Evidence Table Assignment
| Study Citation
| Quantitative Article: Authors, Year |
| INTRODUCTION / METHODS
# of Subjects included | The research article used was “Standaert, Christopher J., Stuart M. Weinstein, and John Rumpeltes.”Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with lumbar stabilization exercises.” The spine journal 8.1 (2008): 114-120.” The researcher utilized an evidence-based approach in the study, and both qualitative and quantitative research methods were being used for the study.
|
| Age | The study exercise encompassed a broad age group of patients ranging from35 years to middle adulthood, i.e. 40-60 years. |
| Gender (# m/f) | The study focused more on the male gender. There was a little comparison research carried out on the causes of chronic lower back pains on both genders as well. |
| Ethnicity | N/A |
| Disease/Disability/ Diagnosis of participants
| Diagnosis of the participants was carried out through physician-assisted diagnosis where the participants described how they felt to the health service practitioner, and the symptoms were used to gather information as well as come up with the causative agent of the ailment. |
| Inclusion Criteria | For the participants to get included in the study, diagnostic criteria were applied in which patients who had a history of chronic lower back pain were more likely to be involved in the research activity. |
| Exclusion Criteria
| On the other hand, participants who had no history of any spinal body pains were excluded from this study activity. This is because the research activity required patients who had a history of spinal related ailments, as this was the focus area of the research. |
| Population / Group or subgroup of interest | Middle adulthood- adulthood was the key sub-group of interest. This is because, as research indicates, the prevalence of spinal related ailments is more prevalent in the above age groups as compared to others. |
| A brief statement of the Problem (i.e. what are the researchers investigating?) | The research problem under study was on coming up with a practical approach in the management of chronic low back pain with lumbar stabilization exercises. |
| Gaps and deficiencies in the literature (i.e. what do we lack in our understanding of this topic?) | The lack of awareness of the various causative factors leading to the occurrence of chronic lower back pains is yet to be fully understood. This is due to the limited research that has been conducted concerning the above field. |
| Significance of the proposed research (i.e. why is this important to study? Why should we care?) | The above research exercise is essential in the medical healthcare profession, given the recent prevalence of the condition. Healthcare service providers have reported an increase in the number of related cases, therefore, leading to the necessity for studying the above example. |
| The stated purpose of the reported research (i.e. what do the authors aim to achieve?) | In the informed study, the authors are trying to provide affordable healthcare to patients by ensuring that there is the conduction of thorough research on chronic back pains and coming up with the most effective treatment approach for the condition. |
| Research Question[s] to be addressed Rq1: Rq2: | 1) What are the leading causes of lower back pains among older patients? 2) Which measures could get implemented to ensure that the likelihood of the occurrence of lower back pains in old adults is reduced? |
| Stated Hypotheses: | Chronic back pains are as a result of old age and the condition d less prevalence in younger generations as compared to older adults. Lumbar stabilization exercise includes the only treatment as well as a preventive measure that could get applied in the control of chronic severe back pains. |
| Are the hypotheses Directional, Non-Directional? | The hypotheses are directional. This is because they point the researcher on the way forward and also give the research activity the direction to follow in the research. |
| Are the hypotheses Descriptive or Inferential? | |
| What type of experimental study design was utilized? | A randomized control experimental study design was utilized in the above research activity. |
| Sampling / Participant recruitment technique How did they get their subjects? | By taking into account the PMH (past medical history) of the patients, as well as physician, assisted diagnosis, it was possible to come up with the most appropriate participants for the study. |
| Sample Assignment technique How did they assign the subjects to treatment groups? | Depending on the similarity of the signs and symptoms observed during the recruitment process, the data was used to assign subjects to various treatment groups as well. |
| Length of the study and timing, frequency of observations | The study activity involved intermittent study observations by the physician as well as the dependency on feedback from the patient as well |
| Outcome measures used (listed out) A: _____ B: _____ | |
| Level of Evidence Use Law & MacDermid Ch.6 | N/A |
| # of Groups in the study | There were 12 groups in the study where the categorization was dependent on various factors such as geographical location among other factors. |
| INTERVENTION GROUP Describe the treatment or intervention that was utilized | The accorded therapy for the study group included physiotherapy in conjunction with lumbar stabilization exercises. |
| How many subjects were in this group? | There was a total of 6 subjects in the group who were assigned to various research stations for the enhancement of the study activity’s efficiency. |
| Location of intervention and any considerations this may have had on the study outcomes | N/A |
| Who administered treatments? MD’s, PT, OT, Nurse? Was one of the authors involved? If so, how does this potentially add bias? | The treatments got administered by nurses under the directives given by the MD’s and PT |
| Was there any training required by treatment administrator? | The training required the treatment administrators to be certified professionals by renowned institutions and have obtained relevant accreditation concerning the services delivered. |
| How much and how often (minutes/days/ weeks/months) | |
| The total length of the intervention? | A total of 5 interventions were conducted. |
| CONTROL GROUP | The control group was present, whose main objective was to come up with a relevant comparison against the study group. |
| Brief description of the control group | The control group comprised of individuals within the same age group who were free of any spinal related injuries or pains. |
| How many subjects were in this group? | There were three subjects in the group |
| Location of control and any considerations this may have had on the study outcomes | N/A |
| Who administered treatments? MD’s, PT, OT, Nurse? Was one of the authors involved? If so, how does this potentially add bias? | N/A |
| Was there any training required by treatment administrator? | Yes, for proper condition of the various research activities as well as study-related exercises, there was the necessity for training to ensure that one was full adept and ready for the task. |
| How much and how often (minutes/days/ weeks/months) | N/A |
| The total length of the intervention? | Each intervention was at a length of approximately 10 minutes thus the total period of the intervention time was approximately 6hrs |
| RESULTS / DATA ANALYSIS
Type of data analysed (Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio, etc.) | N/A |
| Type of Analysis used (Descriptive, Inferential, Comparative, Causal?) | A descriptive analysis approach was applied in the study where problem definition and solution provision was the fundamental approach. |
| Type of statistical test used and rationale? ANOVA vs. t-test, Pearson correlation, etc. | N/A |
| Significant Statistical Results (cut-off values [alpha, SEM, MCID, p values, mean (SD), etc.] probabilities and effect sizes) | N/A |
| Report on any statistical Results that were not significant | N/A |
| Do you feel that the proper statistical analysis used, and why? Refer to Law & MacDermid text | Yes, the researcher has applied the correct statistical analysis in the research given that the numerical figures, as well as the calculations included in the work, are correct. |
| What is your overall interpretation of the results, the study methods, the credibility, and the conclusions as a whole? | The results obtained from the above study were credible and could be used in similar research activities or as a primary source in research activities. |
| Do the authors draw sound conclusions from the results reported? (does what they say make sense with what they observed?) | Yes, there is a concise relation between the findings and the objectives of the study. |
| Do the authors offer limitations to the study? If so, what? | Yes, there was the provision of limitations of the study with the most outstanding limitation being on the lack of enough respondents for the study activity. |
| Do the authors offer future directions for research? If so, what? What would be the next logical progression to study on this topic? | Yes. The future intentions of the research include the intent to incorporate technology in the treatment of related spinal ailments. |
| REFLECTION QUESTION: What did you learn from this exercise? Based on the information obtained from these articles, how does this research impact your understanding of the role of a rehabilitation professional in this practice area? How do you know if you can trust the results that are reported? How will the synthesis of all of this information help guide your clinical practice? | The learning exercise was an educational activity for me as it has helped me increase my knowledge and understanding of the various spinal as well as related lower back pains and the different treatment approaches that could be applied to address the condition. Also, the researcher has used peer-reviewed materials for the = research activity, thereby making the work a reliable source for future reference in similar research exercises. |
List of
Abbreviations (alphabetical):
Chronic low back pain
Lumbar stabilization exercise
LSE
References
Castro-Sánchez, A. M., Lara-Palomo, I. C., Matarán-Peñarrocha, G. A., Fernández-Sánchez, M., Sánchez-Labraca, N., & Arroyo-Morales, M. (2012). Kinesio Taping reduces disability and pain slightly in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised trial. Journal of physiotherapy, 58(2), 89-95.
Rasmussen-Barr, E., Nilsson-Wikmar, L., & Arvidsson, I. (2003). Stabilizing training compared with standard treatment in sub-acute and chronic low-back pain. Manual therapy, 8(4), 233-241.
Standaert, Christopher J., Stuart M. Weinstein, and John Rumpeltes. “Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with lumbar stabilization exercises.” The spine journal 8.1 (2008): 114-120.