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How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine Paperback – 14 May 2010
| Trisha Greenhalgh (Author) See search results for this author |
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| Paperback, 14 May 2010 | £6.19 | — | £6.19 |
There is a newer edition of this item:
- ISBN-101444334360
- ISBN-13978-1444334364
- Edition4th
- PublisherWiley–Blackwell
- Publication date14 May 2010
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions14.02 x 1.47 x 21.84 cm
- Print length256 pages
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Review
From the Back Cover
The author's descriptions of clinical research papers and how to critically appraise them are so simply presented as to be understandable by readers at all levels, from student to specialist. Chapters on searching the literature and implementing the evidence provide guidance on using evidence-based medicine in clinical practice.
This fourth edition retains the winning style, and takes in the recent developments and shifts of emphasis in evidence-based medicine and now includes:
- Thoroughly revised and updated chapters on searching, qualitative research, systematic review, and implementing evidence-based practice
- 2 new chapters on quality improvement and the emerging field of complex interventions
This new edition will be welcomed by those who teach and those needing to learn the basics of evidence-based medicine.Praise for previous editions
"One of the greatest aspects of this book is the section relating to searching the literature and whilst we may think we may all practise this on a fairly regular basis under the assumption that we do a pretty decent job of it, this section holds the key to excelling."
From a review in Urology News"This clear and concise book provides an excellent starting point for those interested in finding their way through the medical literature."
From a review in Palliative Medicine
Product details
- Publisher : Wiley–Blackwell; 4th edition (14 May 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1444334360
- ISBN-13 : 978-1444334364
- Dimensions : 14.02 x 1.47 x 21.84 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 345,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 173 in Medical Diagnosis
- 534 in Family Practice Medicine
- 4,938 in General Medical Issues Guides
- Customer reviews:
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I think it is important to establish what the book is and is not. It is an excellent overview of how to read research. It is not (and at 256 pages, you shouldn't expect it to be) an in-depth guide. This book is more of a field guide to those awful, dull in-depth tomes. It gives the beginner, or the un-familiar, an excellent launching pad. I cannot sing its praises highly enough.
Too many people start research methods with a defeatist attitude. It DOES NOT have to be boring. It DOES NOT have to be irrelevant. By taking this supposedly dry subject and presenting it drily, Trisha Greenhalgh makes research critique palatable - even interesting. How? I shall tell you.
As I suggest above, the subject is approached with good humour and well-placed anecdotes. The book takes on the air of a well-told story rather than acadaemia. Take her approach to evidence and marketing:
"This chapter is about evaluating evidence from clinical trials, and most of that evidence is about drugs. If you are a clinical doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist, the pharmaceutical industry is interested in you, and spends a proportion of its multi-million pound annual advertising budget trying to influence you. Even if you are a mere patient, the industry can now target you directly through direct-to-consumer-advertising."
Or on the problem of slow adoption of evidence-based practice by health professionals:
"Health professionals' failure to practice in accordance with the best available evidence cannot be attributed entirely to ignorance or stubborn-ness. Consultant paediatrician Dr Vivienne Van Someren has described an example that illustrates many of the additional barriers to getting research evidence into practice: the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in premature babies."
Dry, perhaps. Easy to read, engaging and amusing - definitely.
Greenhalgh considers research critique as a living debate rather than a dead description. She addresses each point with the air of a connoisseur, examining its finer points and illuminating its less favourable features. Words are not wasted - nearly every sentence makes a point and every paragraph contains a neatly dissected argument. Throughout, she refers to current research and opinion, giving the reader a comprehensive reference list from which to move in whatever direction they wish. The most modern developments are handled in such a way that they may remain relevant for as long as possible. Although I am reviewing (and own and have used) her second edition, I used Greenhaigh's third edition in writing an essay during the early part of 2010 and I found none of the points she made to have been rendered irrelevant by time and distance. Some had altered, but minimally, and there were several solid sources suggested that my own lecturers have never mentioned. A good example exists in the form of her 'useful search field label' and 'useful subheading' tables for OVID Medline - no informatics lecturer has yet brought these to my attention.
In short, I have found this book invaluable. It simplifies the hideously complex and provides easy avenues for further exploration without boring you to the brink of an early and painful death.
I'm not new to reading papers, and thought I was quite good. This book has really taken my ability to read a paper up a notch. Trisha explains clearly what questions to ask, how to calculate from the data features of the studies, and why all that is so important.
This book follows me from table to computer as I read papers and critically evaluate data. Highly recommended if you are interested in asking evidence based questions and evaluating the literature yourself.
Also combine this book with nursing research by Parahoo and you will by sure to pass your research class.
It is up to date.
The author is not embarrassed to admit her difficultly in understanding some concepts.
She uses some amusing examples to help the reader understand some of the more difficult concepts.
I would give it 5 stars if the subject wasn't EBP!!!!!
The dishonourable health secretary, Mr Jeremy *unt could do with reading it. Sadly the author sent him a signed copy (genuinely) but he's never read and continues to twist statistics he doesn't understand.





