I certainly think some of these points should be considered. However, I think what this piece mainly does is show the difference in how a clinician views the purpose of research versus how a researcher views the purpose of research. A clinician is teleologically necessitated to use research to make actionable change. A researcher, especially a professor, is teleologically necessitated to do research for the value of knowledge itself (with exceptions of some people doing research for specific clinical outcomes). Therefore, to say that we should stop doing research on some of these topics seems to go against the purpose of some research and researchers.
A belated thought. How about no more studies comparing two drugs when neither has shown any practically significant benefit over placebo or doing nothing. I have in mind here the endless studies comparing platelet inhibitors.
Adam, I really appreciate the clinician’s perspective. Not only are these “useless studies” wasteful to the tax dollars that often fund them, but these studies are wasteful to society at large. Influencers and companies often exploit the findings of these inconsequential studies for profit and gain.
I’ll throw another hot one on your list. Fluoride and dental caries—which is still the #1 chronic non-communicable disease. We don’t need more studies about topical fluoride. Biofilms are continuing to win aided by high sugar foods and pharmaceutical induced xerostomia. We need to get better with our innovative scientific studies.
I am a huge fan of Dr. Cifu's. But, given the puzzling finding of excess colon cancer eg in marathon runners, I think studies on effects of intense exercise are warranted. It was a very small study with no control, yet certainly intriguing and one can think of mechanisms such as oxidative stress related to prolonged exercise that are plausible. I would like to see more studies! But not on why you should exercise at all!
Since Mandrola just posted an article on ITT. When you do screening studies, you have to include people who got INVITED too and not just who showed for screening. People who have symptoms, history will inflate the cases which is what happened here.
Terrific article. To me it comes down to what's more important, reducing federal government spending in the face of an impending debt crisis or providing more jobs for the academy.
My favorite pet peeves are 1. studies about male vs female doctor incomes, and 2. studies about racial and ethnic attributes without considering the huge amounts of racial and ethnic mixture in the U.S. population.
We do need more studies on the mystery of our current obesity epidemic. We can put a man on the moon, yet we can't figure out why so many people are now obese. The calorie theory doesn't seem to hold much water. Think about this:
Just like common sense isn’t very common, the word “moderation” is a poor word choice. Stop that one too! Some of us old junkies feel that “moderation” is a little different than - uhhh, normal people’s. Oh no, another word to avoid. Normal. Great read today!
Great stuff Adam! How about doing away with pharmaceutical sponsored drug trials where the last four letters of the comparator medications are identical?
I certainly think some of these points should be considered. However, I think what this piece mainly does is show the difference in how a clinician views the purpose of research versus how a researcher views the purpose of research. A clinician is teleologically necessitated to use research to make actionable change. A researcher, especially a professor, is teleologically necessitated to do research for the value of knowledge itself (with exceptions of some people doing research for specific clinical outcomes). Therefore, to say that we should stop doing research on some of these topics seems to go against the purpose of some research and researchers.
And let’s ditch the oft-used and now meaningless phrase “clinically proven.”
Great article thank you
A belated thought. How about no more studies comparing two drugs when neither has shown any practically significant benefit over placebo or doing nothing. I have in mind here the endless studies comparing platelet inhibitors.
I LOVE this!!!!! Such sage wisdoms.
Adam, I really appreciate the clinician’s perspective. Not only are these “useless studies” wasteful to the tax dollars that often fund them, but these studies are wasteful to society at large. Influencers and companies often exploit the findings of these inconsequential studies for profit and gain.
Excellent list!
Also, even if you think the study will be useful/impactful, do not do research if the study will be high risk of bias or low quality.
Excellent, thought-provoking list!
Excellent and comprehensive list.
I’ll throw another hot one on your list. Fluoride and dental caries—which is still the #1 chronic non-communicable disease. We don’t need more studies about topical fluoride. Biofilms are continuing to win aided by high sugar foods and pharmaceutical induced xerostomia. We need to get better with our innovative scientific studies.
I am a huge fan of Dr. Cifu's. But, given the puzzling finding of excess colon cancer eg in marathon runners, I think studies on effects of intense exercise are warranted. It was a very small study with no control, yet certainly intriguing and one can think of mechanisms such as oxidative stress related to prolonged exercise that are plausible. I would like to see more studies! But not on why you should exercise at all!
I was pretty intrigued by that too, I have to admit, but don’t let truth ruin a good essay.
Ha. You must be a writer at heart then.
Since Mandrola just posted an article on ITT. When you do screening studies, you have to include people who got INVITED too and not just who showed for screening. People who have symptoms, history will inflate the cases which is what happened here.
Terrific article. To me it comes down to what's more important, reducing federal government spending in the face of an impending debt crisis or providing more jobs for the academy.
My favorite pet peeves are 1. studies about male vs female doctor incomes, and 2. studies about racial and ethnic attributes without considering the huge amounts of racial and ethnic mixture in the U.S. population.
We do need more studies on the mystery of our current obesity epidemic. We can put a man on the moon, yet we can't figure out why so many people are now obese. The calorie theory doesn't seem to hold much water. Think about this:
https://carbsyndrome.com/the-mystery-of-obesity/
Americans have a disease called “Fork to Mouth”. Portions are large, poor food choices, poor lifestyle choices, TV Syndrome , the list is long.
Just like common sense isn’t very common, the word “moderation” is a poor word choice. Stop that one too! Some of us old junkies feel that “moderation” is a little different than - uhhh, normal people’s. Oh no, another word to avoid. Normal. Great read today!
Well, there goes the lifeline of a lot of NY Times so called science journalists
Great stuff Adam! How about doing away with pharmaceutical sponsored drug trials where the last four letters of the comparator medications are identical?