title: Pre-operative education--a review of the research design.
abstract: Trials on the effectiveness of providing people with education before surgery have suggested a beneficial effect. Although this has been demonstrated through meta-analyses, the results from individual studies have not always shown significant differences between control and experimental groups. This could be a product of the design of the studies. Hence this paper examines the research literature on pre-operative education in the light of modern standards in design and reporting of randomised controlled trials. Patient assignment, blinding of participants and researchers, follow-up procedures and statistical analyses are considered. The theoretical framework underpinning this body of research and ethical issues are discussed. Although there are a relatively large number of studies on pre-operative education the conclusion is that there is considerable room for improvement in trial design as a basis for promoting evidence based nursing.
authors.affiliation: Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shuldham
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design; D013223:Statistics as Topic