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 163: How to analyse a meta-analysis and at the end not need analysis – PART II

In episode 163, Mike and James race to the end of their in-depth look at critical appraisal and as they get to the end their final kick is at some of the problems seen with meta-analyses. We discuss examples of how meta-analyses sometime go wrong and we do our best to make them right – with varying degrees of success.

Show notes

1) Glucose lowering meta-analysis

Ann Intern Med 2009;151:394-403

2) Beta-blocker meta-analysis

Lancet 2005;366:1545–53

3) PSA screening

BMJ 2010;341:c4543 doi:10.1136/bmj.c4543

3) Statin meta-analyses on mortality effect in primary prevention 

BMJ 2009;338:b2376

RR 0.88 (0.81-0.96) 

Arch Intern Med 2010;170:1024-31

RR 0.91 (0.83-1.01)

Arch Intern Med 2005;165:725-30

RR 0.86 (0.76 -0.99) 

Arch Intern Med 2006;166:2307-13

RR 0.92 (0.84-1.01) 

J Am Coll Cardiol 2008;52:1769-81

RR 0.93 (0.87-0.99)

4) Back pain meta-analysis

Cochrane CD000335

Episode 162: How to analyse a meta-analysis and at the end not need analysis

In episode 162, Mike and James decide to tackle the whole concept of meta-analyses and try their very best to shine a clear light on this important concept. By the end they have brought up so many different valuable points that they decide to add them all together to make their own misleading and deceptive meta-analysis.

Sorry about that!

I just realised (thanks listeners) that the last podcast posted (Episode 161) was missing Mike’s vocal track. AHHGG. I’ve reposted the podcast and I think the problem is fixed. The irony is at the beginning of the podcast I mention that because of Skype the quaity of Mike’s audio is a little bit off in a few spots. In a case of double irony, many people felt the podcast without Mike’s track was the best one we have done so far. Just kidding Mike 🙂

Episode 161: Critical appraisal by and for dummies – PART III

PLAY/DOWNLOAD THIS PODCAST FOR FREE

In episode 161, James and Mike finally get to the end of a very long series about how do a quick critical appraisal of an RCT. We talk about evaluating the harms found in the study and then discuss how to put the findings into context for an individual patient. At the end we conclude that the only well done and important studies to ever be published are the ones we have done and we leave it at that.

Episode 159: Critical appraisal by and for dummies – PART I

PLAY/DOWNLOAD THIS PODCAST FOR FREE

In episode 159, Mike and James decide to tackle the issue of critical appraisal head on with a common-sense approach. We talk about why we need to do critical appraisal, how to save time by doing a quick scan of the abstract and how to search, identify, and deal with potential sources of bias. At the end we critique each other and find out that we are both packed full of bias but also loaded with high quality outcomes. 

Show notes

1) The ACCORD study

N Engl J Med 2008; 358:2545-59

Episode SPECIAL #2: Insomnia treatments you don't need to lose sleep over

In this second very special episode our good friend Bruce Arroll comes back to discuss all sorts of issues around insomnia. We learn all about the evidence and an interesting and very effective treatment that uses the concept of restriction of time in bed. Both of us fall asleep during the podcast but at the end realize it in no way interfered with the content.

MyStudies 1.0 iPad app released today

Check out our new iPad app released to day MyStudies – www.mystudies.org. The app and 10 studies are free – hopefully it will give you enough of an idea of what we have created. To get all the studies requires a subscription. I would love it if you would check it out and support us – this is only a 1.0 version and we have lots of plans for updates in the future. I would also love feedback as to how to improve the app. I co-created it with the same guy who made the awesome iPhone/iPad app MedCalc. If you think it is useful PLEASE let all your friends and colleagues know. Thanks.

You want to use evidence in your clinical practice from the landmark studies – those studies that change practice. Your patient comes in and asks you about the latest greatest study. How can you quickly and easily get all that information? Let MyStudies help.

You are at a presentation and you start to wonder if the presenter is really telling you everything you need to know about a study. Did they just present relative numbers? Did they only present the benefits with no mention of harms? Did they come up with conclusions that don’t really match the results? MyStudies can help.

As a student/resident on rounds did you feel hopeless when someone asked you about the HOPE trial? Did you ever have to prove what was in the PROVE-IT study? Should you care what the CARE trial showed? Did not knowing the results of the TNT trial make you want to explode?

Have you wanted to enthusiastically let everybody know about the GUSTO trial? MyStudies is there for you.Have you ever had to make a presentation and not have time to look up all the studies and make slides to show the results? MyStudies was designed to help you with all this as well. MyStudies brings the results of hundreds of the major clinical studies to your fingertips.

We have done the work for you – all you have to do now is look at the results. 

 

Episode SPECIAL: Getting the skinny on a number of skin disorders

In this very special no-Mike episode, James gets together with our good friend and colleague Bruce Arroll from New Zealand who capably sits in to fill Mike’s shoes which Mike actually left in New Zealand last year. We discuss impetigo, otitis externa, chronic supporative otitis media and eczema and decide that the old drugs are still very useful.

Show notes

1) Impetigo

Cochrane Library

2) Otitis externa

Cochrane Library

3) Beta-lactam versus beta-lactam-aminoglycoside combination therapy in immunocompetent patients with sepsis

BMJ 2004;328:668–72

4) Beta-lactam versus beta-lactam-aminoglycoside combination therapy in cancer patients with neutropenia

Cochrane Library

 5) Chronic supporative otitis media

Cochrane Library

Episode 158: You say chlorthalidone I say hydrochlorothiazide

In episode 158, Mike and James work under very distressing conditions (no microphones, colds, Bubonic plague) and discuss the issue of which thiazide should you choose. Evidence, personal experience and values swirl continually through the diatribe. At the end the stress becomes so significant that they both develop high blood pressure and decide to take high dose reserpine.

Show notes
1) Is hydrochlorothiazide the best thiazide diuretic for hypertension?

Tools for Practice

2) COLD-FX

CBC marketplace expose


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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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