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Abbreviations, glossary and references
Intervention Healthcare action intended to benefit the patient, e.g. drug treatment,
surgical procedure, psychological therapy, etc.
Interventional procedure A procedure used for diagnosis or treatment that involves making a
cut or hole in the patient’s body, entry into a body cavity or using
electromagnetic radiation (including X-rays or lasers). The National
Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has the task of producing
guidance about whether specific interventional procedures are safe
enough and work well enough for routine use.
Intravenous The giving of liquid substances intermittently or continuously,
directly into a vein.
Isoimmunisation The situation which occurs when fetal erythrocytes of a different
blood group to the mother leak into her circulation during pregnancy,
and are recognised as foreign by the maternal immune system.
Isoimmunisation is the most common cause of severe early onset
jaundice. See ABO incompatability, Rhesus.
Jaundice The yellow colouration of the sclera caused by the accumulation of
bilirubin in the skin and mucous membranes
Jaundice, visible Jaundice detected by visual inspection
Jaundice, prolonged Jaundice lasting more than 14 days in term babies and more than
21 days in preterm babies (see 1.1)
Kernicterus A term from pathology which means ‘yellow staining of the basal
nuclei of the brain’. This term is often used to refer to the acute and
chronic brain effects of severe hyperbilirubinaemia. There are other
causes of yellow staining of the brain other than jaundice. However,
the term ioften refers to the clinical syndrome and sequelae of
bilirubin encephalopathy
LED (light emitting diode) phototherapy A phototherapy unit that comprises light-emitting diodes rather than
fluorescent or halogen tubes that is positioned above the baby..
Level of evidence A code (e.g. 1++, 1+) linked to an individual study, indicating
where it fits into the hierarchy of evidence and how well it has
adhered to recognised research principles.
Literature review A process of collecting, reading and assessing the quality of
published (and unpublished) articles on a given topic.
Longitudinal study A study of the same group of people at more than one point in time.
(This type of study contrasts with a cross sectional study which
observes a defined set of people at a single point in time.)
Masking See Blinding.
Meta-analysis Results from a collection of independent studies (investigating the
same treatment) are pooled, using statistical techniques to synthesise
their findings into a single estimate of a treatment effect. Where
studies are not compatible e.g. because of differences in the study
populations or in the outcomes measured, it may be inappropriate or
even misleading to statistically pool results in this way. See also
Systematic review & Heterogeneity.
Methodology The overall approach of a research project, e.g. the study will be a
randomised controlled trial, of 200 people, over one year.
Methodological quality The extent to which a study has conformed to recognised good
practice in the design and execution of its research methods.
Multicentre study A study where subjects were selected from different locations or
populations, e.g. a co-operative study between different hospitals; an
international collaboration involving patients from more than one
country.
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