Article: Bias in Antidepressant Evidence?

This article from Montreal's The Gazette asks the question, "Is there a bias toward publishing only positive results for antidepressants?"

The article questions the integrity of the evidence based approach. Specifically:

This evidence-based medicine relies specifically and primarily on analysis of clinical studies...However, the integrity of this approach depends on whether the available evidence is comprehensive and balanced. Critics have often cited this "publication bias" or the "file drawer effect" whereby negative studies might not make it to publication.

View the complete article from The Gazette (Montreal).

Recommendations: Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

The Osteoarthritis Research Society International has just released 49 evidence based recommendations for knee and hip osteoarthritis.

From the press release:

The guideline committee was made up of experts from six countries, including 11 rheumatologists, two primary care physicians, one orthopedic surgeon, and two experts on evidence-based medicine.

View the press release or view the complete recommendations from the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (PDF file).

Brought to you by Evidence Based Software

The purpose of this blog is to highlight recent developments in the world of evidence based medicine.

This blog is brought to you by Evidence Based Software.

Abstract: Smart Phones and Evidence Based Medicine

An article published this month in the European journal eLab, reports on a study where medical teams were given smart phones equipped with Internet access to see if having access to evidence based medicine websites would help in patient care.

Abstract from eLab.

Article: Evidence Based Medicine May Reduce Clinical Costs

In an article from The Rutland Herald titled, "Physicians are the cost drivers," the author states:

Evidence-based medicine, that is, medical practice based on the most current research, can reduce clinical costs if physicians prescribe interventions in keeping with the research.

Complete article from The Rutland Herald.

Article: Miracle Workers?

Evidence based medicine just received a mention in the NY Times in an article about the relationship between doctor and patient. From the article:

Ultimately, it is no doubt simply irrational to expect physicians to simultaneously be great clinicians, great scientists and great psychologists and humanists (as well as great accountants). Some are; but a medical system built on the assumption that such mastery can be normative would be an exercise in folly. Perhaps this is why in recent years, the doctrine of “evidence-based medicine” has become so influential in American medicine. By pushing medical providers to make their decisions almost exclusively on the basis of statistics, this doctrine implies that what is good for a group can be assumed to be good for every individual despite the fact that this is often not the case.

Complete article from the NY Times.

Book: Users' Guides to Medical Literature

Description:

Evidence-Based Medicine. From the popular Users' Guides series in JAMA come two state-of-the-art books edited by Drs Gordon Guyatt and Drummond Rennie, with contributions from more than fifty of the most renowned evidence-based medicine (EBM) educators and practitioners in the world. As the culmination of nearly two decades of teaching and research, both of the Users' Guides to the Medical Literature provide the most detailed yet clinician-friendly exposition of the concepts necessary to use the medical literature to solve patient problems. Explore both text and CD-ROM of Users' Guides to the Medical Literature to learn: Why framing the right question is so important How to find and distinguish between strong and weak evidence What's needed to critically appraise the best evidence How to weigh the risks and benefits that precede medical management decisions How to individualize evidence to each patient The Essential EBM Toolkits. Together with the practical glossary, index, appendix of calculations, and laminated quick reference cards, each Users' Guides to the Medical Literature book and CD-ROM constitutes a comprehensive toolkit to support a clinical rounds presentation on evidence-based medicine. CD-ROM (included FREE with either text). Fully hyperlinked and searchable text and graphics Organized, classified, and coded to support electronic outlining, content filtering, and full-text searching Alternative content organizations allow for nonlinear learning experiences Free Access to Interactive Web Site With your purchase of the Users' Guides, you also get an initial free trial subscription to the Users' Guides Interactive Web site at www.usersguides.org . This interactive Web site includes the full text of Users' Guides, alternative browsing paths, references that are hyperlinked to NLM PubMed entries, collections of tips and reminders, interactive worksheets, and additional case scenarios.