Research In Clinical Practise

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Research In Clinical Practise

Introduction to Portfolio

The research articles to be critiqued relate to the author’s area of

practice; community nursing and in particular; the cost-effectiveness

of community leg ulcer clinics. The author currently manages a leg

ulcer clinic and an insight into the research underpinning their

cost-effectiveness would be of benefit in her quest to deliver

evidence-based practice in line with the principles underpinning

clinical governance.

Management of venous leg ulcers had advanced considerably over the

last decade. This is due to various factors from greater knowledge of

the aetiology of leg ulceration to more recent developments, such as

dedicated leg ulcer clinics (Dowsett, 2004). However, it is a concern

that leg ulcer clinics are being justified by nurses and organizations

based on uncontrolled studies and narrative accounts (Bosanquet et al,

1993; Fletcher, 1995; Stevens et al, 1997; Thorne, 1998; Audit

Commission, 1999). It has been widely suggested that the establishment

of community leg ulcer clinics could increase healing rates for leg

ulcers and standardise care (Moffatt et al, 1992; Simon et al, 1996;

Stevens et al, 1997). However, research surrounding their cost

effectiveness is extremely limited.

As interest in healthcare research grows, the number of definitions

and explorations of the topic has increased. Most definitions of

research follow a similar theme with the search for knowledge being

emphasised as a fundamental reason for undertaking research studies

(Clifford, 1997). Cormack (2000) defined research as an attempt to

increase the sum of what is known by the discove...

... middle of paper ...

...rities. BMJ, 312, 1648 - 1651.

Simon et al (2004) Management of venous leg ulcers BMJ Online, Vol.

328 (7452) 2004. [Online]

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7452/1358 (Accessed

Jan 2005).

Stevens J, Franks PJ, Harrington M, (1997) A community/hospital leg

ulcer service. Journal of Wound Care. 6, 2, 62 - 68.

Tingle J, and Cribb A, (2002) Nursing Law and Ethics. 2nd ed. Oxford,

Blackwell Science.

Thorne E, (1998) Community leg ulcer clinics and the effectiveness of

care. Journal of Wound Care. 7, 2, 94 - 99.

Thurlby K, and Griffiths P, (2002) Community leg ulcer clinics vs.

home visits: which is more effective?. British Journal of Community

Nursing. 7, 5, 260 - 264.

Valente S, (2003) Critical Analysis of Research Papers. Journal for

Nurses in Staff Development. 19, 3, 130 - 142.

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