Evidence Based Medicine

Dollars and Sense, Baby and Bathwater: The Case for CAM Research

David Katz, M.D. | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: Big Pharma, Healthy Living Health News, Katz, Research, Coenzyme Q10, Drug Companies, Ginseng, Osteoarthritis, Alternative Medicine, Dr. David Katz, Echinacea, Jama, Integrative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Evidence Mapping, Massage Therapy, Evidence-Based Medicine, Heart Failure, Nccam, Nih, Healthy Living News
David Katz, M.D.

If we are prepared to acknowledge the widespread bullying to which both science and sense are subject at the hands of the almighty dollar, we might commit ourselves to the systematic effort of distinguishing the two.

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Choosing (Medicine) Wisely: Good Answers for Good Questions

David Katz, M.D. | Posted 04.09.2012

Read More: X-Rays, Healthy Living Health News, Acp, Physicians, Health Care Costs, Intuistics, Consumer Reports, Medical Testing, Internal-Medicine, Health Care Rationing, Dr. David Katz, Clinical Epidemiology, Choosing Wisely, Aarp, Evidence-Based Medicine, Abim, Routine Tests, Gps-Soul, Routine Screening Tests, Routine Medical Tests, Routine Lab Tests, Healthy Living News
David Katz, M.D.

Make your standard of care better than standard. Be a good boss -- ask good questions, get good answers. By doing so, you can help ensure that you and your doctor are always diligent, and choosing wisely -- together.

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I'm Biased and So Are You

Eric Korpela | Posted 04.06.2012

Read More: Quackery, Science, Evidence Based Decision Making, Crime, Bias, Evidence-Based Medicine, Scientists, Selection Bias, Science News
Eric Korpela

Biases are very important to the sciences. That's primarily that you have to understand them in order to avoid or correct for them. The most famous bias is probably the "selection bias."

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New Report Finds Great Cost Savings From Homeopathy

Dana Ullman | Posted 05.23.2012

Read More: Homeopathic Remedies, Complementary and Alternative Therapies, Health Economics, Swiss Government, Switzerland, Cost-Effectiveness, Integrative Medicine, Homeopathy, Dana Ullman, Evidence-Based Medicine, Swiss Homeopathy, Switzerland Government Homeopathy, Switzerland Alternative Medicine, Natural Health, Switzerland Homeopathy, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

In this day and age of economically-challenging times for both individuals and governments, this report from the Swiss government has confirmed the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of homeopathic treatment.

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Can Strong Prayer Bend The Medical Cost Curve?

Michael L. Millenson | Posted 04.30.2012

Read More: Health Care Coverage, Psychiatric Drugs, Prayer, Health Care Costs, David Healy, Faith Healing, Evidence-Based Medicine, Religion and Science, Prayer and Meditation, Religion News
Michael L. Millenson

Appealing to the Almighty offers awe-inspiring economic potential. In the Bible, both Moses and Jesus heal lepers. Think what they could do with diabetes or cancer! Still, the question remains whether prayers by ordinary people can produce an equivalent clinical impact.

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The Swiss Government's Breakthrough Report On Homeopathic Medicine

Dana Ullman | Posted 04.16.2012

Read More: Homeopathic, David Sackett, Swiss Government, Switzerland, Cost-Effectiveness, Homeopathic Research, Complementary Medicine, Homeopathy, Alternative Medicine, Evidence-Based Medicine, Switzerland Homeopathic Medicine, Natural Health, Swiss Homeopathic Medicine, Homeopathic Medicine, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

The Swiss government's report on homeopathic medicine represents the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government and was just published in book form in English.

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Comparative Effectiveness Research

Bruce A. Barron | Posted 03.27.2012

Read More: Cer, Randomized Clinical Trials, Evidence Based Medicine, Comparitive Effectiveness Research, Rcts, Medical Research, Science News
Bruce A. Barron

Many believe the best opportunity to reduce the rate of increase in the cost of medical care is comparative effectiveness research, CER.

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How Laughter Helps Veterans Deal With Traumatic Brain Injuries

Joseph Bobrow | Posted 02.28.2012

Read More: Resilience, Trauma, Afghanistan Veterans, Tbi, Mental Health, Evidence Based Medicine, Ptsd, Iraq Veterans, Veterans, Traumatic Brain Injury, Impact News
Joseph Bobrow

Mauricio provided comic relief at one retreat. In the large group, he challenged his fellow Marine Kenny by claiming that, of the two Master Sergeants...

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Medical Practice and Government Regulation

Bruce A. Barron | Posted 01.08.2012

Read More: Medical-Devices-Safety-Act, British Medical Journal, Evidence-Based Medicine, Adverse Drug Effects, Healthy Living Health News, Evidence and Medicine, Healthy Living News
Bruce A. Barron

This is hard to believe, but the standard for approval of medical devices is safety and effectiveness, which is interpreted to mean a new device is equivalent to a previously-approved device.

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The Disinformation Campaign Against Homeopathy

Dana Ullman | Posted 11.14.2011

Read More: Homeopathic, Homeopathy, Evidence-Based Medicine, Disinformation, Healthy Living Body, Personal Health, Homeopathy and Disinformation, Skepticism and Homeopathy, Propaganda and Homeopathy, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

Because of the economic, philosophical and scientific threat that the paradigm and practice of homeopathy represents, the vitriol and antagonism still exists. It is therefore enlightening to expose the disinformation.

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Questioning The 'Guardians Of Science'

David Katz, M.D. | Posted 08.31.2011

Read More: Katz, Healthy, Science, Evidence, Alternative Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Health, Dr. David Katz, The Atlantic, Complementary Medicine, Cam, News, Snake Oil, Conditions, Evidence-Based Medicine, Healthy Living Body, Healthy Living Health News, Healthy Living News
David Katz, M.D.

So while I suppose I am indulging in some self-defense, I am far more concerned with defending science. Because the self-proclaimed guardians of science are denigrating it, every day.

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Exploring The Research On Homeopathic Treatment For Fibromyalgia

Dana Ullman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Medical Fundamentalists, Skeptics, Fibromyalgia, British Medical Journal, Denialists, Homeopathy, Dana Ullman, Homeopathic Medicine, Evidence-Based Medicine, Arthritis, Rheumatology, Home News
Dana Ullman

The body of scientific evidence showing efficacy of individualized homeopathic treatment in the care of patients with fibromyalgia suggests significant benefits.

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On the Issues from Abortion to War & Peace

Robert David Steele | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Corporate Personality, Social Security, Governance, Electoral Reform, Home Rule, Children, Economy, Taibbi, Agriculture, Secession, Failure, Eat Local, Middle East, Values, Principles, Society, Technology, Constitution, Health Care, Government Reform, Evidence-Based Medicine, Family, Issues, Economic, Abortion, Paradigms, Preventive Medicine, Legitimate Grievances, Budget, Committee on a Unified Independent Party, Tax Reform, National Council for Dialog and Deliberation, Transparency, Education, Nullification, Corporations, Water, Griftopia, Call to Arms, Social Issues, Politics News
Robert David Steele

I want to put this somewhat intellectual blog posting into perspective. Below is a quote from Matt Taibbi's new book, Griftopia-Bubble Machines, Vamp...

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Science For Sale: Protect Yourself From Medical Research Deception

Mark Hyman, MD | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Mark Hyman MD, Medical Research, Medical Studies, Medical Study, Evidence-Based Studies, Evidence-Based Medicine, Healthy Living News
Mark Hyman, MD

Business interests and the incestuous relationship between scientists and industry have corrupted the landscape of medical research.

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Homeopathy: A Healthier Way To Treat Depression?

Dana Ullman | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Mental Illness, Disease Suppression, Depression, Homeopathic, Mental Health, Naturopathic Medicine, Homeopathy, Homeopathic Medicine, Evidence-Based Medicine, Dana Ullman, Health, Foods for Depression, Alexa Ray Joel, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

The premise behind homeopathy is that symptoms of illness are not just something "wrong" with the person but are actually efforts of their bodymind to fight infection and/or to adapt to stress.

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Holes In The Evidence On The Value Of Screening Mammograms

Dr. Elaine Schattner | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Women's Health, Breast Cancer, Mammography, Evidence-Based Medicine, Breast Cancer Survival, Breast Cancer Screening, Health, Healthy Living News
Dr. Elaine Schattner

While the precise value of breast cancer screening by mammography remains uncertain, a recent paper confirms the marked progress in overall survival trends among women who have breast cancer.

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Health Data is Useful... if it Informs Conversations

Roni Zeiger | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Journal of Participatory Medicine, Health Conversations, E-Patients, Evidence-Based Medicine, Randomized Controlled Trials, Participatory Medicine, Healthy Living News
Roni Zeiger

Even when good evidence suggests a given course of treatment or testing, decisions often include complex pros and cons. What should we do?

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The Mass Production of Mental Illness and What To Do About It

Anis Shivani | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Thomas Szasz, Dopamine, Walden Two, Dsm, Drug Companies, Richard P. Bentall, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Prozac, Psychosis, Fda, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Schizophrenia, Madness, American Psychiatric Association, Ssris, B. F. Skinner, Neurotransmitters, Evidence-Based Medicine, Treatment of Mental Illness, Psychiatry, Depression, Chlorpromazine, Drug Company Profits, Randomized Controlled Trials, Mental Asylums, Big Pharma, Ect, Placebo, Rose Kennedy, Insulin Coma Therapy, Antipsychiatry, Mental Illness, Pharmaceutical Industry, R. D. Laing, Brain Chemistry, Carl Rogers, Prefrontal Leucotomy, Psychiatric Drugs, Genetics, Psychiatric Practice, Walter Freeman, Emil Kraepelin, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Book Reviews, Books, Books News
Anis Shivani

Dr. Richard P. Bentall, professor and practitioner of clinical psychology in Britain, exposes the highly dubious nature of reigning presumptions about the causes and treatment of mental illness.

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The Epidemic Of 'Medical Child Abuse' And What Can Be Done

Dana Ullman | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Medical Child Abuse, American Academy of Pediatrics, Homeopathic Remedies, Health Economics, Child Abuse, Health, Health Politics, Health Care Reform, Pediatrics, Living, Integrative Medicine, Health Care, Homeopathy, Evidence-Based Medicine, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

We all know people who have children who have benefited from conventional medical care, but sadly, we all also know people whose children have been harmed by it.

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The Questionable Efficacy Of Flu Vaccines... And The Pandemic That Wasn't

Dana Ullman | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Flu Vaccine, Homeopathic, Tom Jefferson, Swine Flu, H1N1 Influenza, Vaccination, Cochrane Databate, Flu, Evidence Based Medicine, Cochrane Collaboration, Dana Ullman, Homeopathy, Influenza, Health, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

There is little evidence that flu vaccines are effective in preventing the flu, says one of the world's leading expert on influenza vaccines.

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Homeopathy for Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At

Dana Ullman | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Hay Fever, Homeopathic Remedies, Homeopathic, Health, Asthma, Living, Dana Ullman, Wellness, Alternative Medicine, Evidence-Based Medicine, Allergies, Healthy Living News
Dana Ullman

This concept of using small doses of what might cause a problem in order to help prevent or heal the person is an ancient observation of healers/physicians all over the world, and it is the basis for homeopathy.

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America's Health Care Addiction

Craig Bowron | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Consumer Culture, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, American Health Care, Health, Patient Satisfaction, Vioxx, Health Care Reform, Evidence Based Decision Making, Autologous Bone Marrow Transplants, Breast Cancer Treatment, Health Care, Human Life Expectancy, Per Capita Health Care Spending, Evidence-Based Medicine, Politics News
Craig Bowron

How does a country with perhaps the most innovative health care system in the world produce average health care outcomes? It's simple: much of the innovation hasn't delivered.

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My Doctor Says: Get a Boob Job

Roni Zeiger | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Physicians, Advertising, Women's Health, Plastic Surgery, Health Care Reform, Doctors, Evidence Based Decision Making, Medical Costs, Patients, Medicine, Health Care, Evidence-Based Medicine, Healthy Living News
Roni Zeiger

A pamphlet I received from our family doctor offering plastic surgery made my jaw drop. And it begs the question of whether the primary goal of our provider is my health or their profit.

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What's Your Favorite Method of Nature-Connection?

Linda Buzzell | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Yoga, Psychotherapy, Art, Nature, Environment, Green, Meditation, Science, Healing, Ecopsychology, Ecotherapy, Evidence-Based Medicine, Healthy Living News
Linda Buzzell

Research has shown that nature-connection of almost any kind turns out to be a powerful healing force.

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Who Is the Most Important Stakeholder in Health Care?

Roni Zeiger | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Treatment, Quality of Care, Participatory Medicine, Health, Peter Orszag, Patients, Physicians, Barack Obama, Doctors, Evidence-Based Decision Making, Health Care Reform, Health Care, Health Care Costs, Doctor/Patient Relationship, Evidence-Based Medicine, Personal Health, Healthy Living News
Roni Zeiger

Consumers need to be part of the health care conversation and doctors and patients alike need better access to basic data about what works and what doesn't.

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