Challenges in evaluating surgical innovation

Research on surgical interventions is associated with several methodological and practical challenges of which few, if any, apply only to surgery. However, surgical evaluation is especially demanding because many of these challenges coincide. In this report, the second of three on surgical innovation and evaluation, we discuss obstacles related to the study design of randomised controlled trials and non-randomised studies assessing surgical interventions. We also describe the issues related to the nature of surgical procedures—for example, their complexity, surgeon-related factors, and the range of outcomes. Although difficult, surgical evaluation is achievable and necessary. Solutions tailored to surgical research and a framework for generating evidence on which to base surgical practice are essential.The Balliol Colloquium has been supported by Ethicon UK with unrestricted educational grants and by the National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme. The Balliol Colloquium was administratively and financially supported by the Nuffield Department of Surgery at the University of Oxford and the Department of Surgery at McGill University. JAC holds a Medical Research Council UK special training fellowship. The University of Aberdeen’s Health Services Research Unit is core funded by the Chief Scientist Offi ce of the Scottish Government Health Directorates. IB is supported by a grant from the Société Française de Rhumatologie and Lavoisier Program (Ministère des Aff aires Etrangères et Européennes). PLE is a DPhil Candidate in Evidence-Based Health Care at Oxford University

HCPRDU evaluation tool for quantitative studies

Critical appraisal tool for quantititative studies. Developed by Long et al, at the Health Care Practice R&D Unit (HCPRDU), University of Salford as part of a feasibility study for examining the feasibility of undertaking systematic reviews in social care - Long AF, Godfrey M, Randall T, Brettle AJ and Grant MJ (2002) Developing Evidence Based Social Care Policy and Practice. Part 3: Feasibility of Undertaking Systematic Reviews in Social Care. Leeds: Nuffield Institute for Health

HCPRDU evaluation tool for qualitative studies

Critical appraisal tool for qualitative studies. Developed by Long et al, at the Health Care Practice R&D Unit (HCPRDU), University of Salford as part of a feasibility study for examining the feasibility of undertaking systematic reviews in social care - Long AF, Godfrey M, Randall T, Brettle AJ and Grant MJ (2002) Developing Evidence Based Social Care Policy and Practice. Part 3: Feasibility of Undertaking Systematic Reviews in Social Care. Leeds: Nuffield Institute for Health

Brief history of the Lehmann Symposia: Origins, goals and motivation

The idea of the Lehmann Symposia as platforms to encourage a revival of interest in fundamental questions in theoretical statistics, while keeping in focus issues that arise in contemporary interdisciplinary cutting-edge scientific problems, developed during a conversation that I had with Victor Perez Abreu during one of my visits to Centro de Investigaci\'{o}n en Matem\'{a}ticas (CIMAT) in Guanajuato, Mexico. Our goal was and has been to showcase relevant theoretical work to encourage young researchers and students to engage in such work. The First Lehmann Symposium on Optimality took place in May of 2002 at Centro de Investigaci\'{o}n en Matem\'{a}ticas in Guanajuato, Mexico. A brief account of the Symposium has appeared in Vol. 44 of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics series of Lecture Notes and Monographs. The volume also contains several works presented during the First Lehmann Symposium. All papers were refereed. The program and a picture of the participants can be found on-line at the website http://www.stat.rice.edu/lehmann/lst-Lehmann.html.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/074921706000000347 in the IMS Lecture Notes--Monograph Series (http://www.imstat.org/publications/lecnotes.htm) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Achieving provider engagement: providers' perceptions of implementing and delivering integrated care

The literature on integrated care is limited with respect to practical learning and experience. Although some attention has been paid to organizational processes and structures, not enough is paid to people, relationships, and the importance of these in bringing about integration. Little is known, for example, about provider engagement in the organizational change process, how to obtain and maintain it, and how it is demonstrated in the delivery of integrated care. Based on qualitative data from the evaluation of a large-scale integrated care initiative in London, United Kingdom, we explored the role of provider engagement in effective integration of services. Using thematic analysis, we identified an evolving engagement narrative with three distinct phases: enthusiasm, antipathy, and ambivalence, and argue that health care managers need to be aware of the impact of professional engagement to succeed in advancing the integrated care agenda

HCPRDU Evaluation tool for mixed methods studies

Critical appraisal tool for qualitative studies. Developed by Long et al, at the Health Care Practice R&D Unit (HCPRDU), University of Salford as part of a feasibility study for examining the feasibility of undertaking systematic reviews in social care - Long AF, Godfrey M, Randall T, Brettle AJ and Grant MJ (2002) Developing Evidence Based Social Care Policy and Practice. Part 3: Feasibility of Undertaking Systematic Reviews in Social Care. Leeds: Nuffield Institute for Health