Science and Medicine

Question 1

What is the Scientific Method?

Answer 1

• Observation/experiments
• Explanation (Hypothesis which can be tested)
• Prediction
• Experimentation and data interpretation
• Confirmation (or not) of the Hypothesis
• Peer Review
• Publication (conference/academic journal)

Question 2

What is Evidence Based Medicine?

Answer 2

It is to use the best evidence in the scientific literature to provide the best care of an individual patient

Question 3

Difference between Primary and Secondary studies?

Answer 3

Primary studies

• Direct experimentation (in vitro/in vivo)
• Clinical trials
• Surveys

Secondary studies
- Research overviews (review, systematic review, meta-analysis)

Question 4

What is the Evidence pyramid?

Answer 4

Top:

• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• Randomised controlled double blind studies

Middle:

• Case control studies
• Cross sectional studies
• Case study, series or report

Bottom:

• Read it in a textbook
• Somebody told me