topical

Journal Club Summary

Methodology Score: 4.5/5                 
Usefulness Score: 3.5/5
Harman S, Zemek R, Duncan MJ, Ying Y, Petrcich W.
CMAJ. 2013 Sep 17;185(13):E629-34.
 
 
This study was a double blind RCT which demonstrated that using topical LET on minor lacerations before wound closure with tissue adhesive, reduced pain associated with the procedure as a primary outcome, and, resulted in improved hemostasis and significantly increased the number of pain free procedures (NNT=4) as a secondary outcome. The study used excellent methodology which controlled for many confounding variables. The group agreed that the clinical impact was limited by the fact that most children in the placebo group, rated pain associated with the procedure as 1/10 on a visual analogue scale. 
By: Dr. Bharat Bahl
(Presented February 2014)
 
 
Epi lesson – Intention-to-treat (ITT) Analyses  
Intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses are widely recommended as the preferred approach to the analysis of most clinical trials. The basic intention-to-treat principle is that participants in trials should be analysed in the groups to which they were randomized, regardless of whether they received or adhered to the allocated intervention. This particularly becomes a problem when patients are lost to follow-up and no outcome values are available. Authors must clearly indicate how many patients have such values missing.  
By: Dr. Ian Stiell

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