is inpatient palliative medicine evidence-based?
Keeley PW; Waterhouse ET; Noble SI Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. paul.keeley@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk BACKGROUND: In 2001, Good and Stafford published a study attempting to show that inpatient palliative medicine is evidence-based. AIM: To critically examine the papers cited in support of the claim that palliative medicine is evidence-based. METHOD: All the papers cited were re-examined by at least two reviewers. The papers were graded using a tool used in the production of 22 evidence-based national clinical guidelines over the past three years. Differences of opinion about quality were resolved by discussion or independent arbitration. RESULTS: The 41 papers cited by Good and Stafford included 25 randomized controlled trials (RCT), six other controlled studies and 10 uncontrolled studies. Sample size. Mean sample size was 160 (range 9-1404).
