Talk Evidence - Sepsis, talc and blindsided by blinding

Welcome to the festive talk evidence, giving you a little EBM to take you into the new year. As always Duncan Jarvies is joined by Helen Macdonald (resting GP and editor at The BMJ) and Carl Heneghan (active GP, director of Oxford University’s CEBM and editor of BMJ Evidence)* This month: (1.20) Carl tells us about new research on treating sepsis with steroids that might inform practice. (4.58)Proscribing of prophylactic PPIs or H2-blockers for intensive care patients. (11.00) Carl wonders if we can actually rule out an increased risk of ovarian cancer with the use of talc. (17.46) Helen drops and EBM bombshell - is all the work needed to blind participants in a double blind randomised control trial actually worth it? (33.00) Helen is annoyed about a press release from the department of health, and kicks of 2020 by stealing Carl's rant spot. Reading list: Corticosteroids for Treating Sepsis in Children and Adults https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31808551-corticosteroids-for-treating-sepsis-in-children-and-adults/?dopt=Abstract Gastrointestinal bleeding prophylaxis for critically ill patients: a clinical practice guideline https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.l6722 Association of Powder Use in the Genital Area With Risk of Ovarian Cancer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31910280 Blinding Fool’s gold? Why blinded trials are not always best https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.l6228 Impact of blinding on estimated treatment effects in randomised clinical trials https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.l6802

*quick note to say sorry about the sound quality on Duncan's microphone - we had a technical glitch (he was left alone to record).