Literature searches: what databases are available?
Many types of research require a search of the medical literature as part of the process of understanding the current evidence or knowledge base. This can be done using one or more biomedical...
View ArticleAn introduction to different types of study design
Study designs are the set of methods and procedures used to collect and analyze data in a study. Broadly speaking, there are 2 types of study designs: descriptive studies and analytical studies....
View ArticleJournal club: tips for setting up a student journal club
During my first semester as a physical therapy student, I created a student journal club. I wanted to create a platform in which students in my class could feel more comfortable discussing articles and...
View ArticleGrey literature and their sources
The following discussion will attempt to define grey literature and its possible sources. Contents: Introduction to grey literature Classification of sources Discussion Conclusion References...
View ArticleWhat are the most effective ways to improve interpersonal communication...
In this blog, Charlotte and Sophie (final year medical students) discuss a recent Cochrane review that assessed ‘Interventions for improving medical students’ interpersonal communication in medical...
View ArticleWhat is data dredging?
What is data dredging? How does it affect the p-value? What is its impact on the world around us? The following discussion will attempt to define data dredging and provide an answer to such questions....
View ArticleSearch of clinical trial registries in systematic reviews: a practice or just...
The following is a resource review of an interesting study assessing the impact of searching clinical trial registries in systematic reviews. The paper is: Impact of searching clinical trial registries...
View ArticleCochrane Early Career Professionals: join the team!
The Cochrane Early Career Professionals (ECP) group aims to provide its members opportunities to enhance their knowledge, skills, and expertise by providing a platform for international networking with...
View ArticleTrip Database
Trip and Students 4 Best Evidence have worked together for many years, and members of S4BE get free access to Trip’s subscription version – Trip Pro. Trip has recently had a major revamp so now seems a...
View ArticleMultivariate analysis: an overview
Overview Data analysis is one of the most useful tools when one tries to understand the vast amount of information presented to them and synthesise evidence from it. There are usually multiple factors...
View ArticleIs there a justification for using intraosseous vascular access first-line in...
During the final year of their Paramedic Science (BSc Hons) course at Oxford Brookes University, students carry out a literature review and critical appraisal of a topic relevant to their future...
View ArticleEconomic analysis part 1: an introduction to the topic
This is the first of a three-part blog which will provide an introduction to economic analysis (part 1), an explanation and examples of the different types of economic evaluation (part 2), and a more...
View ArticleMeasures of central tendency in clinical research papers: what we should know...
Introduction Measures of central tendency (MCT) are values that help us understand where the middle of our dataset is and thus, around what value our dataset gravitates. Traditionally, we can divide...
View ArticleEconomic analysis part 2: types of economic evaluation
This is the second in a three-part blog which will provide explanation and examples of the most common techniques used in economic evaluation. Part one was an introduction to economic analysis and part...
View ArticleCochrane Climate-Health Working Group welcomes new members
As people around the planet observe World Environment Day on June 5, those of us working within Cochrane may wonder how we can contribute to alleviating the world’s environmental problems. In recent...
View ArticleWhy was the CONSORT Statement introduced?
A well designed and accurately implemented randomized controlled trial (RCT) provides the most reliable evidence on the efficacy of healthcare interventions. However, bias may occur due to inadequate...
View ArticleIntroducing the MEDICS Initiative
Introduction MEDICS (short for Medical Education in Data Interpretation Curricula in Statistics) is now one of S4BE’s partners! The primary vision of MEDICS is to ensure a fundamental level of medical...
View ArticleEconomic analysis part 3: Key elements of economic analysis in health
This is the third in a three-part blog which will look at a few aspects of the topic in more detail like the cost-effectiveness plane, discount rates, and other key elements in health economic...
View ArticleShared decision making: a vital aspect of everyday care in all healthcare...
Shared decision-making (SDM) is a collaborative process between physician and patient that is applicable to any clinical decision, whether diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive in nature (1,2). SDM is...
View ArticleTopical Corticosteroids and Pregnancy
In this blog post, I will provide my own summary of a 2015 Cochrane systematic review: “Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy“. Introduction Topical corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory and...
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