Stats #31: How to Read a Medical Journal Article (Obsolete)
The class "How to Read a Medical Journal Article" is obsolete. I no longer offer this class. In its place, I am offering:
- Stats #32: Statistical Evidence. Apples to Oranges. Choice of the control group in research studies;
- Stats #33: Statistical Evidence. Who Was Left Out? Exclusions and dropouts in research studies;
- Stats #34: Statistical Evidence. Mountain or Molehill? Clinical significance in research studies
These three (3) classes expand upon the material and provide more opportunities for practice exercises with real journal articles.
I am keeping this web page up for historical and reference purposes.
This three hour training class will give you a general introduction in how to read medical journal articles. The medical journals are filled with research on new medical therapies. What should you look for in this research? How do you gauge the strength of evidence? When should you change your medical practices? The answers lie not in how the research data was analyzed but in how it was collected. Simple factors like how the research subjects were recruited determine the strength of evidence in a research paper. When you are reading a journal article, just ask yourself five simple questions: Who did the choosing?; Was there a plan?; Who knew what when?; Who was left out?; and How much did things change?
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
- assess the strength of evidence in a journal article;
- identify potential problems with observational studies;
- explain why "blinding" is important;
- describe the problems caused by drop-outs.
This class does not qualify for IRB Education Credits (IRBECs).
Please bring a copy of a research paper with you to class. The paper should compare two or more groups of patients and it should have some direct numerical measurements in it. If you have difficulty finding a good example, I will provide some interesting journal articles for you to use.
Some interesting examples:
A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch. L. Rosa, E. Rosa, L. Sarner, S. Barrett. Jama 1998: 279(13); 1005-10. [PDF]
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination and Bowel Problems or Developmental Regression in Children with Autism: Population Study. B. Taylor, E. Miller, R. Lingam, N. Andrews, A. Simmons, J. Stowe. Bmj 2002: 324(7334); 393-6. [PDF]
Obstetric Care and Proneness of Offspring to Suicide as Adults: Case-Control Study. Bertil Jacobson, Marc Bygdeman. British Medical Journal 1998: 317(7169); 1346-1349. [PDF]
Midline Episiotomy and Anal Incontinence: Retrospective Cohort Study. Lisa B Signorello, Bernard L Harlow, Amy K Chekos, John T Repke. British Medical Journal 2000: 320(7227); 86-90. [PDF]
Postmarketing Surveillance Study of a Non-Chlorofluorocarbon Inhaler According to the Safety Assessment of Marketed Medicines Guidelines. J. G. Ayres, C. D. Frost, W. F. Holmes, D. R. Williams, S. M. Ward. British Medical Journal 1998: 317(7163); 926-30. [PDF]
A Comparison of Active and Simulated Chiropractic Manipulation as Adjunctive Treatment for Childhood Asthma. J. Balon, P. D. Aker, E. R. Crowther, C. Danielson, P. G. Cox, D. O'Shaughnessy, C. Walker, C. H. Goldsmith, E. Duku, M. R. Sears. New England Journal of Medicine 1998: 339(15); 1013-20. [PDF]
Contents
- Overview of the STATS web pages
- Consulting services that I provide
- What's wrong with medical research
- How to read a medical journal. Introduction.
- Who did the choosing?
- Was there a plan?
- Who knew what when?
- Who was left out?
- How much did things change?
- Please fill out an evaluation form