Medicine and Science from The BMJ

From Fukushima

As the world’s attention turns to Fukushima, we hear from Ryuki Kassai, Director of Community and Family Medicine at Fukushima Medical University, about the situation on the ground there. He tells us about the difficulties they currently face, and the uncertainty of the next few days and weeks.Also this week, Paul Mackin of Newcastle University discusses the use and efficacy of atypical antipsychotic

NHS reforms round table

This week the British government has tabled an amendment to remove maximum pricing from the Health and Social Care Bill. We convened a round table discussion to find out what other elements of the bill need re-examining.Joining us in the studio at BMA house were:John Black - president of the Royal College of Surgeons.Clare Gerada - chair of the Royal College of General PractitionersMichelle Drage - chief executive of the London Wide LMCsNigel Edwards – acting chief executive of the NHS ConfederationAnna Dixon - director of policy at the King’s Fund

Trade in generics

Jamie Love, Knowledge Ecology International, and Hans Hogerzeil, director of essential medicines and pharmaceutical policies at the World Health Organization (WHO), discuss the ongoing EU trade negotiations with India. They set out their concerns that it may lead to an interruption in the supply of new generic drugs to the developing world.

BMJ Round Table Shared Decision - Making Patients

At BMA house, we convened a group of world experts in shared decision making. Inspired by the Salzburg Global Summit meeting we discussed the background, practical challenges, and how to engage patients with their healthThe participants were:Fiona Godlee , editor in chief, BMJ Angela Coulter , director of global initiatives, Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making Albert Mulley , co-founder, Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, and director, Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science Glyn Elwyn, research professor with an interest in shared decision making, Cardiff University Muir Gray , chair of the Information Standard, Department of Health, and co-editor (with Gerd Gigerenzer of the new book Better Doctors, Better Patients, Better Decisions: Envisioning Health Care 2020 Marion Collict, national programme manager, shared decision making, NHS (UK’s National Health System) Alf Collins , consultant in pain medicine, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and national clinical lead for Co-Creating Health Margaret McCartney , writer and GP Anu Dhir , junior surgical trainee and co-signatory of the Salzburg Statement Gerd Gigerenzer , director, Center for Adaptive Behaviour and Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Behaviour Lisa Schwartz , professor of medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, author (with Steve Woloshin (see below)) of Know Your Chances available free online. Steve Woloshin , professor of medicine, Dartmouth Medical School “e-Patient Dave” deBronkart , co-chair, Society for Participatory Medicine Tessa Richards , analysis editor, BMJ Sue Ziebland , research director of the Health Experiences Research Group and a reader in qualitative health research, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford

BMJ Round Table Shared Decision - Making Practicalities

At BMA house, we convened a group of world experts in shared decision making. Inspired by the Salzburg Global Summit meeting we discussed the background, practical challenges, and how to engage patients with their healthThe participants were:Fiona Godlee , editor in chief, BMJ Angela Coulter , director of global initiatives, Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making Albert Mulley , co-founder, Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, and director, Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science Glyn Elwyn, research professor with an interest in shared decision making, Cardiff University Muir Gray , chair of the Information Standard, Department of Health, and co-editor (with Gerd Gigerenzer of the new book Better Doctors, Better Patients, Better Decisions: Envisioning Health Care 2020 Marion Collict, national programme manager, shared decision making, NHS (UK’s National Health System) Alf Collins , consultant in pain medicine, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and national clinical lead for Co-Creating Health Margaret McCartney , writer and GP Anu Dhir , junior surgical trainee and co-signatory of the Salzburg Statement Gerd Gigerenzer , director, Center for Adaptive Behaviour and Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Behaviour Lisa Schwartz , professor of medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, author (with Steve Woloshin (see below)) of Know Your Chances available free online. Steve Woloshin , professor of medicine, Dartmouth Medical School “e-Patient Dave” deBronkart , co-chair, Society for Participatory Medicine Tessa Richards , analysis editor, BMJ Sue Ziebland , research director of the Health Experiences Research Group and a reader in qualitative health research, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford

BMJ Round Table Shared Decision - Making Background

At BMA house, we convened a group of world experts in shared decision making. Inspired by the Salzburg Global Summit meeting we discussed the background, practical challenges, and how to engage patients with their healthThe participants were:Fiona Godlee , editor in chief, BMJ Angela Coulter , director of global initiatives, Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making Albert Mulley , co-founder, Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, and director, Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science Glyn Elwyn, research professor with an interest in shared decision making, Cardiff University Muir Gray , chair of the Information Standard, Department of Health, and co-editor (with Gerd Gigerenzer of the new book Better Doctors, Better Patients, Better Decisions: Envisioning Health Care 2020 Marion Collict, national programme manager, shared decision making, NHS (UK’s National Health System) Alf Collins , consultant in pain medicine, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and national clinical lead for Co-Creating Health Margaret McCartney , writer and GP Anu Dhir , junior surgical trainee and co-signatory of the Salzburg Statement Gerd Gigerenzer , director, Center for Adaptive Behaviour and Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Behaviour Lisa Schwartz , professor of medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, author (with Steve Woloshin (see below)) of Know Your Chances available free online. Steve Woloshin , professor of medicine, Dartmouth Medical School “e-Patient Dave” deBronkart , co-chair, Society for Participatory Medicine Tessa Richards , analysis editor, BMJ Sue Ziebland , research director of the Health Experiences Research Group and a reader in qualitative health research, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford

Shared decision making

This week’s podcast is a summary of the shared decision making round table - looking at it’s history, practicalities of implementation and how to get patients involved.The full round table can be found on bmj.com/podcasts.

ACE to ARB

Should we screen for prostate cancer? A study published on bmj.com suggests that it doesn’t improve survival rates, and could lead to over treatment. Gabriel Sandblom, of the Karolinska Institute, tells us about his research.Also, James Ritter, emeritus professor of pharmacology at King’s College London, explains the As in the ABCD of hypertension treatment.

Understanding information

Information abounds in our burgeoning knowledge economy, but how much is useful - let alone essential? Martin Dawes from the University of British Colombia tells us about the hierachy of evidence.Also this week, data journalist and author of Information is Beautiful, David McCandless, talks to us about the power and the pitfalls of graphically representing data.

Artificial pancreas and a genetic ISO

Regulation of genetic testing kits is difficult, so how do we start to control this growing market? Christine Hauskeller, from the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society at the University of Exeter, discusses her idea for an international standard which will help consumers make the right choices. Also this week, management of type 2 diabetes could be improved using an “artificial pancreas”. Roman Hovorka, principal research associate at the Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, describes his new intelligent system for insulin delivery.