Monday, April 28, 2008

Wardround 25iv8

The discussion this Tuesday began with the paper The strange malady of Alessandro’s uncle, Neil A (Tony) Holtzman. I was prompted to choose the paper following the journal club discussion last week about the genetic markers for responses to warfarin. The paper describes the development of a new (genetic) investigation and treatment and its impact on the aforementioned uncle. Many interventions will appear better than they prove to be when evidence is limited.and the passage of time gives more accurate assessments.

The paper for discussion next week will be Screening for MRSA, M Wilcox, BMJ 2008;336:899-900

The two minute tutorials on diagnoses were well done but I would recommend adding an additional aliquot of thought to the planning stage. Ask yourself, “what do I want the listener to be able to do or know after this two minutes?” Detailed discussion of diagnostic criteria may contain all the necessary information but that alone does not complete the task. Keep the handout to one side of A4 and make it memorable. Ask yourself the questions MJM or GAJ might ask. Be honest with yourself about the handout. Would you read or keep somethiong that can be printed from a website in 10 seconds? What would be more useful?

Next week’s talks are about Colitits: epidemiology, investigation, treatment.

MJM

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