An Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine.
Channel: Cochrane UK General account
Date: 2020-06-23

An Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine.

This session is aimed at sixth form students hoping to study medicine at university. It will also be of interest more generally to those interested in learning about evidence and how to critically question health information and advice.

The session explores these questions:

1) What is Evidence-Based Medicine and why is it important when making decisions about our health?
2) How can we find out if a treatment is effective and safe?
3) Why is it important to look behind the headlines?

Presenters: Lynda Ware, Senior Fellow in General Practice, and Selena Ryan-Vig, Communications and Engagement Officer.

Links to videos mentioned in the video:
www.cochrane.org/about-us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tSJdS9Zukc

References, and more information, can be found here: https://uk.cochrane.org/news/introduction-evidence-based-medicine


Answers to questions about the common cold featured in the video (at 10 minutes 59 seconds)
 
1. It is possible that Vitamin D helps prevent colds by boosting our immune system.
2. Most of our Vitamin D is produced by the action of sunlight on our skin and in the winter months in UK we have short days, often with overcast skies.
3. Antibiotics are active against bacteria. The common cold is a viral infection.
4. There are around 200 different viruses that can give us cold symptoms, making it is difficult to produce an effective vaccine