Abstract
Objective: Empirical investigation of the influence of patient self-selection during follow-up in a prospective observational study in 4 in-patient facilities for complementary medicine and discussion of further methodological problems. Methods: 2662 patients treated in the 4 hospitals and included in a prospective observational study had been sent follow-up questionnaires 2, 6, and 12 months after admission. Characteristics and therapeutic success at discharge were compared in patients responding and those not responding. Results: Patients not responding to the follow-up questionnaires tended to be older and to assess the benefit of the treatment less positive than patients who responded (hospital one: 56.2% of patients with a follow-up reported a good or very good response to therapy at discharge compared to 37.7% of the patients without a follow-up: hospital two: 63.7% vs. 54.6%; hospital three: 71.1% vs. 65.8%; hospital four: 78,3% vs. 70,9%). Interpretation: When interpreting the results of the observational study a certain degree of bias induced by selection during follow-up has to be taken into account. Discussion: Other methodological problems discussed narratively include spontaneous improvements, reliability of baseline measures, influence of effective cointerventions, side-effects, outcome measures, feasibility, and efficiency. Finally, recommendations for quality management programs in in-patient facilities for complementary medicine are provided.
Dokumententyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
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Publikationsform: | Publisher's Version |
Fakultät: | Medizin |
Themengebiete: | 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit |
URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:19-epub-16724-6 |
ISSN: | 1021-7096 |
Allianz-/Nationallizenz: | Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich. |
Sprache: | Deutsch |
Dokumenten ID: | 16724 |
Datum der Veröffentlichung auf Open Access LMU: | 29. Aug. 2013, 10:08 |
Letzte Änderungen: | 04. Nov. 2020, 12:58 |