Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has a high mortality and is associated with significant morbidity. Prior outcome studies have focused predominant on short-term outcomes (6-12 months). We assessed longitudinal neurocognitive, emotional, and quality of life in ARDS survivors at hospital discharge, and 1 and 2 years after hospital discharge using neuropsychologic tests and emotional and quality-of-life questionnaires. Neurocognitive sequelae occurred in 73% (54 of 74) of ARDS survivors at hospital discharge, 46% (30 of 66) at 1 year, and 47% (29 of 62) at 2 years. ARDS survivors report moderate to severe depression (16% and 23%) and anxiety (24% and 23%) at 1 and 2 years, respectively. The ARDS survivors had decreased quality of life, with the physical domains improving at 1 year, with no additional change at 2 years. Role emotional, pain, and general health did not change from hospital discharge to 2 years. Mental health improved during the first year and declined at 2 years. ARDS results in significant neurocognitive and emotional morbidity and decreased quality of life that persists at least 2 years after hospital discharge. ARDS can cause significant long-term, brainrelated morbidity manifest by neurocognitive impairments and decreased quality of life.

In general, an appreciation of the standards of qualitative research and the types of qualitative data analyses available to researchers have not kept pace with the growing presence of qualitative studies in medical science. To help rectify this problem, the authors clarify qualitative research reliability, validity, sampling, and generalizability. They also provide 3 major theoretical frameworks for data collection and analysis that investigators may consider adopting. These 3 approaches are ethnography, existential phenomenology, and grounded theory. For each, the basic steps of data collection and analysis involved are presented, along with real-life examples of how they can contribute to improving medical care.

Findings from our study suggest a glucose level > or =160 mg/dl within the first 24 h of admission following TBI is associated with poor outcomes irrespective of severity of injury, and this presents a timeframe for which active therapeutic interventions may improve clinical outcomes. Prospective efficacy trials are needed to corroborate these findings.

Quantitization refers to transforming qualitative data into numerical format. Approaches to quantitization include dichotomizing qualitative themes and counting qualitative codes. Statistical analysis of themes and code counts has the potential to produce valuable information for mixed methods researchers. Examples of quantitized statistical analysis are presented along with ways in which the results can provide useful insights. With regard to analyzing code counts, due to limitations associated with traditional parametric and nonparametric tests of significance, permutation testing is offered as a rigorous alternative. A detailed example of permutation testing using readily available resampling software is provided.

The study demonstrated that pharmacy services improved adherence to dornase alfa.