Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 54, Issue 2 , Pages 169-170 , August 2009

Don't Rush to Judge: Drawing Conclusions About Treatment Based on Observational Studies

  • Marc H. Gorelick, MD, MSCE

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Marc H. Gorelick, MD, MSCE, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Corporate Center Suite 550, PO Box 1997, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997; 414-266-2625, fax 414-266-2635

References 

  1. Schmoor C, Caputo A, Schumacher M. Evidence from nonrandomized studies: a case study on the estimation of causal effects. Am J Epidemiol. 2008;167:1120–1129
  2. Pettiti DB, Freedman DA. Invited commentary: how far can epidemiologists get with statistical adjustment?. Am J Epidemiol. 2005;162:415–418
  3. Shrier I, Boivin J-F, Steele RJ, et al. Should meta-analyses of interventions include observational studies in addition to randomized controlled trials? a critical examination of underlying principles. Am J Epidemiol. 2007;166:1203–1209
  4. LeLorier J, Gregoire G, Benhaddad A, et al. Discrepancies between meta-analyses and subsequent large randomized controlled trials. N Engl J Med. 1997;337:536–542
  5. Etminan M, Samii A. Pharmacoepidemiology I: a review of pharmacoepidmiologic study designs. Pharmacotherapy. 2004;24:964–969
  6. Kennedy CC, Jaeschke R, Keitz S, et al. Evidence-Based Medicine Teaching Tips Working Group Tips for teachers of evidence-based medicine: adjusting for prognostic imbalances (confounding variables) in studies on therapy or harm. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23:337–343
  7. Green SM, Roback MG, Krauss B, et al. Predictors of airway and respiratory adverse events with ketamine sedation in the emergency department: an individual-patient data meta-analysis of 8,282 children. Ann Emerg Med. 2009;54:158–168
  8. Oxman AD, Cook DJ, Guyatt GH Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group. Users' guides to the medical literature. VI (How to use an overview). JAMA. 1994;272:1367–1371
  9. Fletcher J. What is heterogeneity and is it important?. BMJ. 2007;334:94–96

 Supervising editor: Kathy N. Shaw, MD, MSCE

 Funding and support: By Annals policy, all authors are required to disclose any and all commercial, financial, and other relationships in any way related to the subject of this article that might create any potential conflict of interest. The author has stated that no such relationships exist. See the Manuscript Submission Agreement in this issue for examples of specific conflicts covered by this statement.

 Publication date: Available online March 12, 2009.

 Reprints not available from the author.

PII: S0196-0644(09)00121-8

doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2009.02.005

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 54, Issue 2 , Pages 169-170 , August 2009

Article Tools