title: Conceptual and methodologic problems in the evaluation of a new burn treatment modality.
abstract: This article describes and analyzes major conceptual and methodologic problems that occurred during the implementation and evaluation of a new home-based burn treatment modality. Problems described include those of conceptualization, measurement, patient sampling, and follow-up, data collection, and analysis. The origins of each specific problem are discussed along with their effects on the implementation of the project and project outcomes. Solutions for each set of problems are suggested.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Coombs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimick
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bronstein
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bowens
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design