Orthotics & Prosthetics

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Peer-reviewed journals go through a rigorous process. Other scholars in the field review articles to ensure they meet scholarly and research standards. 

Peer-reviewed articles and journals are considered 'scholarly' -- they are created by scholars and for scholars.

Note that all peer-reviewed journals are scholarly, but not all scholarly journals are peer-reviewed.

Watch this video for more information on Peer-review and types of sources:

Evidence-Based Practice or Evidence-Based Medicine is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. (Sackett DL, Straus SE, Richardson WS, et al. Evidence-based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.)

Research articles found in library resources contain evidence you will use for clinical decision-making. You will find and use many types of sources as you search for evidence. 

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Types of Sources

Primary Research

Randomized Controlled Trials are studies in which subjects are randomly assigned to two or more groups; one group receives a particular treatment while the other receives an alternative treatment (or placebo). Patients and investigators are "blinded", that is, they do not know which patient has received which treatment. This is done in order to reduce bias.

Cohort Studies are cause-and-effect observational studies in which two or more populations are compared, often over time. These studies are not randomized.  

Case Control Studies study a population of patients with a particular condition and compare it with a population that does not have the condition. It looks the exposures that those with the condition might have had that those in the other group did not.

Cross-Sectional Studies look at diseases and other factors at a particular point in time, instead of longitudinally. These are studies are descriptive only, not relational or causal. A particular type of cross-sectional study, called a Prospective, Blind Comparison to a Gold Standard, is a controlled trial that allows a research to compare a new test to the "gold standard" test to determine whether or not the new test will be useful.

Case Studies are usually single-patient cases.  

Secondary Research

Systematic Reviews are studies in which the authors ask a specific clinical question, perform a comprehensive literature search, eliminate poorly done studies, and attempt to make practice recommendations based on the well-done studies. (Note: systematic reviews are still considered original research because they contain a study design.)

Meta-Analyses are systematic reviews that combine the results of select studies into a single statistical analysis of the results.

Clinical Practice Guidelines are systematically developed statements used to assist practitioners and patients in making healthcare decisions.  

(Adapted from Salem State University Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Research Guide)