Debate Articles Research Articles

Early treatment of skeletal open-bite malocclusion

Studies were identified by searching the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register and Medline. Randomised clinical trials (RCT), prospective and retrospective studies that had concurrent untreated as well as normal controls, and clinical trials that compared at least two treatment strategies but did not have any untreated or normal control group were included. The following were excluded: case series; descriptive studies; case reports; studies concerning treatment in the permanent dentition/ adult patients, surgically assisted treatment, treatment combined with extractions, treatment with full-fixed appliances; and discussion or debate articles. Year of publication, study design, materials, dropouts, measurements, treatment time, success rate, decrease of open bite and divergence, side effects, costs, and authors' conclusions were recorded. Two independent reviewers assessed the articles independently and a quality evaluation and qualitative summary were performed. A total of 1049 articles were identified of which seven were included in the review. No RCT of early treatment of anterior open bite have been performed. Two controlled clinical trials of early anterior open bite were identified, and these both indicated the effectiveness of treatment in the mixed dentition with headgear or functional appliances (or both). Most of the studies had serious problems with lack of power because of small sample size, bias and confounding variables; lack of method-error analysis or blinding in measurements; and deficient or lack of statistical methods. The quality of the studies was insufficient to allow any evidence-based conclusions to be drawn. RCT of sufficient sample size are still needed to determine which treatment is the most effective for early correction of skeletal open bite. Future studies should also include the assessment of long-term stability as well as an analysis of the cost and side-effects of the interventions.

FOR DEBATE: IS MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT A CLINICALLY USEFUL CONCEPT?

In March 2005 International Psychogeriatrics published its first “For Debate” section on the topic of “should novel antipsychotics ever be used to treat the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)?” (Ames et al., 2005). Following the positive reception of this piece, we have commissioned three further debates, of which this one on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the first to be finished. Further For Debate articles on the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy in treating the depressed elderly, and the utility of neuroimaging methods in the assessment of dementia are in an advanced stage of preparation and will appear in future issues of the journal. Should any reader have suggestions for other worthwhile debate topics I urge them to contact me at ipaj-ed@unimelb.edu.au as the journal's entire editorial panel is keen to make these debates a regular journal feature.

Welcome to Implementation Science

Implementation research is the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of research findings and other evidence-based practices into routine practice, and, hence, to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services and care. This relatively new field includes the study of influences on healthcare professional and organisational behaviour.Implementation Science will encompass all aspects of research in this field, in clinical, community and policy contexts. This online journal will provide a unique platform for this type of research and will publish a broad range of articles – study protocols, debate, theoretical and conceptual articles, rigorous evaluations of the process of change, and articles on methodology and rigorously developed tools – that will enhance the development and refinement of implementation research. No one discipline, research design, or paradigm will be favoured.Implementation Science looks forward to receiving manuscripts that facilitate the continued development of the field, and contribute to healthcare policy and practice.

Designating Opponents in Empirical Research Reports: The Rhetoric of ‘Interestingness’ in Consumer Research

Numerous studies have called attention to the importance of rhetoric inscientific writing by focusing on arguments presented in scientific debate articles. In contrast, citation analysis studies indicate that empirical research articles are generally nonconfrontational in criticizing the work of other researchers. How do empirical research reports establish opposing perspectives to argue against? One rhetoricalstrategy is to be ‘interesting’, which, according to Davis (1971), is the author’s attempt to contradict a taken-for-granted assumption of the reader. Scholars in management, marketing, and consumer research have also cited Davis’ conception of ‘interestingness’ as a characteristic of research that is more influential and intellectually creative. This article presents textual evidence from a volume of the Journal of Consumer Research demonstrating that a majority of researcher-authors of these articles use ‘interestingness’ as a rhetorical framing device in the abstracts, introductions, and concluding sections of empirical articles. However, an analysis of article citations and references suggests that these ‘interesting’ articles are neither more influential nor more innovative than other articles in the same volume.

Tranquillizers and Hypnotics-Sedatives as a Social Problem in Finland and Sweden

This paper documents debates over benzodiazepine-based tranquillizers and hypnotics-sedatives in Finland and Sweden during the period of 1981–1994. It looks at the emergence of benzodiazepine dependence as a social problem in medical journals, newspapers, magazines, and administrative documents. The paper analyses the role of the media, experts, authorities, the drug industry, and patient organizations in the claims-making process. It compares Finnish and Swedish cases and locates the position of patients as self-conscious actors in the debates. In Sweden there was genuine debate where physicians, medical authorities, and patient organizations took part. The public media had an important role in defining the status of the problem. The Finnish discussion was composed of single articles or debate articles, but did not form an interactive debate. Finnish authorities did not debate publicly with physicians or other actors. In the Swedish debate patients took part as self-conscious actors, while patients were missing from the Finnish debate. Finally, the author considers the change in actor relations in medicine, drug, and health politics, and concludes that it may be more and more difficult for the traditional actors to marginalize the patient.

The Immobilized Patient: Functional Pathology and Management

All of those involved in the care of patients with serious problems should be vitally concerned with the numerous effects of immobilization on the structure and function of the human body. I believe that these potentially serious consequences have received far too little attention from the medical community at large. The author of this volume calls our attention to many of the body systems that can be altered drastically by lack of attention to appropriate management during immobility. With modern methods of treatment, many who previously would have died now live only to face physical and mental impairment that can induce a temporary or permanent decrease in mobility. The author reminds us of the historical war that has raged between the proponents of rest and those of early mobilization. Although the volleys still fly in the form of heated debate and caustic articles, we have learned much about the pathophysiology