SIUE Pharmacy Professor Participates in Systematic Review for Renowned Cochrane Collection
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dr. McKenzie Ferguson has co-authored an update to a technical review on the topic of patient-controlled analgesia versus other methods of pain control after surgery. The review is part of the Cochrane Collaboration and will guide evidence-based decisions among clinicians.
“I had the pleasure of working with some of the best collaborators in the area of evidence-based medicine,” said Ferguson, assistant professor of pharmacy practice in the SIUE School of Pharmacy.
Ferguson and her co-authors reviewed and analyzed data from multiple randomized control trials to draw conclusions on the use of patient-controlled treatments for pain versus conventional treatments post-operatively.
“Systematic reviews such as this help clinicians guide treatment decisions based not only on efficacy, but also safety,” she added. “This in turn affects the patients who are receiving treatment.”
According to Ferguson, the reviewers determined patient-controlled medication provided superior pain control when compared against non-patient controlled regimens without significant adverse effects.
“The fact that pharmacists can be involved in a project like this, among a collaborative team of health care providers, demonstrates our clinical insight and expertise,” Ferguson remarked. “Not only can this type of scholarship improve patients’ health outcomes, it can also drive policy decisions.
The Cochrane Collection is a global independent network of health-minded individuals aimed at using high-quality information to improve healthcare decisions.
Photo: Dr. McKenzie Ferguson, assistant professor of pharmacy practice in the SIUE School of Pharmacy.
