Science and Medicine Flashcards
What is expected from Doctors?
Critically appraise, formulate simple relevant research questions, apply findings from the literature, understand the ethical and governance issues
What is the NHS mission statement?
To secure, through resources available, the greatest possible improvement in the physical and mental health of the population
Applying evidence based medicine is good because….
Use the best evidence in the scientific literature to provide the best care for an individual patient
What is the Scientific method?
Observation/experiments Explanation which can be tested Prediction Experimentation and data interpretation Confirmation of the hypothesis Peer review Publication
What are the two examples of primary studies?
Direct experimentation
Clinical trials
Surveys
What are the two examples of direct experimentation?
In vitro models
In vivo testing
In vitro models
Molecular biology, cell and tissue culture, isolated tissue and organ
in vivo testing
Animal models and volunteers (artificial control over biological variables)
Hypothesis
Proposed explanation of some observations
Who controls research?
Funding bodies
What is the influence of funding bodies?
Bias
Antiviral flu drug
Tamiflu
How to assess accuracy of information
Meta-analysis
Systematic review
Randomised control trial
Problems with tamiflu trial
- Under recruitment in trials
- No published protocols
- Placebo capsules contained dehydrocholic acid and dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate
- Authors of clinical study reports cannot be identified
- Missing statistical analyses
Review
Exert summary of a number of research studies (may be bias)
Meta-analysis
Integrated analysis of numerical data from all qualifying studies
Systematic review
Objective analysis of all qualifying primary research studies
Andrew Wakefield
falsely claimed that there was a link between MMR vaccination and autism
Peer review
Two people that are experts in the field decide whether the paper can be published
Questions to think about when reading a scientific paper
- why was the study done, what clinical question were the authors addressing?
- what type of study was it?
- was the design appropriate to the research?
