Background For many years it has been claimed that observational studies find stronger treatment effects than randomized, controlled trials We compared the results of observational studies with those of randomized, controlled trials Methods We searched the Abridged Index Medicus and Cochrane data bases to identify observational studies reported between 1985 and 1998 that compared two or more treatments or interventions for the same condition We then searched the Medline and Cochrane data bases to identify all the randomized, controlled trials and observational studies comparing the same treatments for these conditions For each treatment, the magnitudes of the effects in the various observational studies were combined by the Mantel-Haenszel or weighted analysis-of-variance procedure and then compared with the combined magnitude of the effects in the randomized, controlled trials that evaluated the same treatment Results There were 136 reports about 19 diverse treatments, such as calcium-channel-blocker therapy for coronary artery disease, appendectomy, and interventions for subfertility In most cases, the estimates of the treatment effects from observational studies and randomized, controlled trials were similar In only 2 of the 19 analyses of treatment effects did the combined magnitude of the effect in observational studies lie outside the 95 percent confidence interval for the combined magnitude in the randomized, controlled trials Conclusions We found little evidence that estimates of treatment effects in observational studies reported after 1984 are either consistently larger than or qualitatively different from those obtained in randomized, controlled trials

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM200006223422506

A comparison of observational studies and randomized, controlled trials.

Background Cholecystectomy is one of the most frequently performed operations. Open cholecystectomy has been the gold standard for over 100 years. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was introduced in the 1980s. Objectives To compare the beneficial and harmful effects of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy for patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Search strategy We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register (April 2004), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to January 2004), EMBASE (1980 to January 2004), Web of Science (1988 to January 2004), and CINAHL (1982 to January 2004) for randomised trials. Selection criteria All published and unpublished randomised trials in patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis comparing any kind of laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus any kind of open cholecystectomy. No language limitations were applied. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently performed selection of trials and data extraction. The methodological quality of the generation of the allocation sequence, allocation concealment, blinding, and follow-up was evaluated to assess bias risk. Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. Authors were requested additional information in case of missing data. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed when appropriate. Main results Thirty-eight trials randomised 2338 patients. Most of the trials had high bias risk. There was no significant difference regarding mortality ( risk difference 0,00, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.01 to 0.01). Meta-analysis of all trials suggests less overall complications in the laparoscopic group, but the high-quality trials show no significant difference ('allocation concealment' high-quality trials risk difference, random effects -0.01, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.02). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients have a shorter hospital stay ( weighted mean difference (WMD), random effects -3 days, 95% CI -3.9 to -2.3) and convalescence ( WMD, random effects -22.5 days, 95% CI -36.9 to -8.1) compared to open cholecystectomy. Authors' conclusions No significant differences were observed in mortality, complications and operative time between laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay and a quicker convalescence compared with the classical open cholecystectomy. These results confirm the existing preference for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy over open cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy for patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis.

Persistent pain, impaired mobility and function, and reduced quality of life and mental well-being are the most common experiences associated with musculoskeletal conditions, of which there are more than 150 types. The prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal conditions increase with aging. A profound burden of musculoskeletal disease exists in developed and developing nations. Notably, this burden far exceeds service capacity. Population growth, aging, and sedentary lifestyles, particularly in developing countries, will create a crisis for population health that requires a multisystem response with musculoskeletal health services as a critical component. Globally, there is an emphasis on maintaining an active lifestyle to reduce the impacts of obesity, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes in older people. Painful musculoskeletal conditions, however, profoundly limit the ability of people to make these lifestyle changes. A strong relationship exists between painful musculoskeletal conditions and a reduced capacity to engage in physical activity resulting in functional decline, frailty, reduced well-being, and loss of independence. Multilevel strategies and approaches to care that adopt a whole person approach are needed to address the impact of impaired musculoskeletal health and its sequelae. Effective strategies are available to address the impact of musculoskeletal conditions; some are of low cost (e.g., primary care-based interventions) but others are expensive and, as such, are usually only feasible for developed nations. In developing nations, it is crucial that any reform or development initiatives, including research, must adhere to the principles of development effectiveness to avoid doing harm to the health systems in these settings.

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Musculoskeletal Health Conditions Represent a Global Threat to Healthy Aging: A Report for the 2015 World Health Organization World Report on Ageing and Health

In recent decades, we in the western world have almost prided ourselves on our move towards a 'classless' society. Yet a divide of the haves and have-nots is replacing it, especially in health. This is the main thrust of Richard Wilkinson's book.

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The Impact of Inequality: How to Make Sick Societies Healthier

Aim:A large number of studies have addressed the detection of patient satisfaction determinants, and the results are still inconclusive. Furthermore, it is known that contradicting evidence exists across patient satisfaction studies. This article is the second part of a two-part series of research with a goal to review a current conceptual framework of patient satisfaction for further operationalisation procedures. The aim of this work was to systematically identify and review evidence regarding determinants of patient satisfaction between 1980 and 2014, and to seek the reasons for contradicting results in relationships between determinants and patient satisfaction in the literature to design a further robust measurement system for patient satisfaction.Method:This systematic review followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus in October 2014. Studies published in full in peer rev...

Determinants of patient satisfaction: a systematic review:

Objective. To analyse the relationship between patient satisfaction and background factors such as age, gender, health status and pain. In addition, to use background factors to create less biased ranking in comparisons of patient satisfaction between medical specialities. Design. A questionnaire was sent by post to patients who had recently received inpatient care at a hospital within the County of Ostergotland, Sweden. The questionnaire contained 33 questions, 21 of which concerned the quality of health care and patient satisfaction. Setting. Inpatient departments at all four hospitals in the County of Ostergotland, Sweden. Subjects. All patients discharged from the hospital during a period of 6 weeks. Approximately 3400 patients aged 1-94 years responded to the questionnaire, resulting in a response rate of 69%. Main outcome measures. Patient satisfaction index score (PSI). Results. Of the background factors tested, patient age had the greatest explanatory value regarding the PSI, closely followed by experiencing anxiety during admission. With regard to variations in the PSI, about 20% could be explained by the background factors taken as a whole. Gender did not correlate with the PSI, although males were somewhat more satisfied than females. PSI scores differed among medical specialities and, interestingly, when age and other background factors were controlled for, the picture changed regarding the medical speciality that received the best PSI score. Conclusion. The change in ranking among medical specialities after adjustment for background factors emphasizes the importance of including background factors in patient satisfaction analyses in order to obtain less biased comparisons.

Patient satisfaction in relation to age, health status and other background factors: a model for comparisons of care units

To examine the relation of respondents characteristics, and perceived quality dimensions of health care to overall patient satisfaction in out-patient hospital care. A questionnaire concerning the ...

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Patient characteristics and quality dimensions related to patient satisfaction

Chronic pain is associated with large societal costs, but few studies have investigated the total costs of chronic pain with respect to elderly subjects. The elderly usually require informal care, care performed by municipalities, and care for chronic diseases, all factors that can result in extensive financial burdens on elderly patients, their families, and the social services provided by the state. This study aims to quantify the societal cost of chronic pain in people of age 65 years and older and to assess the impact of chronic pain on quality of life. This study collected data from 3 registers concerning health care, drugs, and municipal services and from 2 surveys. A postal questionnaire was used to collect data from a stratified sample of the population 65 years and older in southeastern Sweden. The questionnaire addressed pain intensity and quality of life variables (EQ-5D). A second postal questionnaire was used to collect data from relatives of the elderly patients suffering from chronic pain. A total of 66.5% valid responses of the 10,000 subjects was achieved; 76.9% were categorized as having no or mild chronic pain, 18.9% as having moderate chronic pain, and 4.2% as having severe chronic pain. Consumed resources increased with the severity of chronic pain. Clear differences in EQ-5D were found with respect to the severity of pain. This study found an association between resource use and severity of chronic pain in elderly subjects: the more severe the chronic pain, the more extensive (and expensive) the use of resources.

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Severity of chronic pain in an elderly population in Sweden--impact on costs and quality of life.

Background. Outcomes of previous health economic evaluations comparing minilaparotomy cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been inconsistent.

Objective. To compare costs for minilaparotomy cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and to study changes in quality of life induced by these operations.

Design. Single-blind, randomized controlled trial, run from 1 March 1997 to 30 April 1999.

Setting. One university hospital and four non-university hospitals in Sweden.

Main measures. Cost and perceived health estimation according to the global quality of life instrument EuroQol-5D.

Results. Of 1719 cholecystectomy patients at five centres, 724 entered the trial and were treated with minilaparotomy cholecystectomy or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 362 in each group. Total health care costs were less for minilaparotomy cholecystectomy than for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (median values US$2428 for minilaparotomy cholecystectomy versus US$2613 or US$3006 for laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 100 operations per year and reusable trocars or 50 operations per year and disposable trocars, respectively). There was no significant difference in total costs (including costs due to loss of production) between minilaparotomy cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 100 operations per year and reusable trocars in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (US$3731 versus US$3649, respectively). However, in calculations assuming 50 operations per year and disposable trocars in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, this technique was more expensive than minilaparotomy cholecystectomy (US$4042 versus US$3731). Health-related quality of life was slightly but significantly lower for the minilaparotomy cholecystectomy group 1 week after surgery. One month and 1 year postoperatively no difference between the randomized groups was found.

Conclusion. Total costs did not differ between minilaparotomy cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy with high-volume surgery and disposable trocars, whereas laparoscopic cholecystectomy was more expensive with fewer operations and disposable trocars. The gain in health-related quality of life with laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with minilaparotomy cholecystectomy was small and of limited duration.

Cholecystectomy: costs and health-related quality of life: a comparison of two techniques

Direct health care costs and length of hospital stay related to health care-acquired infections in adult patients based on point prevalence measurements

Mikael Rahmqvist

Papers

Patient satisfaction in relation to age, health status and other background factors: a model for comparisons of care units

Patient characteristics and quality dimensions related to patient satisfaction

Severity of chronic pain in an elderly population in Sweden--impact on costs and quality of life.

Cholecystectomy: costs and health-related quality of life: a comparison of two techniques

Direct health care costs and length of hospital stay related to health care-acquired infections in adult patients based on point prevalence measurements