C is for Comparison
What is the Comparison?
In general most (though not all) clinical questions have a comparison. A comparison is the alternative that you want to compare to your intervention. A comparison can also be made between your proposed intervention and no intervention at all.
For example:
- Is ibuprofen as effective in relieving pain after the removal of the lower wisdom teeth as acetaminophen?
- Is there a difference between powered and non-powered toothbrushes in the removal of plaque?
Case:
You meet your new patient Tracey, a thirteen year old female. She is an avid bubblegum chewer. Between bubbles, and after she provides her dental history, she asks, “Is it true that chewing bubblegum with Xylitol helps prevent cavities?” Determined to give Tracey the correct answer you promise that you will do some research and get back to her.
Please think of a short statement identifying a potential comparison in the case above. [You’ll refer back to your statement later in the tutorial]