Evidence based medicine

Analysis and Comment (15)

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There’s a conflict between the need for pharmacists to maintain a profitable business and their ethical obligations to the community. Andrew Dubber

Pharmacists should drop products that aren’t backed by evidence

By Ken Harvey, La Trobe University

If you look at the shelves of most Australian community pharmacies or browse the pages of local internet pharmacies, you’ll see numerous examples of products making claims that can’t be supported by scientific…
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The aim of CER is to assess the effectiveness and worth of medical interventions in real-life scenarios. Image from shutterstock.com

Explainer: what is comparative effectiveness research?

By John Zalcberg, University of Melbourne

The evidence gleaned from medical research directly affects the decisions made about health care in Australia, driving everything from clinical practice guidelines, to which health interventions will and…
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There is no convincing evidence that the therapy works. Cafemama

Aromatherapy: panacea or placebo?

By Sonia Hines, Queensland University of Technology

PANACEA OR PLACEBO – A weekly series assessing the evidence behind complementary and alternative medicines. Aromatherapy is based on the idea that aromatic substances, usually the essential oils of plants…
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One in four Australians take fish oil but the latest evidence shows it won’t improve the health of your heart. Flickr/wine me up

Monday’s medical myth: fish oil is good for heart health

By Michael Vagg, Barwon Health

Did you hold your nose and take your daily dose of fish oil this morning? Or perhaps you opted for an odour-free capsule? Well, you’re not alone. Around one in four Australians take fish oil supplements…
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The Conversation’s health coverage: policy, chiropractic, obesity and medicine. AAP, Planetc1.com, Puuiki Beach, LJA Kliche

Health + Medicine: reflections on our first year

By Fron Jackson-Webb, The Conversation

In The Conversation’s first editorial meeting editor Andrew Jaspan explained what he wanted to achieve with the site: a more informed level of debate, based on evidence, research and expert opinion. It…
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Systematic reviews help consumers, practitioners and policy makers identify what works. Kenny Holston 21/Flickr

How do we know what works? Systematic research reviews

By Steve McDonald, Monash University and Tari Turner, Monash University

We work at the Australasian Cochrane Centre and we dread being asked what we do for a living. This isn’t because we don’t like what we do, in fact we love it. It’s because when we explain that our job…
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Despite placebos’ reputation as worthless therapy, many medical practitioners still use them. FML/Wikimedia Commons

Not just smoke and mirrors: placebo’s place in modern medicine

By Monika Merkes, La Trobe University

Belief is a powerful medicine but the term “placebo” has negative connotations. In modern evidence-based medicine, treatments considered worthless are described as no better than placebos. But this description…
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The frequently cited Netherlands study doesn’t show it’s safe to give birth at home in Australia. Assy

Thinking about giving birth at home? Look at the evidence on safety

By John Svigos

We’re fortunate to live in a society where robust evidence forms the basis of the information health-care professionals provide to patients – and home birth should be no exception. But the evidence about…
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Media messages about food and portion size are confusing and aren’t always based on sufficient evidence. Floodkoff

Confused about what to eat for better health? NHMRC’s dietary guidelines might set you straight

By Warwick Anderson, National Health and Medical Research Council

When it comes to diet-related health claims, even the “good” newspapers are usually wrong, making recommendations about which foods people should eat (and avoid) that aren’t based on sufficient evidence…
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All health-care providers should give patients evidence-based information – this includes chiropractors. Planetc

Modern chiropractic therapy is based on evidence – and here it is

By Peter Tuchin

Chiropractic has copped some criticism this week, with a group of prominent Australian doctors and scientists urging Central Queensland University to reverse its decision to offer a chiropractic degree…
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The placebo effect may be making people feel better but it should never be substituted for real medicine. vitasamb2001/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Doctors' orders: debunking homeopathy once and for all

By Ian Musgrave

Homeopathy’s got a bit of a run in the media in recent months and the stories are by no means positive. It all started in April when the medical press highlighted the National Health and Research Council…
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The lack of a strong evidence base is not unique to complementary medicines. Jenny O'Donnell/Wikimedia Commons

Doctors should focus on providing the best care, alternative or otherwise

By Marie Pirotta, University of Melbourne

Read the argument against the use of complementary medicines. Over half of Australians use complementary therapies, at a cost of about $AUD1.8 billion a year, to either prevent or treat health problems…
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Some alternative medicine practices, such as homeopathy, have been proven to lack efficacy but remain in demand. Photo_Robson/Flickr

Panacea or placebo: doctors should only practise evidence-based medicine

By John Dwyer

Read the argument for the use of complementary medicine. The question of whether doctors should provide “complementary or alternative” medicines and procedures for which there is no scientific proof of…
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Naturopathic teachers, practitioners and companies should ensure that better evidence becomes available. b dd b/Flickr

Lay out the welcome mat: naturopathy has come in from the cold

By Jon Wardle

Use of complementary medicine (CAM) is widespread but often condemned by medical practitioners as being baseless or quackery. But some practices that fall under the umbrella of CAM do have a basis in evidence…

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