Introduction
The study by Verkleij et al. (2015) addresses a focused research question. The main task set by the researchers was to “assess the effectiveness of diclofenac compared with paracetamol throughout 2, 4, and 12 weeks in patients with knee osteoarthritis.” A PICO approach was used when developing the main research question regarding the effectiveness of diclofenac over paracetamol.
Hence, the researchers indicated that for patients with osteoarthritis who have become the center of scientific work, the interventions that will be applied and the outcomes of the examination are given. The assignment of participants was randomized; each of their patients was treated either with diclofenac or paracetamol. Each of the 104 participants in the scientific work was accounted for at its conclusion and the results of the 12-week follow-up assessment.
Methodology
During the study, participants were ‘blinded’; they did not know what they were assigned, and an allocation sequence was conducted using sealed envelopes. The groups in the study cannot be characterized as entirely identical since randomization was used. At the same time, all participants suffered from osteoarthritis and knee pain. Outcomes could be influenced by a shift to a non-randomized study that provides insight into the “real-world performance of therapeutic products” (Sarri et al., 2022, p. 109). Each of their groups of participants received a standard of care, a precise study protocol was published, and each follow-up interval was the same for each group. The study showed participants a suitable sample and setting and obtained valuable results.
Data Collection, Instruments, Analysis
Among the tools used to collect data were the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and the numerical rating scale. Data for the latter was collected from 2 and 4 weeks of patient records. Questionnaires were used at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-week follow-ups and radiographs. Statistical analysis was used to examine the data, including KOOS pain score and one-sided testing. These methods of collecting information are appropriate because they provide direct patient feedback (Baines et al., 2018; Berger et al., 2020).
Results
The results of the study were presented in sufficient detail and comprehensively. In the study, they are divided into primary and secondary outcomes. The first was divided into KOOS pain and function and Daily knee pain severity, which did not show a significant difference between using paracetamol and paracetamol for treating knee pain in osteoarthritis. Secondary outcomes also showed no significant difference between reports by participants who took paracetamol or paracetamol. The information derived during the statistical analysis was provided with a figure showing the data obtained.
Summary
A research paper conducted by Verkleij et al. (2015) on the efficacy of diclofenac versus paracetamol in knee osteoarthritis is a valuable source. First, this is because it compares the two most commonly used medications for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The results showed that the use of these drugs had no significant differences, and the patients taking them did not have significant results.
At the same time, Shep et al. (2020), in another randomized trial, proved that “the combination of curcuminoid complex and diclofenac showed a greater improvement in pain and functional capacity with better tolerance” (p. 1). This confirms that paying attention to third-party research is valuable when deciding to change practices or patient care. I would use this article to change the practice or recommend changes to care. This study had difficulties regarding the omissions due to the open-labeled design in which patients and GPS knew about the assignment treatment and the likelihood of bias.
References
Baines, R., Regan de Bere, S., Stevens, S., Read, J., Marshall, M., Lalani, M., Bryce, M. & Archer, J. (2018). The impact of patient feedback on the medical performance of qualified doctors: a systematic review. BMC Medical Education, 18(1), 1-12. Web.
Berger, S., Saut, A. M., & Berssaneti, F. T. (2020). Using patient feedback to drive quality improvement in hospitals: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 10(10), e037641. Web.
Sarri, G., Patorno, E., Yuan, H., Guo, J. J., Bennett, D., Wen, X., Zullo, A. R., Largent, J., Panaccio, M., Gokhale, M., Moga, D. C., Ali, M. S., & Debray, T. P. (2022). Framework for the synthesis of non-randomised studies and randomised controlled trials: a guidance on conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis for healthcare decision making. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, 27(2), 109-119. Web.
Shep, D., Khanwelkar, C., Gade, P., & Karad, S. (2020). Efficacy and safety of combination of curcuminoid complex and diclofenac versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized trial. Medicine, 99(16). Web.
Verkleij, S., Luijsterburg, P., Willemsen, S., Koes, B., Bohnen, A., & Bierma – Zeinstra, S. (2015). Effectiveness of diclofenac versus paracetamol in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 65(637), E530–E537. Web.