Journal Club by CanadiEM - E02: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) - Part 1 - a podcast by The CanadiEM.org Team
from 2021-03-22T13:00
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 Doubleāblind 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.
Further episodes of CanadiEM Podcasts: CRACKCast, ClerkCast, CarmsCast, First Year Diaries
Further podcasts by The CanadiEM.org Team
Website of The CanadiEM.org Team