Objective To assess the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) versus traditional methods in nursing students. Methods Computer retrieval was conducted to search for controlled studies comparing PBL and traditional methods. The quality of included studies was critically evaluated and data were analyzed by using The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.0 software. Results A tota1 of 321 articles were retrieved, but only l1 were included. Metaanalyses showed that there was no significant difference between PBL and traditional methods in the objective knowledge of nursing students (SMD 0.12, 95%CI -0.32 to 0.56, P=0.6gt;0.05); but PBL was superior to traditional methods in the training of critical thinking (WMD 11.52, 95%CI 6.29 to 16.74), conflict resolution skills (WMD 8.09, 95%CI 5.02 to 11.16), clinical problem-solving skills (WMD 0.43, 95%CI 0.22 to 0.64), and communication skills (WMD 1.56, 95%CI 0.17 to 2.95). Although no significant difference was identified in the training of clinical decision-making skills, collaborative skills, and self-directed learning skills, PBL tended to be superior to traditional methods. Conclusion PBL tends are associated with better learning results among nursing students compared with traditional methods. However, most trials included in the review were of low quality, so large-scale randomized controlled trials of higher quality are needed to confirm this.
Objective To evaluate the effect and safety of infantile femoral vein blood sampling with vacuum versus disposable needle. Methods Such databases as VIP, CNKI, CBM, Google Academic and Wanfang data were searched to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about infantile femoral vein blood sampling with vacuum versus disposable needle published from January 2000 to July 2010. The studies were screened according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, the data were extracted, the methodology quality was assessed, and meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 15 RCTs were included. Of 3 490 patients in all, 1 770 were in the treatment group and 1 726 were in the control group. The baseline conditions were reported in 14 studies, and the random methods were mentioned in 11 RCTs. All studies didn’t report the allocation concealment and blind method. Only 2 RCTs reported separately that, the degree of neonatal pain was lower in the treatment group (Plt;0.01), and the satisfaction of parents was higher in the treatment group (Plt;0.01). Four RCTs compared the sampling time between the two groups without meta-analysis mentioned due to the disunity of standard, only the descriptive outcomes showed a shorter time in the treatment group. The meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the reject rate of sample quality was lower (RR=0.20, 95%CI 0.15 to 0.26), the success rate of one time sampling was higher (RR=1.20, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.24), the injury of local tissue was slighter (RR=0.62, 95%CI 0.45 to 0.86), and the iatrogenic contamination was lower (RR=0.62, 95%CI 0.45 to 0.86) in the treatment group. Conclusion This review shows that the vacuum sampling is superior to the disposable needle sampling for domestic infantile femoral vein blood collection. Due to the low quality of the included studies with high possibility of bias, this conclusion needs to be further verified by performing more high-quality studies.