How to read clinical journals: X. How to react when your colleagues haven't read a thing

Physicians receive little instruction on how to interact with colleagues, and even less guidance on what to do when their colleagues are poorly informed. Eight techniques are presented here that may be of use in dealing with colleagues who have clearly not read the literature and are unable to maintain the facade that they have. If employed properly and used judiciously, these techniques may help avoid embarrassment for all and may also improve the exchange of valuable information between professionals.     

How to read a postoperative total hip replacement radiograph

In 2006 over 55,000 primary total hip replacements were implanted in the UK. A crucial aspect of follow-up for these patients is the assessment of the postoperative radiograph. Information gained from the initial radiograph includes assessment of the quality of implantation and hence the likelihood of long term success. Follow-up radiographs can be assessed for signs of component failure. Orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, junior surgical trainees, general medical practitioners, and advanced nurse/extended scope practitioners may all be required to interpret these radiographs during clinical practice. The authors feel that certainly during orthopaedic surgical training, not enough time is allocated to formal training on the systematic assessment of such radiographs. This review aims to provide the reader with a systematic approach to analysing the initial postoperative total hip arthroplasty radiograph, and subsequent follow-up films. Basics of patient positioning for obtaining radiographs, types of prosthesis encountered, and terminology used are covered. Assessment of initial radiographs focuses on assessing leg length, acetabular and femoral positioning, and cement mantle adequacy. Follow-up radiographs are assessed for signs of component failure. A review of the literature provides evidence for the assessment and importance of adequacy of component positioning, and good cementing technique. Normal and abnormal follow-up radiographic features are outlined to allow assessment of loosening or impending failure of a prosthesis.     

如何阅读医学论文（五）：供非统计学家使用的统计学：“显著性的”关系和 …

这篇文章继续列举一系列问题 ,这些问题有助于人们评价并判断某篇论文是否正确合理地使用统计学方法。这个题目是由两篇文章组成的 ,第一篇已在上期发表。　　 相关、回归和因果关系有没有把相关和回归区别开 ?相关系数 (ｒ值 )的计算和解释是否正确 ?对许多不搞统计的人来说 ,“相关”和“回归”这两个词是同义的 ,这两个词大概在他们的脑子里都指的是围绕着从坐标轴一定截距上发出的一条对角线而散乱分布的点所构成的散点图。如果两种事物不相关的话 ,试图去做回归是毫无意义的 ,这一点很明确。但回归和相关是两个定义确切的、有不同作用…     

获取医学期刊全文的途径

重点论述了5条获取原文的途径:利用本地区医院图书馆和高校图书馆的馆藏资源自编联合目录,从网上获取全文,通过作者的E-MAIL地址向其索取原文,利用二次文献数据库提供的原文链接服务和一些机构提供的原文代查服务.     

如何阅读医学论文(三)报告药物试验的论文

“证据”和市场如果你开处方药，制药工业方面就会对你感兴趣，并且投入一笔数目惊人的钱试图影响你。改变医师处方习惯最有效的方式是通过代表人（英国称“药物代表”，北美叫“新药推销员”）拎着装满支持其药物证据的公文包各处走动１。药物代表们不像以前那样说些不实之词（药物市场已变得成熟、科学），但他们却显得对流行病学和临床试验设计惊人地无知，而这却是他们所应具备的２。这使他们经常展示未设对照组的试验结果，并把这些试验结果解释为某一特定测量指标治疗前后的差异３。最近在柳叶刀（Ｌａｎｃｅｔ）杂志和英国…