Bio Assignment: Watch The Video, Link, And Answer The Questi
Bio Assignment Watch The Video Link And Answer The Question At Lest 2
Bio assignment watch the video link and answer the question. At least 200 words due in 10 hours: Ben Goldacre: "What doctors don’t know about the drugs they prescribe." Watch this video. After watching the video, answer the writing prompt through Turnitin. Q1: Is the assessment of the effectiveness of a medication by evidence-based medicine reliable?
Paper For Above instruction
The assessment of the effectiveness of a medication through evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a critical process that aims to inform clinical practice with the best available scientific evidence. However, as highlighted in Ben Goldacre's compelling video, there are significant limitations and potential biases inherent in this approach that may compromise its reliability. Goldacre emphasizes that much of the data used to evaluate medication effectiveness is often skewed by selective reporting, publication bias, and conflicts of interest, which can lead clinicians to overestimate the benefits of certain drugs. For instance, clinical trials with positive results are more likely to be published, while those with negative or inconclusive outcomes remain hidden, creating a distorted view of a medication's true efficacy.
Furthermore, Goldacre points out that trials funded by pharmaceutical companies may be designed to favor the sponsor’s product, with comparison groups and endpoints selected to produce favorable outcomes. This manipulation can distort the evidence base, making it less reliable for guiding clinical decisions. Additionally, the complexity of medical conditions and individual patient differences means that standardized trial results may not always apply universally, raising questions about the generalizability of such evidence.
Despite these concerns, evidence-based medicine remains a valuable tool for assessing medications because it promotes systematic evaluation and critical appraisal of research data. To improve its reliability, greater transparency, independent research, and rigorous peer review are necessary. Incorporating post-marketing surveillance and real-world evidence can also help capture the true effectiveness and safety of medications in diverse populations beyond controlled trial settings. Ultimately, while evidence-based medicine provides a crucial foundation for clinical decision-making, clinicians must interpret its findings cautiously, considering potential biases and individual patient factors.
References
- Goldacre, B. (2013). "What doctors don’t know about the drugs they prescribe." TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_what_doctors_don_t_know_about_the_drugs_they_prescribe
- Fletcher, R. H., & Fletcher, S. W. (2017). Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials, 5th Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2005). "Why most published research findings are false." PLoS Medicine, 2(8), e124.
- Chalmers, I. (2003). The Evidence-Based Medicine Manifesto for Better Healthcare. BMJ Publishing Group.
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- Bekelman, J. E., Li, Y., & Gross, C. P. (2003). "Scope and impact of financial conflicts of interest in biomedical research: a systematic review." JAMA, 289(4), 454-467.
- Ioannidis, J. P. (2016). "The challenge of reforming evidence-based medicine." JAMA, 315(22), 2288-2293.
- Vorschneider, E. (2011). "Post-marketing surveillance of medical products." The New England Journal of Medicine, 365(19), 1833-1841.
- Ioannidis, J. P. (2014). "How to make more published research true." PLoS Medicine, 11(10), e1001747.
- Burgers, J. S., et al. (2014). "Improving the quality of evidence for decision making." The BMJ, 349, g5111.