We live in an age of an ever-increasing amount of research. And while this has obvious benefits, it poses a serious challenge to practitioners who want to stay abreast of their field. Tools that reduce the noise - therefore - are most useful at this moment.
Launched in April 2024, the series curates groundbreaking articles meant to keep researchers current, especially for internal medicine physicians who must be familiar with a broad range of medical knowledge.
The series takes a frank tone, answering “Why should internal medicine physicians know about this article?” They recognize the value of attention, in other words, and select articles with this knowledge in mind. For example, in the Critical Care section, the team selected the article: “The institutional switch to small-volume blood collection tubes in the ICU may decrease RBC transfusions without affecting laboratory results” and summarized it this way:
Why should internal medicine physicians know about this article?
Frailty can negatively affect the prognosis of adults aged 70 or older who present with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, many guidelines do not differentiate between the recommendations for management of NSTEMI in older adults versus younger adults with respect to the utility of an invasive management strategy. Even though some evidence in the past has suggested that invasive strategies are more effective for older adults when compared with conservative measures, these studies have not been randomized and frailty was not assessed (1).
For those seeking the freshest information, the Annals of Internal Medicine also features the ACP Journal club, which similarly highlights and summarizes ten articles a month.
Both are fantastic resources to help reduce paralysis of choice and keep you up to date with the most current research!
References:
Iorio, A., & Laine, C. (2024). What You May Have Missed in 2023: Keeping Up With the Constant Flow of New Medical Evidence. Annals of Internal Medicine, 177(5). https://doi.org/10.7326/M24-0832
When people ask if I use TikTok, I respond with an unconventional reply: only for research purposes. While the wording I use is intended to be humorous, I’m actually telling the truth. I downloaded TikTok in grad school to study misinformation on social media during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to this day, I use it to see what misinformation is spreading online.
Before I get into specifics, let me be clear that TikTok is not the only source of misinformation on the internet or even the worst. It’s hard to gauge how much misinformation spreads from platform to platform, and it’s my personal belief that every social media site has its own misinformation problem that expresses itself in different ways. The problems I see on TikTok can be seen everywhere from X to Meta. But given TikTok’s popularity, it seems best to focus on that platform.
Back to TikTok. To give readers a taste of what I’m talking about, here is a smallsampling of the type of videos I got on TikTok just last week:
Claims that eating a type of seed leads to living over 100 years old and never getting cancer
Claims that using a type of veggie powder in your drink can improve your heart health, a powder the video creator also sells
The claim that teeth can heal themselves and that dentists are lying to you to gain money
Promotion of a crash diet that claims to cure all diseases
Needless to say, these health claims are false. If there were a type of seed we could eat that would lead to perfect health, we’d all know about it. But I bring up this type of content not to debunk it, but to ask an important question: why do people believe in these kinds of claims? Most of this content is easily disproved, and some of it has been debunked for decades – take the claim one does not need glasses, for example (Klee, 2023).
The answer to that question is multifaceted. Since the study of misinformation became more popular, journalists and scientists alike have theorized why some health claims, no matter how ridiculous, still manage to go viral. History has also offered some insights; given the long history of quackery, there are plenty of examples to pull from.
Here are some reasons why these ideas continue to be popular:
Lack of Health Literacy: Health literacy is something that one has to learn. When you lack health literacy, you can be more susceptible to believing outlandish health claims.
Cost of Health Care: Health care is expensive, especially if you lack insurance. When you can’t afford recommended treatments, fringe medical ideas can be more appealing if they don’t break the bank.
They Confirm Our Biases: Claims that back up biases we already have can be particularly enticing. If I love fresh strawberries and see a post claiming fresh strawberries help treat an illness, I’m more likely to buy into the idea.
Negative Experiences with Healthcare: When you have negative encounters with healthcare, alternatives become more appealing, especially when they validate feelings that were previously dismissed (Boyle, 2022)
Feeling Anxious/Lacking Control: It’s scary to feel out of control of your own health. Many scams promise that their products offer control over your body, which can be very tempting (Nan, 2022).
One thing I want to draw attention to is what isn’t included on this list: lack of intelligence. While health literacy does help one spot misinformation, it does not provide immunity: some of the biggest spreaders of Covid-19 misinformation are medical professionals (Bond, 2021). No amount of factual knowledge makes us immune to fear, bias, and other emotions that drive the uptake of health misinformation.
So how do we avoid misinformation? Remaining skeptical is always a good place to start, as well as being aware of one's own biases. As for combating misinformation on a wider scale, teaching health literacy, assisting individuals with high healthcare costs, and improving patient experiences are all ways to start.
In the meantime, let us all take the health information we hear online with a grain of salt we can only see if we keep wearing our glasses.
Nan, Xiaoli, et al. “Why Do People Believe Health Misinformation and Who Is at Risk? A Systematic Review of Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Health Misinformation.” Social Science & Medicine, vol. 314, Dec. 2022, p. 115398. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115398.
With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “The Healing of America,” by T.R. Reid.
With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Healthcare,” by T.R. Reid.
About the Book: A unique and grounded book on comparative policy: author T.R. Reid takes his ailing shoulder to healthcare systems around the world, creating a highly personal/practical look at different healthcare options [a healthcare Big Mac Index of sorts], all while informing the reader about the systems themselves. Morally-minded but never overwrought, “The Healing of America” lays out practical steps for improving America’s healthcare system that appeal both to a love of efficiency and a concern for human flourishing.
Reasons to Read: If you want to educate yourself about policy but would rather read about anything else, “The Healing of America” is exceptionally readable and filled with concrete examples. If you’re looking for a hopeful take on the subject, Reid provides simple and tested adjustments to improve healthcare and delivers them with the pluckiness of someone who believes victory is possible.
Reasons to Avoid: If you want to avoid jealousy over almost anyone’s healthcare system but our own. If you’re less interested in Otto Von Bismarck and just want to read about policy, you might begrudge the frequent history lessons. And if you would rather have the most succinct reading, the book (like many of its kind) becomes repetitive at points.
Washington DC, Fourth of July Celebrations National Independence Day Parade Location: Constitution Avenue NW between 7th Street and 17th Street, 11:45 AM to 2:00 PM Cost: FREE!
Celebrate Independence Day in this patriotic, flag-waving, red, white, and blue celebration of America's birthday! There will be marching bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military units, giant balloons, equestrians, drill teams, and more. Learn more here.
Sylvan Theater Family Activity Area Location: Southeast grounds of the Washington Monument, 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM Cost: FREE!
Visit the Sylvan Theater Family Activity Area on the southeast grounds of the monument for activities and a scavenger hunt about the monuments and memorials on the National Mall. You can also complete your Independence Day Junior Ranger booklet full of family-friendly, fun activities.
A Capitol Fourth Concert Location: West Lawn of the United States Capitol, 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Cost: FREE!
This star-studded salute to Independence Day is broadcast live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol and is free and open to the public. Gates open at 3:00 PM. More information here.
Fireworks on the National Mall Time: 9:09 PM to 9:27 PM
The National Park Service will once again host the annual Independence Day fireworks celebration on the National Mall, the nation’s most important civic space and home to more than a dozen memorials that commemorate great Americans and significant events in our nation’s history. Fireworks will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
July 4th at the National Archives Time: July 4, 2024, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Location: National Archives Museum, 701 Constitution Ave. NW Cost: FREE!
Join the National Archives on Constitution Avenue in celebration of July 4th! They will celebrate America’s birthday on the steps of the National Archives with re-enactors, family fun, and the iconic Declaration of Independence reading ceremony. There will be a full day of patriotic activities including, presentation of colors, singing of the National Anthem, Declaration of Independence readings, live performances, family activities, and more. While here, explore the historic museum.
Gold's Gym DC Metro is proud to partner with Georgetown Park for this outdoor fitness series! Get up and get moving with elite coaches and trainers for weekend fitness and fun with classes like Zumba/Cardio Dance, HIIT Training, and more! Classes are held right outside of Pinstripes in Georgetown Park! FREE 2-hour parking is available at the parking garage located at 1080 Wisconsin Ave, NW.
Singalong Saturdays at The Wharf Date: July 6 & August 3, 2024, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Transit Pier, 970 Wharf Street, SW Cost: FREE!
Go to the Wharf for Singalong Saturdays, free karaoke, on the first Saturday of July and August from 7:00 PM-9:00 PM. Take karaoke night to the next level by performing your favorite song with live music from the 24K Event Band on the Transit Pier floating stage. No advanced sign-up is required – just show up, choose a song, and channel your inner rockstar! First come, first serve.
Summer Reps 2024 “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Rover or The Banish’d Cavaliers” Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 6:00 PM. (+ 8 Dates with varying times) Location: Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street, NW Cost: $10 for GW faculty, staff, and students. Promo-code (GEORGE1). $20 for General Public.
The Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy is a Master of Fine Arts program that trains actors to work with classical language and embody mythic storytelling. After completing a one-year intensive program of coursework spanning classical text study, stage combat, and more, the class of 2024 performs two plays in repertory as the culmination of their training.
Romeo and Juliet - Directed by Alec Wild. By William Shakespeare. What makes a tale timeless? It’s the sense that even over centuries, human beings grapple with the same big problems, again and again. Romeo and Juliet deals with two lovers at odds with the expectations and biases of their families, and shows us the tragic consequences of failing to see our loved ones with clear eyes and full hearts. A story of love, loyalty, and the desperate measures we take when we’re ruled by our passions, Romeo and Juliet stand the test of time as a true classic.
The Rover or The Banish’d Cavaliers -Directed by Eleanor Holdridge. By Aphra Behn. Virginia Woolf wrote of Aphra Behn, “All women together ought to let flowers fall on the tomb of Aphra Behn, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.” The first English woman to earn her living openly as a writer, Behn wrote The Rover in 1655, and won great acclaim for its bawdiness, fun, and daring. Taking place during Carnival in Spain, The Rover deals with sexual intrigue, mistaken identities, and uncontrollable desire as the characters struggle to find love and societal acceptance. The story reminds us that even in the seventeenth century, women were fighting for agency, freedom, and equality.
Engaging the community through rhythmic jazz and go-go, the Home Rule Music Festival is a celebration of DC’s rich and vibrant music and culture. The festival is a special day of FREE, family-friendly music that includes an outdoor record fair, great food trucks, craft drinks, more local vendors, and a full afternoon of live music from living legends and rising stars. In partnership with the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) and the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment, this collaboration reflects not only the festival's growth in the audience but also a commitment to providing a platform for diverse artistic expression and community engagement.
SAAM Arcade 2024 – Adventure Awaits Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024. 11:30 AM -7:00 PM Location: Kogod Courtyard - Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th Street, NW & G Street, NW Cost: FREE!
Come see the world with SAAM Arcade 2024! This year, SAAM Arcade showcases games that allow us to travel to and explore new places. As many of us seek new and exciting experiences, video games provide us with the opportunity to see both real and imagined places from new perspectives. The theme of travel and exploration focuses on the ways games make travel an exciting possibility and engage us with new experiences—all through the work of coding and design. SAAM Arcade will feature classic arcade games and a selection of games from independent developers that provide us an escape from everyday life, allow us to travel to new and possibly uncharted worlds, and give us the experience of a lifetime, all from a comfortable chair.
