Who
Our journal club is mainly delivered by UK Internal Medicine Trainees in order to improve their critical thinking skills when reading ever emerging evidence in medical journals.
Where
Papers are critically appraised with standardised tool and discussion is published on the journal club’s website. Medics then engage in live discussion via Twitter using hashtag #scepticalmedic
When
Posts on the website are published once monthly seven days prior the discussion on Twitter. Live Twitter feed used to start on first Thursday of the month but now is on ad hoc basis.
Be part of a research
Sceptical Medic is running a study on impact of our journal club on development of evidence-based medicine (EBM) skills. Study is anonymous and done online. Takes 15-30 minutes.
Recently appraised
- Remdesivir in WHO’s SOLIDARITY trial
Remdesivir has a lot of attention as promising antiviral agent against COVID-19. This largest coronavirus study cast a shadow of doubt on effectiveness of remdesivir and other agents on mortality of patients with COVID-19. - HIV treatment lopinavir-ritonavir in COVID-19
In pursue of effective treatment for severe COVID-19 many different antiviral medication have been used. Combined HIV treatment lopinavir-ritonavir showed some inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-1 and therefore was trialled in new coronavirus causing COVID-19. - Remdesivir in severe COVID-19
While the world awaits an efficient vaccine for coronavirus, many therapeutics are currently being investigated in hope to improve clinical outcomes. One of the most promising one is currently remdesivir. Wang et al. published the first randomised placebo-controlled trial of its use in severe COVID-19. - Higher and lower LDL target after ischaemic stroke
High intensity statin for secondary prevention after ischaemic stroke is standard of therapy. What should be the level of LDL and if lower levels have better outcomes is less clear. Treat Stroke to Target trial had looked into outcomes of patients after ischaemic stroke treated to higher and lower LDL target.