Assessing the impact of health and clinical research in British Columbia health authorities.

This article describes results of a healthcare research impact survey conducted in two health authorities in British Columbia. A tailored research impact framework formed the basis for the survey created and used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of employees and academic faculty who had completed research in both health authorities. In all, 178 responses were collected for a combined response rate of 34%.

Focussing both eyes on health outcomes: revisiting cataract surgery.

Background: The appropriateness of cataract surgery procedures has been questioned, the suggestion being that the surgery is sometimes undertaken too early in the disease progression. Our three study questions were: What is the level of visual impairment in patients scheduled for cataract surgery? What is the improvement following surgery? Given the thresholds for a minimal detectable change (MDC) and a minimal clinically important difference (MCID), do gains in visual function reach the MDC and MCID thresholds?

Methods: The sample included a prospective cohort of cataract surgery patients from four Fraser Health Authority ophthalmologists. Visual function (VF-14) was assessed pre-operatively and at seven weeks post-operatively.