In my travels around the internet I have encountered many sites good and bad and in-between, but there is one that I can recommend for sure. It is called Science Based Medicine or SBM and is written by a group that consists of MDs and researchers and writes about the latest scientific studies and issues that the lay public may be confused about. They have many “battles” with anti-vaccination and “alternative medicine” advocacy groups. I find them to be very helpful in sorting things out. The archives cover many topics. The topic for today December 9, 2010, deals with the accuracy of common measuring devices used in giving infants and young children meds such as Tylenol for fever.
When I attended PT school at the University of Kansas Medical Center it was drilled into us that we would not and should not utilize any modalaties or treatments on a patient that had not been shown to have a beneficial effect through scientific studies that could be replicated. We were encouraged to keep up with the scientific literature and to use only good standard practices as defined by the laws in each state. This distinguishes PT from some chiropractic practices that find “subluxations” in the spine and put them back in place etc. and from some eastern medical practices and new age “treatments.”
So I recommend that my family and friends check it out, especially if they hear about some new wonder medication or treatment and want to know the scoop. This includes hype about vitamin supplements and herbal and natural products.
Lou
PS Click on the name of the site to go there.
An incredible amount of information. I have to admit that L re-introduced me to the concept that association and causality are not the same. It seems there are a lot of ideas on which we all need refresher courses - often. None of us has perfect recall and it's easy to be lulled by the naive as well as the true hucksters.
ReplyDelete