Comments on: Support Science-Based Medicine

By: DWATC

DWATC — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:52:21 +0000

I try to share as many relevant articles from this blog as I can on my facebook. I tend to make it a hobby to try to figure out why we do what we do and why we believe what we believe, so I have a lot of interest in religions and conspiracy theories. Doing this, I have many variations of ideological views among my ‘friends’ on there. Let’s just say I get quite a bit of backlash from my fellow practitioners (I’m an athletic trainer, so I have many contacts in altmed, such as chiropractors and other ATCs that use and give courses on altmed techniques.) and friends who hold anti-vax and “big pharma” ideologies. I try to dive as deep as I can into their minds to understand it. What better way to get something than by jumping in the lions den itself. Alternative medicine is a religion with many followers that believe many different conspiracies. When I share these articles, I make it clear that the readers of the article should pay close attention to the comment sections. Thank you for creating this blog. Its dramatically helped in steering my career path and making sure i pay attention to what I do in my practice. Paying attention…such a hard concept for people to get.

By: papertrail

papertrail — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 07:33:33 +0000

I love this blog and I wish I had the skills you’re asking for to improve the site and your reach; I’d do it for free. I hope you received some offers.

One little thing I noticed that could be improved was this: I wanted to link to a certain topic or article on the blog but the URL link would not go to any page except the latest post. That probably could be fixed pretty easily.

By: lilady

lilady — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 04:04:29 +0000

Trust me. You don’t want me to provide any technical assistance…I’m such a dullard when it comes to computer technology.

I do “my part” by linking to articles that appear on SBM, when I post on other science blogs and when I post on (shudders), the Ho-Po.

So, I just donated money to “the cause” using my credit card.

Keep on blogging about science and pseudoscience, guys (and gals).

lilady

By: Amalthea

Amalthea — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:44:01 +0000

My apology for the double negative. As that should’ve been “should” instead of “shouldn’t”.

By: Amalthea

Amalthea — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:31:11 +0000

I just realized that I worded that badly. No CAM “treatments” were involved. The situation simply reinforced how dangerous it can be for people to rely on CAM for serious health conditions.

By: Amalthea

Amalthea — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:17:54 +0000

I want to express my thanks for your efforts here too.
The reports of CAM infecting medical institutions were already something I found alarming, and after what my husband went through Saturday night/ Sunday morning I find it more so. “Idiopathic anaphylaxis” isn’t something that CAM shouldn’t even claim to be able to treat.

By: BobbyG

BobbyG — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:43:23 +0000

Copy that, Chris and Adam.

By: adamhulme

adamhulme — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:58:19 +0000

Thank you to all of the team at SBM I absolutely love the website and please keep on doing what you do best. Words cannot describe how grounded, critical and intelligent you guys are, and I appreciate all of your hard work and passion for SBM. It’s a breath of fresh air amongst what can only be described as a credulous society in my particular city within Australia…thank you.

By: Chris Repetsky

Chris Repetsky — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:44:42 +0000

Have always had this blog linked on my website, and frequently cite it and refer my colleagues in Med School to it. Most of them sadly, don’t seem to care about it, and have the typical ‘What’s the harm?’ attitude towards Alt-Med. Others are very vocal backers of Alt-Med, and of course I need to ‘Open my mind’.

Keep on keepin’ on, SBM staff. You guys are doing a world of good, whether you realize it or not!

By: BobbyG

BobbyG — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:14:10 +0000

OK, I put a SBM links column logo link on my REC blog and just made a donation.

http://regionalextensioncenter.blogspot.com

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:06:16 +0000

I posted a link to SBM twice today at the NY Times, one being a front page (online version) story about states covering chiro and acupuncture under the new health care law. This was presented without any sources of criticism from the reporter who apparently did not even seek an opposing view, but gave the woman heading the acupuncture effort plenty of space.

Whenever I do this and receive a follow-up message, it turns out to be an onslaught of counter-criticism accusing me of being blinded by my own “belief” in science (which is, of course, “just another point-of-view”), unaware of “powerful anecdotes”, and all the other usual illogical arguments.

Our work is cut out.

By: Skeptical Medicine

Skeptical Medicine — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:03:39 +0000

The key to understanding SBM is in the application of Bayesian reasoning to evidence-based medicine (EBM). This site has taught me a great deal. I wrote a primer on my site to help those new to SBM understand the difference. I hope it can be of help.
https://sites.google.com/site/skepticalmedicine/ebm-vs-sbm

By: ksadrieh

ksadrieh — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 06:19:33 +0000

Every July I give a lecture to the new interns on how to run a proper journal club, emphasizing the need to keep a skeptical eye. I think it is paramount that our new generation of practitioners not only be evidence based, but rooted in the scientific method if the evidence is incomplete. I’m proud to say that my last PowerPoint slide is simply SBM’s web address and a recommendation that they check it out. Have made a few converts…

By: BillyJoe

BillyJoe — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:22:30 +0000

RS,

” The rule is that science don’t need to be boring as we are commonly taught in high school. ”

I can’t find it now, but the ABC recently covered the story about a retired science teacher returning to primary school to teach a bit of quantum theory and relativity to primary school kids using illustrations and models. The kids seemed to find it both fun and serious.
Perhaps not all is lost.

By: marcus welby

marcus welby — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:13:15 +0000

I use selected posts here to stimulate discussion among the group of medical students with whom I meet weekly. Goski posts on cancer, Novella posts on a variety of subjects, Coyne on some of the mental woo, Harriet Hall on concussions, for example, was awesome and our students agreed with me that the preathletic physical is probably not worth doing, while also informing folks about the inadvisability of chiropractors doing this. Crislip’s reality-based contributions on infections are often stimulating to students. I find the posts provide good raw material to begin and focus discussion.

By: rustichealthy

rustichealthy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:11:16 +0000

I cite Science Based Medicine on my own blog as … “the Belly of the Beast” sorry, couldn’t resist

By: Rafael Science

Rafael Science — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:16:27 +0000

For me the best place to learn skepticism is this blog/podcast and the Neil the grass tyson podcast. Both have a very interesting way to deal with new information that is published every day in the tradicional media. The rule is that science don’t need to be boring as we are commonly tauch in high school. Keep the great work, always making me laughing and learning every post/podcast

Thanks for ” keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out ”

By: BobbyG

BobbyG — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:44:24 +0000

I cite SBM routinely on my REC blog. It’s one of my first stops every morning when I scan the latest daily happens of interest.

I will also make a graphic to give you a visual link in my links column (you’re already in my links column), and I will donate some money today after I get to the office.

Great work here. Thanks to all of you who contribute.

By: nybgrus

nybgrus — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:06:16 +0000

I frequently mention SBM whenever the situation permits, actively encourage classmates to read SBM, and am currently in the development of a “med school primer” document to be disseminated through the Academic Office of my program’s student society for incoming and new med students to better prepare for understanding medicine and how to be a good student and physician. To be featured prominently will be most of Dr. Atwood’s posts here (particularly the EBM/SBM Redux series) as well as select choices from Dr. Ben Goldacre. I also am a personal member of the Friends of Science in Medicine and would like to see if I can align the student society with it as well. I tried to do so this year as the Academic Officer, but met resistance from other executive members who simply did not want to deal with any “potential political issues;” in other words, they wanted to be shruggies and not take an active stand for SBM/EBM because some people might get “offended.” I decided it wasn’t worth pursuing at the time, but now that we are growing and I am President and my Academic Officer is an ardent SBM reader and supporter we may be able to get some traction.

I also often reference relevant SBM and Neurologica posts in online discussions about medicine and science in other fora, particularly Reddit. I’ve found that it has become more common for those in /r/medicine and /r/medicalschool to have read or reference themselves SBM and Neurologica.

And lastly, I will hopefully have more time now that my upcoming rotations are, ahem, much lighter and can thus contribute an article or two in the future.