The aim of this assignment is for you to review one of the selected pathologies outlined below and present three key studies relating to and supporting the use of a commonly used health intervention...

The aim of this assignment is for you to review one of the selected pathologies outlined below and present three key studies relating to and supporting the use of a commonly used health intervention to manage this disease. This will enable you to expand your knowledge in one area of applied science. You will gain the skills required to access current literature, and thus facilitate the underpinning of practice by current scientific research.


Topic
Firstly, choose one of the following pathologies for your assignment: cardiovascular disease (this includes cardiac pathologies, stroke and peripheral vascular disease); type 1 or type 2 diabetes, cancer, or a pathology associated with one of the following body systems - central nervous system, immune, renal, gastrointestinal or respiratory. You may choose a rare pathology (but please check with me that it is a suitable topic



Examples of suitable pathologies would include: asthma, an immunization programme, a screening programme, hydrocephaly or Crohn’s disease.



Secondly, choose a widely used intervention for managing this pathology, such as flixotide in the management of asthma, the meningococcal vaccine in the prevention of meningococcal disease or a comparison of shunts in managing hydrocephaly. Review the literature that explores the biological basis for the intervention you choose.



Thirdly, identify and present three key studies or randomised control trials (RCTs) that support the use of this intervention. State the design of each study, characteristics of the study and participants, the major findings and their relevance within a New Zealand setting (including the ‘numbers needed to treat’). Discuss how the intervention biologically relates to the underlying pathophysiological process. In your discussion comment on how good the evidence is for the use of this intervention. For example is it research-based from RCTs, or other epidemiological studies (case-control, cohort or cross-sectional studies), single case studies or based on expert advice.





Stages of preparing for this assignment