Evidence-based Medicine
Video: Why you can’t compare Covid-19 vaccines
2 Apr, 2021 | 09:33h | UTCWhy you can’t compare Covid-19 vaccines – Vox
Opinion | COVID-19: underpowered randomized trials, or no randomized trials?
1 Apr, 2021 | 03:42h | UTCCOVID-19: underpowered randomised trials, or no randomised trials? – Trials
Commentary on Twitter
One important reason why we don’t see any randomised trials of non-pharmaceutical interventions is that they need to have thousands of participants to be sufficiently “powered”, statistically. I think underpowered trials are better than no trials. https://t.co/UsYfPO12kX
— Atle Fretheim (@AtleFretheim) March 31, 2021
Research Methods & Reporting | The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews
30 Mar, 2021 | 03:03h | UTCThe PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews – The BMJ
Analysis of conflicts of interest among authors and researchers of European clinical guidelines in cardiovascular medicine
30 Mar, 2021 | 02:53h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
We've just published in @Clin_Med our analysis of financial conflicts of interest (CoIs) amongst the authors of 5 ESC Guidelines. What we found was quite surprising. We would love to know what you all think!https://t.co/U371ROXGAv
Let's start with a poll 👇🏽
— Benoy Shah MD (@dr_benoy_n_shah) March 28, 2021
Cochrane Library Editorial: Contested effects and chaotic policies: the 2020 story of (hydroxy) chloroquine for treating COVID‐19
28 Mar, 2021 | 22:55h | UTCCommentary and Infographic: Is chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine useful in treating people with COVID-19, or in preventing infection in people who have been exposed to the virus? – Cochrane Library
Original review: Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for prevention and treatment of COVID‐19 – Cochrane Library
Commentary on Twitter
New #VisualAbstract for the @Cochrane_IDG systematic review on #Chloroquine or #hydroxychloroquine for prevention and treatment of #COVID19 https://t.co/U7TnMzQTil Many thanks to @tylerdau & @cg_coleman from @EmoryMedicine pic.twitter.com/tlFKKa31E8
— The Cochrane Library (@CochraneLibrary) March 25, 2021
Opinion | Understanding of research results, evidence summaries and their applicability—not critical appraisal—are core skills of medical curriculum
28 Mar, 2021 | 22:16h | UTC
Commentaries on Twitter
Excellent 2-pager on prioritising understanding of results over critical appraisal in EBM training. (Note: I want both, but understanding results should be first). @LoaiAlbarqouni @Tammy_Hoffmann have experimented with that. https://t.co/Fd88xaqgOu pic.twitter.com/0LYnmUmD4K
— Paul Glasziou (@PaulGlasziou) March 18, 2021
We argue (with Gordon Guyatt) that evidence based medicine educators should spend much more time & emphasis on understanding of magnitude of effect & applicability of results; less time & emphasis to risk of bias in primary studies. Open access at https://t.co/E7NjzJwFxP #EBM pic.twitter.com/nMXp8hVzHb
— Kari Tikkinen (@KariTikkinen) March 18, 2021
Just published, exhorting the #EBM community to wake up to the fact that our teaching should focus on helping clinicians understand research results, not on conducting critical appraisal. @KariTikkinen https://t.co/07Hm8aSnAI pic.twitter.com/m2RWrBvCVT
— Gordon H. Guyatt (@GuyattGH) March 22, 2021
Really interesting article in BMJ EBM. Are we prioritising the wrong things in critical appraisal training? "Understanding of research results, evidence summaries and their applicability—not critical appraisal—are core skills of medical curriculum" https://t.co/gXk1zLVUX8
— MPFT Library (@library_mpft) March 23, 2021
Junior doctors *usually* rely on guidelines/evidence summaries, NOT primary research studies.
"….notion that most clinicians emerging from professional training will regularly evaluate the risk of bias in methods and results of primary studies is deluded."
Seems fair enough… https://t.co/prv2ZuZ6Yp— David Henshall (@DavidHenshall_) March 22, 2021
Evolution of the randomized clinical trial in the era of precision oncology
26 Mar, 2021 | 08:35h | UTCEvolution of the Randomized Clinical Trial in the Era of Precision Oncology – JAMA Oncology
Commentary on Twitter
Food for thoughts: randomized clinical trials in the era of precision oncology
➡️PFS, not OS predominant endpoint
➡️Modest median survival gains
➡️Almost all industry funded
➡️Substantial increase in use of professional medical writers#radonchttps://t.co/k92MEs1eWR— Matthias Guckenberger (@Mat_Guc) March 25, 2021
FDA approval standards for anticancer agents — lessons from two recent approvals in breast cancer
26 Mar, 2021 | 08:30h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Our paper published today in @NatRevClinOncol discussing the dropping of bar for approval of cancer drugs. These two examples highlight why we all should seriously be concerned about this low bar. https://t.co/T27QI00dj2 pic.twitter.com/26Df3fJsoD
— Bishal Gyawali, MD, PhD, FASCO (@oncology_bg) March 25, 2021
Pushing back against U.S. health officials, AstraZeneca says new analysis confirms efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine
26 Mar, 2021 | 09:01h | UTCNews release: AZD1222 US Phase III primary analysis confirms safety and efficacy – AstraZeneca
See also: Latest results put Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID vaccine back on track – Nature AND AstraZeneca’s absurd and unprecedented dispute with regulators, explained – Vox AND Expert reaction to press release from AstraZeneca announcing primary data on safety and efficacy from the US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine – Science Media Centre AND AstraZeneca says COVID-19 vaccine 76% effective in new analysis, to seek U.S. approval – Reuters AND AstraZeneca’s new data showing Covid vaccine slightly less effective than suggested doesn’t worry experts – The Guardian AND Latest AstraZeneca Report Supports Effectiveness Of COVID Vaccine – NPR
Covid: The London bus trip that saved maybe a million lives (about the creation of the RECOVERY Trial)
26 Mar, 2021 | 08:53h | UTCCovid: The London bus trip that saved maybe a million lives – BBC
Related: Covid-19: The Inside Story of the RECOVERY Trial
Commentary on Twitter
Very cool story by @JamesTGallagher about a convo on a London bus that led to the creation of the RECOVERY trial, which has been a shining (& too rare) example of how to do critical research in a pandemic. Bravo @PeterHorby & @MartinLandray h/t @hildabast https://t.co/BRSJLSFXdc
— Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 (@HelenBranswell) March 25, 2021
Perspective | Leveraging Open Science to Accelerate Research
25 Mar, 2021 | 08:37h | UTCLeveraging Open Science to Accelerate Research – New England Journal of Medicine
Opinion | We need to start thinking more critically — and speaking more cautiously — about long Covid
23 Mar, 2021 | 02:28h | UTCWe need to start thinking more critically — and speaking more cautiously — about long Covid – STAT
Editorial | Scholarly communications harmed by covid-19
23 Mar, 2021 | 02:25h | UTCScholarly communications harmed by covid-19 – The BMJ
Commentaries on Twitter
Our new editorial in @bmj_latest
The covid-19 pandemic has accentuated an erosion in civility in academic discourse, leading to deep divisions
Measured, constructive criticism confined to the content, *not the person*, is the basis of academic freedomhttps://t.co/8NVVVTDz5I
— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) March 22, 2021
The pandemic has accentuated an erosion in civility in academic discourse, leading to deep divisions being played out in the media. This is potentially harmful to public trust in scientists and healthcare professionals, say Raj Bhopal and @apsmunrohttps://t.co/31bQm2GJfD
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) March 22, 2021
Opinion | An open plea for dignity and respect in science
23 Mar, 2021 | 02:24h | UTCAn open plea for dignity and respect in science – The BMJ Opinion
Related: Scientists who express different views on Covid-19 should be heard, not demonized – STAT
Commentary on Twitter
Only by listening to and debating honest opposing views, can we hope to overcome the fear and anger that surrounds us. #COVID19 #pandemia
With @iona_heath and Jerome Hoffman @bmj_latest Opinion blog.https://t.co/deGGapwhnS pic.twitter.com/BtUkfhUIV0
— Luca De Fiore (@lucadf) March 22, 2021
Bioethics | “Europe’s Vaccine Ethics Call: Do No Harm and Let More Die?”
21 Mar, 2021 | 21:50h | UTCEurope’s Vaccine Ethics Call: Do No Harm and Let More Die? – The New York Times (free registration may be required)
Related opinion: Covid-19 vaccine adverse events: balancing monitoring with confidence in vaccines – The BMJ Opinion
See also: European Medicines Agency finds AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and benefits outweigh the risks (Statement and commentaries) AND Statement of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) COVID-19 subcommittee on safety signals related to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine – World Health Organization AND Update on the safety of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (statement and commentaries)
Commentary on Twitter
Many bioethicists have a problem with how Europe halted use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Keeping the vaccine available would have allowed people “to consensually protect themselves from a big risk by taking a very small one.” https://t.co/qctELhfFGI
— NYT Health (@NYTHealth) March 20, 2021
Recent Randomized Trials of Antithrombotic Therapy for Patients With COVID-19: JACC State-of-the-Art Review
21 Mar, 2021 | 21:49h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
@JACCJournals: We share a systematic summary of #anticcogulation,#antiplatelet, and #fibrinolysis #RCTs in #COVID19. Amazing work by @AzitaTalasaz and a stellar multidisciplinary team! Figs illustrate areas where we’ll have evidence, & the gaps. Link: https://t.co/t4ksxwjAze pic.twitter.com/0Th3OZBXOY
— Behnood Bikdeli (@bbikdeli) March 16, 2021
Assessment of concordance and discordance among clinical studies posted as preprints and subsequently published in high-impact journals
19 Mar, 2021 | 08:08h | UTC
European Medicines Agency finds AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and benefits outweigh the risks
19 Mar, 2021 | 08:37h | UTCCommentaries: Restoring confidence after the covid-19 Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine pause will be an uphill battle – The BMJ Opinion AND European Medicines Agency: AstraZeneca Vaccine Safe – Benefits Outweigh Risks – Despite Possible Rare Events – Health Policy Watch AND Expert reaction to announcement from EMA on Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots – Science Media Centre AND European regulators say AstraZeneca vaccine safe, but can’t rule out rare events – CIDRAP AND AstraZeneca vaccine safe, but rare risk of blood clots not ruled out, EU regulator says – LiveScience AND European Medicines Agency Finds AstraZeneca Vaccine Safe And Effective – NPR
Pandemic burnout is rampant in academia
19 Mar, 2021 | 08:17h | UTCPandemic burnout is rampant in academia – Nature
Video: Coronavirus Update with Carlos del Rio and Preeti Malani
19 Mar, 2021 | 08:24h | UTCCoronavirus Update With Carlos del Rio and Preeti Malani – JAMA
Opinion | “’It’s a very special picture.’ Why vaccine safety experts put the brakes on AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine”
18 Mar, 2021 | 09:14h | UTC‘It’s a very special picture.’ Why vaccine safety experts put the brakes on AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine – Science (a few articles per month are free)
Related: Update on the safety of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (statement and commentaries)
WHO Statement | The benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks – vaccinations should continue
18 Mar, 2021 | 09:17h | UTCWHO statement on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine safety signals – World Health Organization
Related: Update on the safety of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (statement and commentaries)
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.
Full statement on AstraZeneca #COVID19 vaccine safety signals:
👉 https://t.co/9J6MtxXWK8 pic.twitter.com/fWGzqbjMuE— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 17, 2021
Opinion | “The zero-risk mentality stifling Europe is now killing its people”
18 Mar, 2021 | 09:11h | UTCThe zero-risk mentality stifling Europe is now killing its people – The Sidney Morning Herald
Related: Update on the safety of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (statement and commentaries)
Opinion | “Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Safety: Reports of blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are very likely just background events.”
18 Mar, 2021 | 09:09h | UTCRelated: Update on the safety of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (statement and commentaries) AND What is Going on With the AstraZeneca/Oxford Vaccine? – Science Translational Medicine
UC secures landmark open access deal with world’s largest scientific publisher
17 Mar, 2021 | 02:33h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Good to see that the University of California and Elsevier has reached an agreement in which "all research with a UC lead author published in Elsevier’s extensive portfolio of hybrid and open access journals will be #openaccess by default"
— Robert Kiley (@robertkiley) March 16, 2021