qualitative research in chronic pain despite the large volume of research. Aims: To find out whether viewers comments in response to a YouTube film, portraying findings from a qualitative evidence synthesis about living with pain, revealed any potential value or impact to viewers. Methodological approach: A thematic analysis of online comments to evaluate the impact of an arts-based health research film on people living with chronic pain. Methods: We collected on-line data posted in response to the film ‘Struggling to be me’. We used themes from a large review of qualitative research as an a priori analytic framework. We used inductive thematic analysis to distil the essence of data that did not fit this framework. Results: We developed two inductive themes that explored the value and potential impact of watching the film online: (1) It has given voice to our suffering, and (2) it makes me feel that I am not alone. Two subthemes added insight to the a priori framework: First, I have had enough of me added insight to the theme, My life is impoverished and confined; Second, I am treated like a criminal because I take opioids, added insight to the theme, Lost personal credibility. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that watching the YouTube film has potential value and impact, giving voice to suffering and making people feel that they are not alone. There are specific ethical challenges relating to internet mediated research