TEC: Evidence Based Therapeutics
Therapeutics Education Collaboration
Medication Mythbusters – Home of the Best Science (BS) Medicine Podcast

The BS Medicine Podcast episodes are presented by James McCormack and Michael Allan. We try to promote healthy skepticism and critical thinking and most of the podcasts are presented in a case-based approach. We also try to inject some humour into the whole process to make the learning more interesting. Occasionally we have great guests like Mike Kolber, Tina Korownyk and Bruce Arroll help us out.

Most podcast episodes are available for free until they become archived after about 1-2 months. Every 4th episode or so is a “New Studies You Need to Know About” podcast and these will only be available to our Premium Podcast members. Premium members will also be able to listen to all archived episodes since episode #1.

Episode 264: Questions, questions, questions PART II

In episode 264, James and Mike continue trying to answer listener questions. We tackle issues around blood viscosity, nutrition, and diabetes medications with abandon, and hopefully provide some useful information.

Show notes

Episode 263: Questions, questions, questions

In episode 263, Mike and James finally get back to the whole podcasting thing and answer a bunch of great listener questions. We leave it to the listeners to decide if our answers are of a similar great calibre.

Show notes

1) Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Infections among Patients in the Emergency Department

N Engl J Med 2006; 355:666-74

Episode 262: Televised medical talk shows – the recommendations and the evidence

In episode 262, Tina, Mike and James discuss the ins and outs of their new BMJ paper on televised medical talk shows.  TMJ and the gang did a thorough investigation of the recommendations made by two nationally televised medical talk shows (The Dr Oz Show and The Doctors). We looked at what specifically these shows recommended and what was the evidence behind these recommendations – in other words how believable were their recommendations. Have a listen, go read the paper and you’ll be armed with the best available evidence around the recommendations made by these shows. 

Show notes

The BMJ article

Televised medical talk shows—what they recommend and the evidence to support their recommendations: a prospective observational study

Episode 261: The periodic health exam gets examined – PART III

In episode 261, Mike and James finish examining the evidence surrounding the periodic health exam. We discuss the don’t do’s when it comes to test ordering and screening. At the end James congratulates Mike on the great job he did with this podcast trilogy and this shocks Mike so much he suggests James come in for an extensive periodic health exam.

Show notes

Episode 260: The periodic health exam gets examined – PART II

In episode 260, Mike and James continue examining the evidence surrounding the periodic health exam. We discuss the dos and maybe nots and the whats we should be doing around test ordering and screening. At the end we realise we probably do more than we really should and that is important for us and our patients to be aware of the benefits and harms of what we do.

Show Notes

HANDOUT

Episode 259: The periodic health exam gets examined

In episode 259, Mike and James start off a potential podcast trilogy on the evidence surrounding the periodic health exam. We start off by talking about what patient’s want, what do doctor’s think, the harms of screening and the overall evidence for the periodic health exam. At the end we realise the elements of the PHE need to be examined in detail so stay tuned.

Show notes

HANDOUT

Episode 258: IMPROVE-IT – ezetimibe, what it does and doesn’t do

Episode 258: IMPROVE-IT – ezetimibe, what it does and doesn’t do 

In episode 258, James and Mike discuss the very recently released IMPROVE-IT study that was presented November 17th, 2014 at the AHA meeting. We discuss what was found and what wasn’t found and whether or not these results lend credence to the lipid hypothesis. We find that finally a drug used to change a surrogate marker actually appears to reduce cardiovascular events (we have had 20 negative trials in a row before this) but the magnitude is certainly not huge. We discuss the nuances of the results and hopefully put it into a reasonable perspective.

Show notes

1) A copy of the IMPROVE-IT slides from the AHA meeting  

Episode 257: PREMIUM – Coenzyme Q10, antibiotics and alopecia areata

In episode 257, Mike and James go PREMIUM yet again and discuss the latest RCTs on Coenzyme Q10 in heart failure, antibiotics in otitis media with effusion, treatment for community acquired pneumonia and steroids for alopecia areata. Bottom line – you don’t want to miss the premium experience.

Show notes

1) The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on Morbidity and Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure: Results From Q-SYMBIO: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial

JACC Heart Fail. 2014 Sep 25. pii: S2213-1779

2) Effect of antimicrobial treatment of acute otitis media on the daily disappearance of middle ear effusion: a placebo-controlled trial.

JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Jul;168(7):635-41. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5311.

3) β-Lactam Monotherapy vs β-Lactam–Macrolide Combination Treatment in Moderately Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Oct 6. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4887 

4) Clobetasol Propionate, 0.05%, vs Hydrocortisone, 1%, for Alopecia Areata in Children – A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Dermatol. 2014 Jan;150(1):47-50. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.5764

Episode 255: We can measure lipoproteins but is there really any point?

In episode 255, Mike and James discuss the evidence around the measurement of lipoproteins and find out that while they are interesting from a research perspective, they are of little if any value in clinical practice. At the end of the podcast Mike gets not only irked but flummoxed and just this is worth the price of admission.

Show notes

1) Tools For Practice

Lipoproteins: The risk of (over)interpreting these risk factors?

2) Patient Waiting Room Education Slide Show

See List of All Podcast Episodes

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The 2026 MEME Conference – May 8-9, 2026

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Making Evidence Matter For Everyone | May 8-9, 2026
From the clinicians who brought you the Best Science Medicine Course and the Meds Conference, as well as the BS Medicine Podcast and Tools for Practice

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THE NUTRITION PROPOSITION BOOK

Check it out at nutritionproposition.com and think about picking up a copy on Amazon. All the evidence you ever wanted about nutrition and the only nutrition book that won’t tell you what to eat.

 

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