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Fatigue Sections
Author Bio
Introduction
Fatigue in Medical Illness
Fatigue Defined
Research Questions
Measurement and Assessment
Fatigue Measurement
Related Constructs
Designing Fatigue Surveys
Case Definition
Data Collection
Maximizing Completion
Currently selected section: Designing Intervention Trials
Controlled Trials
Selecting Study Procedures
Issues in Data Analysis
Conclusion




Chapter 9: Fatigue: Issues in Designing Fatigue Intervention Trials
        

Question 12.1

A new education program on sleep hygiene has been designed by you and your colleagues for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Although it appears to address an unmet need, there are costs involved, including teaching time and reproduction of audiotapes and patient diaries, and you would like to determine whether there are demonstrable positive outcomes that would justify these expenditures. A randomized controlled comparison would be best, but is not possible because of limited resources and logistical concerns, including the inability to prevent diffusion of information to all patients by an enthusiastic nursing staff. Consider three possible designs:

Design #1
Design #2
Design #3

Which of these designs is likely to provide the most informative data?

Selection ADesign #1 is best because sources of systematic bias can be reduced as all patients undergo a similar approach to cancer therapy and monitoring, and all patients can be assessed by the same group of clinicians.
Selection B Design #2 is best because sources of systematic bias can be reduced as diffusion of the intervention is unlikely, and patients are carefully selected and monitored over time.
Selection C Design #3 is best because sources of systematic bias can be reduced as diffusion of the intervention is unlikely, and patients are carefully selected and monitored over time.

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