Page 12 - 15Diarrhoeaandvomiting

Glossary of terms

Absolute risk or risk The probability of a disease or an event/outcome occurring (e.g. an adverse
reaction to the drug being tested) in a group of people without the disease or
event/outcome during a specified time period. Risk and rate are two different
measures of incidence, but the distinction between them is relatively recent and
many old studies have used the two words interchangeably. Studies that compare
two or more groups of patients may report results in terms of the relative risk.
Acidosis A term used to describe processes tending to lead to a blood pH less than
7.36. When the pH is less than 7.36, this is referred to as acidaemia. Clinicians
sometimes use the terms acidaemia and acidosis interchangeably.
Acute gastroenteritis See gastroenteritis.
Acute-phase proteins Blood markers of an inflammatory response
Anthropometric measures Measurements of the human body or its parts to enable comparisons between
individuals of different ages, sexes and races to be made, to determine the
difference between normal and abnormal development.
Antidiarrhoeal A drug that provides symptomatic relief from diarrhoea. These include adsorbent
agents (e.g. kaolin, smectite and activated charcoal), bismuth salicylate,
antisecretory agents (e.g. racecadotril) and antimotility agents (e.g. loperamide).
Anti-emetic A drug that relieves nausea and prevents vomiting.
Antimotility agent A drug that slows the transit of gastrointestinal contents.
Antisecretory agent A drug that reduces or supresses intestinal fluid secretion.
Appendicitis Inflammation of the appendix.
Appraisal of evidence Formal assessment of the quality of research evidence and its relevance to the
clinical question or guideline under consideration, according to predetermined
criteria.
Area under ROC curve See receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve).
(AROC)
Association Relationship between two characteristics that helps to predict change in one
when there is a change in the other. The association can be positive (both
characteristics change in the same direction) or negative (the characteristics
change in the opposite direction).
Best available evidence The strongest research evidence available to support a particular guideline
recommendation.
Bias Influences on a study that can lead to invalid conclusions about the study results.
Also known as systematic error or deviation from truth. It occurs as a result
of defects in the study design or the way the study is carried out or owing to
confounding variables. Bias can occur at various stages in the research process,
e.g. in the collection, analysis, interpretation, publication or review of research
data.
Blinding or masking The process of keeping the investigators or subjects of a study ignorant of the
group to which a subject has been assigned. For example, a clinical trial in
which the participating patients or their doctors are unaware of whether they (the
patients) are taking the experimental drug or a placebo (dummy treatment). The
purpose of blinding or masking is to protect against bias. See also double-blind
study, single-blind study, triple-blind study.
Bolus fluids A volume of fluid given quickly.
Capillary refill time (CRT) A test performed on physical examination in which the skin is pressed by the
clinician’s finger until blanched and the time taken for the skin to return to
its previous colour is measured. Capillary refill time (CRT) can be measured
peripherally (in the extremities) or centrally (on the chest wall). A prolonged CRT
may be a sign of shock.

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