Dissected: Cutting to the Heart of Health News

In this episode, I provide a concise introduction to odds ratios, one of the most common statistics used in medical research. I discuss what they are, how to interpret them, and how to describe them in terms of their confidence intervals.

Just because something is written in a book, that doesn't mean the information is reliable. In this episode, I provide a real-world example of a book that sought to push an agenda, and was written and endorsed by individuals completely outside the field in which the book was about.

Articles can be retracted for a number of reasons. In this episode, I explain what those reasons and and discuss the implications of publication retraction.

On this episode, the final in the three-part series centered on the basics of randomized controlled trials, I discuss the main four methods of randomization.

In this episode, I answer a listener question about where to find free journal articles.

In this episode, I describe characteristics of randomized controlled trials, including how they can be carried out, and explain what it means for RCTs to be single-blind, double-blind, and triple-blind.

In this episode, Melissa Reilly, PharmD and I discuss an article describing the use of statins in people over the age of 75. We also answer three listener questions about managing symptoms associated with statin use. Find show notes at dissectedhealthpod.com. Journal Article Orkaby, A. R., Driver, J. A., Ho, Y.-L., Lu, B., Costa, L., Honerlaw, J., . . . Djousse, L. (2020). Association of Statin Use With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Veterans 75 Years and Older. JAMA, 324(1), 68-78. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.7848 Press Release Brigham and Women's Hospital. (2020, July 7). Among older adults, statin use tied to decreased risk of early death. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 6, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200707113222.htm

This episode is the first in a three-part series on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this episode, I describe what an RCT is and break down the basics of how they work. I discuss various ways that research participants can receive an intervention (like a medication or a placebo), In subsequent episodes, I'll describe various types of RCTs and discuss methods of randomization. I've broken this down into three parts in an effort not to overwhelm you. If you want to speed up your learning on this topic, check out the RCT page on dissectedhealthpod.com. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave me a rating and a review on your favorite podcast app. Thank you!

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Aisha Harris to discuss the effects of overindulging on on food-- namely, pizza. The episode was informed by a news article and a peer-reviewed journal article. Dr. Aisha Harris is a board certified Family Medicine physician who works in under-resourced populations in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. She is the primary contributor to the BLK FAM DOC platform that strives to improve health literacy and access by sharing health information through diverse outlets. Find her at https://www.blkfamdoc.com/. News Article Melore, C. (2020). Pig out! You can eat all the pizza you want (occasionally) without damaging your health, study claims. Study Finds, 2020 (August 13). Retrieved from https://www.studyfinds.org/you-can-eat-all-the-pizza-you-want-without-damaging-health/ Journal Article Hengist, A., Edinburgh, R. M., Davies, R. G., Walhin, J. P., Buniam, J., James, L. J., . . . Betts, J. A. (2020). Physiological responses to maximal eating in men. Br J Nutr, 124(4), 407-417. doi:10.1017/S0007114520001270 Find show notes at dissectedhealthpod.com

In this episode, I answer a listener question about generalizability. I provide helpful tips for determining if the results of the study apply to you or the population of interest. I define population and explain why researchers generally rely on samples when carrying out research studies.

What's the difference between news articles and journal articles? Who writes these articles? Are the authors qualified to write and interpret health and medical data? Are there checks and balances in place to prevent researchers from publishing "bad science?" Listen to this brief episode to learn the answers to these questions.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Fritz Siegert to discuss two articles recently published on the topic of chocolate and coronary artery disease. Dr. Siegert helps to break down the article and provides helpful tips for preventing coronary artery disease. I explain some basic statistical terms and provides tips for evaluating information sources on the web. References LaMotte, S. (2020). Dark chocolate's benefits: A heart-healthy option in moderation. CNN. 22 July. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/22/health/dark-chocolate-benefits-wellness/index.html. This article linked to a press release rather than to the actual study, https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Chocolate-is-good-for-the-heart Krittanawong, C., Narasimhan, B., Wang, Z., Hahn, J., Virk, H., Farrell, A. M., Zhang, H., & Tang, W. W. (2020). Association between chocolate consumption and risk of coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of preventive cardiology, 2047487320936787. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487320936787

On this episode, I provide my top three picks for finding reliable health information. I also share six tips for evaluating and digesting health information from sources such as message boards, friends, and mainstream news outlets.

When consuming health news and information, you should consume it from someone you trust. In this bonus episode, I give an overview of my background and qualifications so you can get a sense of who I am and decide for yourself if I'm someone you should trust.

Welcome to Dissected: Cutting to the Heart of Health News. This podcast is focused on helping you to understand and interpret health news and information. Episode 1 drops September 1st. Music is by Scott Holmes: “Storybook” by scottholmesmusic.com