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When should we change our practice? When should we be cautious?

Abstract:

Suppose you find an article by Bloggs which outlines a comparative study of 50 women eating marshmallows and 50 women without marshmallows and found that the women with marshmallows requested and used less analgesia during labour than those women without marshmallows. Would you adopt the use of marshmallows as part of suggestions for women in labour? Your answer might well be 'Yes it sounds good and it is not likely to be harmful'. What if we then add the information that this group of women were Hispanic Americans, under the care of obstetricians and obstetric nurses? You might then feel that the client group, culture and obstetric practices could differ to your own practice and clients. If we then add that whilst these are the overall results, in Table 1 of results we have the following finding. Does this make any difference?

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changing practice based on research, critiquing research, qualitative and quantitative research