A meta-analysis is an analysis of analyses. Specifically, it is an analysis of the combined results of several studies, typically randomised clinical trials. However, other forms of evidence can be adduced in seeking information about effects in medicine. It is possible to perform meta-analyses on data from observational studies and even case series or case […]
Poor old Great Ormond Street Hospital! The hospital, along with several other hospitals and charities, recently found itself prominently highlighted in a rather tawdry debate about the events at the Presidents’ Club where allegations were made of groping and sexual assault at a men-only fundraising gala. And this despite the fact that the event had […]
Doctors and patients are heading in opposite directions: patients increasingly have multiple conditions, while doctors are specialising not just in organ systems but in parts of organs. What are the consequences of this divergence? We have known for many years now that patients have multiple conditions. As the figure from a Scottish study shows, by […]
In the midst of a blizzard of reports about the overuse of general practice it may seem inappropriate to highlight the problem of underuse, but many people are still presenting to general practice too late, or only presenting as an emergency. Most of us are aware of the challenges that an ageing population—or more specifically […]
Homelessness is a neon sign that something is fundamentally wrong with health and housing policies […]
It is time to do better, says Amitava Banerjee […]
Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, announced new steps that the agency is taking to enhance transparency of clinical trial information. The FDA is launching a pilot programme whereby selected portions of clinical study reports (CSRs) for nine recently approved new drug applications will be posted on the agency’s website. […]
It doesn’t seem like much—hardly an offence. A national medical association calling attention to the public health consequences of armed conflict. Business as usual, surely? But not in Turkey. Not under Erdoğan. In January, the Turkish Medical Association warned of the health consequences of the Syrian incursion. Now all 11 members of its Council are […]
Tromsø lies over 200 miles north of the Arctic circle and last week, after months of polar nights it celebrated its first glimpse of the sun; and hosted two international meetings. One on global health and cross national initiatives aimed at promoting solidarity on health. A second on how to foster environmentally and socially sustainable […]
One noteworthy feature of the innovation of the organisation of services in the English NHS is the fascination with the US and the borrowing of its ideas, models of care, and terminology. At the same time, there are plenty who caution against this simplistic importation because of the huge differences between the two countries in […]