Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health RSS feed: Current Issue. As of 2007, no longer published by Elsevier Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health provides health managers and policy makers with the best evidence available about the financing, organization and management of healthcare. For each issue of the Journal key articles are selected from over 70 of the most authoritative and respected journals in the field and reviewed in the form of a structured abstract and expert commentary. The concise and easy to read format presents the most essential, relevant and practical information, in a form easy to assimilate and understand. Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health covers the following types of studies: • evaluations of financing and organisation of healthcare • evidence-based patient and public choice • health economics • health technology assessment • managing healthcare • promotion of evidence-based clinical practice • public health policy • purchasing Journals scanned by Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health include: • American Journal of Public Health • Annals of Public Medicine • British Medical Journal • European Journal of Public Health • Health Services Research • Health Economics • International Journal of Health Care and Quality Assurance • Journal of Health Services Research and Policy • Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics • Lancet • New England Journal of Medicine Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health provides you with all the best evidence available about the management of healthcare. To order this journal online, visit http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/journals/ebhc http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health1744-224996December 2005 © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001956/abstract?rss=yesOpen access publishing could create a freely accessible information resource with benefits for all aspects of the delivery of healthcare, from where to channel resources for research to engaging a wide range of stakeholders in health policy debates. However, how much this potential can be realised will vary between communities, depending on how much the publishing model is embraced. The main challenge to open access is the transition of funding from subscription-based publishing to this new publishing model.The implications of open access publishing for the medical communityCharlotte Hubbard, Pritpal S Tamber, Vivian Lin, Liz Furler, Stephen Duckett10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.007Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Editorials371373http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001993/abstract?rss=yesEvidence-based medicine is defined by the conscientious assessment of the current best evidence to steer away from opinion based medicine. The evolution of evidence-based medicine has been supported by the Internet, which facilitates retrieval of scientific articles, databases, guidelines, calculators, tools and links relevant to its practice. However access to much original research and current bioscience literature is behind access barriers controlled by commercial publishers, only being available to those with an institutional or personal subscription.Dissemination of science, FUTON bias and open access: implications for evidence-based medicineNarayana S Murali, Amit K Ghosh10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.011Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Editorials374375http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001889/abstract?rss=yes Patients undergoing elective surgery are assessed beforehand to check that they still need the procedure and can safely undergo it.Preoperative assessment by nursesBazian Bazian Ltd10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.001Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Systematic review376380http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001890/abstract?rss=yesThe systematic review in this issue of the journal (pp. 376–380) examines the safety and effectiveness of preoperative assessment carried out by appropriately trained nurses, comparing their performance with that of junior doctors. Nurses have been carrying out preoperative assessment for at least 12 years, since changes to post-qualification training for hospital doctors reduced their working hours.Nurse-led preoperative assessment: safety and effectivenessSusan M. Read10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.002Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Commentary381382http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS174422490500197X/abstract?rss=yesThis article has been retracted at the request of the Author Please see http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.Reason: The author of this review has requested that the Editor withdraw it because it: (i) omits relevant studies, (ii) contains inaccuracies in the tabulated data. The Editor has reviewed these errors and omissions and has agreed that the paper be withdrawn.RETRACTED: Domestic smoke alarmsBazian Ltd10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.009Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Systematic review383388http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001944/abstract?rss=yesSmoke alarms do not prevent house fires. However, if they are working properly, they give occupants an early warning of a fire in their home and enable them to escape in time. In the UK, there are four deaths per 1000 fires when fires are detected by alarms versus nine deaths per 1000 fires in the absence of alarms.Is it time to sound the death knell for smoke alarm promotion programmes?Mariana Brussoni, Elizabeth Towner10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.006Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Commentary389390http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001919/abstract?rss=yes Heart failure is common, disabling and often fatal. It sometimes produces lengthy periods of worsening quality of life with frequent hospital admissions.Comprehensive care in heart failureBazian Ltd10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.003Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Systematic review391395http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001981/abstract?rss=yesResearchers have now published more than 30 randomised controlled trials of chronic heart failure (CHF) management programmes, including the recently reported DIAL trial. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been reported in the literature. They provide a rich source of data about whether these programmes are beneficial and cost effective, particularly whether they reduce the substantial costs associated with recurrent hospital admissions in some CHF patients.Comprehensive care in heart failure: where to from here?Simon Stewart10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.010Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Commentary396397http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001920/abstract?rss=yes Educating patients about their condition and the medication prescribed to treat it is good medical practice.The effects of education on patient adherence to medicationBazian Ltd10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.004Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Systematic review398404http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001968/abstract?rss=yesThe Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was established in 1993 by the Conference (now the Academy) of Royal Colleges and their faculties in Scotland. It exists to develop professionally led, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service in Scotland. This followed a report by a working group of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department (now the Scottish Executive Health Department) which recommended the development of national guidelines as ‘broad statements which relate to an optimum level of care in which current knowledge and experience are balanced against the constraints of available staff and other resources.’Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines NetworkSara Twaddle, Safia Qureshi10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.008Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Evidence-based Medicine in Pratice405409http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905001932/abstract?rss=yesThe development and adoption of healthcare innovation is an important driver of healthcare costs, along with demographic change and increasing professional and patient expectations. The development of new technologies (see for definitions) has quickened recently, with an often fragmentary supply of information that is exciting, yet potentially overwhelming to follow. There are few people able to assess and appraise health technologies, and insufficient resources to pay for all the assessments required. Choosing new and emerging technologies for scrutiny is therefore important. This article explains how horizon scanning and early warning systems operate, and introduces the National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC), part of the topic selection process for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).The National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC): Early warning for new and emerging health technologies in EnglandClaire Packer10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.005Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Concepts, skills and resources410413http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ebhph/article/PIIS1744224905002007/abstract?rss=yesBelow are links to some freely available resources for health professionals and the public about fire safety and medication adherence Fire safety and adherence to medication resources10.1016/j.ehbc.2005.09.012Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health 9, 6 (2005)2005-12-01Evidence-based Healthcare & Public Health2005-12-0196S1744-2249(05)X0028-6Concepts, skills and resources414414