Cancer Docs 'Frustrated' By Lack of Useful Info in Journal Articles

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While not all peer-reviewed research will be instantly applicable to clinical practice, more of it certainly could be. It's one step the journals can take towards greater legitimacy. The recent decision by many of the leading journals to establish a single conflict-of-interest policy is another step. Still, the editors of these journals need to be more 'editorial', more judicious in what they publish- in other words, is the study newsworthy, i.e. does it make a novel contribution or does it just serve to publicize, say, a new medical device? Even a non-medical professional like myself can tell the difference, so surely they can too.

Alan Ross of TX 12:29AM July 23, 2010

Once again, this proves that without adequate training in communication techniques, nothing happens - or nothing happens RIGHT.
Since barely escaping death from colon cancer in 2001 I have transferred my 'wordsmith' skills into this area. When I present at conferences and workshops the results are always the same. 'Thank you so much. Exactly what I needed. No one's been teaching us this stuff'.
The day health practitioners come into the 'real world', where their patients reside, where people with other skills are welcomed as educators, lives will be unfairly lost.
I truly empathize with clinicians who are so frustrated that the skills of 'using the right words in the right way' still aren't being passed on, because people with such skills as mine are not being invited into the learning conversation often enough.
Partial or incomplete reports can be more dangerous to patients - and cause more clinicians to give up altogether - than no information at all.
Let's learn together.
Beryl Shaw

Beryl Shaw 9:52PM July 22, 2010