Mar 22, 2021
Purpose:
1. Learn the importance of treatment studies (RCTs) in EBM
2. Understand and interpret methods and results of treatment based
studies
3. Become familiar with critically appraising treatment based
studies
Hosts:
Dylan Collins
Levi Johnston
Dakoda Herman
Jayneel Limbachia
Jake Domm
Paper:
Warren, Jaimee, et al. "Antacid Monotherapy Is More Effective in
Relieving Epigastric Pain Than in Combination With Lidocaine: A
Randomized Double‐blind Clinical Trial." Academic Emergency
Medicine 27.9 (2020): 905-909.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acem.14069EBM
Checklist for therapy studies (University of Oxford:
https://www.cebm.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RCT.pdf
Episode takeaway
1. RCTs are considered gold standard in terms of evidence since the
randomization process controls for both known and unknown
confounding variables
2. Understanding how to quickly and efficiently appraise studies by
assessing its methods is an important skill that can help you
assess its utility to your practice and whether the authors
adequately answered the question
3. Use a validated critical appraisal tool. We used the CEBM tool,
but there are others. The GATE from by Rod Jackson is another great
method to learn. Know that sometimes people use publishing
guidelines as critical appraisal tools, like the CONSORT for RCTs,
but these are just work arounds.
4. Be skeptical and curious. If there is a published protocol,
check it. Look at who funded the study. Read the COI and method to
mitigate bias.