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Abbreviations, glossary and references

Case–control study A study that starts with the identification of a group of individuals
sharing the same characteristics (e.g. people with a particular disease)
and a suitable comparison (control) group (e.g. people without the
disease). All subjects are then assessed with respect to things that
happened to them in the past, e.g. things that might be related to
getting the disease under investigation. Such studies are also called
retrospective as they look back in time from the outcome to the
possible causes.
Case report (or case study) Detailed report on one patient (or case), usually covering the course
of that person’s disease and their response to treatment.
Case series Description of several cases of a given disease, usually covering the
course of the disease and the response to treatment. There is no
comparison (control) group of patients.
Cephalo-Caudal progression This refers to the phenomenon of jaundice progressing from the head
(cephalo) down the trunk as bilirubin level rises, eventually reaching
the legs. Caudal refers to tail so it literally means spread from head to
tail.
Cephalohaematoma Collection of blood that develops beneath the outer layer of
periosteum of a neonate's skull. Clinically, it appears as a firm, tense
mass at birth and resolves in a few weeks to months.
Cerebral palsy A permanent neurological disorders which affects movement
Chalky pale stools This is a descriptive term for the pale stools that accompany
obstructive jaundice, such as occurs in biliary atresia. Since bile is
not excreted from the liver/bile duct into the intestine, the stools are
paler than normal and appear chalky
Checklist See Study checklist.
Cholestasis Term used for a condition where bile cannot flow from the liver to
the duodenum
Chronic bilirubin encephalopathy Persistent brain dysfunction arising from hyperbilirubinaemia
Chronic sequelae Persistent morbidity arising from acute events
Clinical effectiveness The extent to which a specific treatment or intervention, when used
under usual or everyday conditions, has a beneficial effect on the
course or outcome of disease compared to no treatment or other
routine care. (Clinical trials that assess effectiveness are sometimes
called management trials). Clinical ‘effectiveness’ is not the same as
efficacy.
Clinical impact The effect that a guideline recommendation is likely to have on the
treatment, or treatment outcomes, of the target population.
Clinical importance The importance of a particular guideline recommendation to the
clinical management of the target population.
Clinical question This term is sometimes used in guideline development work to refer
to the questions about treatment and care that are formulated in order
to guide the search for research evidence. When a clinical question is
formulated in a precise way, it is called a focused question.
Clinical trial A research study conducted with patients which tests out a drug or
other intervention to assess its effectiveness and safety. Each trial is
designed to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to
treat individuals with a specific disease. This general term
encompasses controlled clinical trials and randomised controlled
trials.
Clinician A healthcare professional providing patient care, e.g. doctor, nurse,
physiotherapist.
Clofibrate A lipid lowering agent used for controlling high cholesterol and
triacylglyceride level in the blood.

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