The hottest Evidence-based Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Fixing the research-to-policy pipeline

Hypertext • 19 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🚌 Education Evidence-based
  1. Challenges in evidence-based policy include interpreting research results, dealing with luck, p-hacking, and external validity.
  2. Pre-registration of RCTs and requiring data/code sharing help combat issues like luck and p-hacking in research.
  3. Scaling effective programs poses challenges of logistics, resources, and ensuring successful reproduction in multiple settings.

Could LLM psychiatrists be better than meat ones?

Aliveness Studies • 3 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Evidence-based
  1. Some psychiatrists may not provide thorough care during sessions, which can leave patients feeling unheard. It's important for mental health professionals to take time to understand their patients' feelings better.
  2. Using a large language model (LLM) and established guidelines, like the Maudsley, can give patients access to more up-to-date and evidence-based information regarding their treatment. This can help patients make informed decisions about their medications.
  3. While LLMs shouldn't fully replace psychiatrists, they could be a helpful tool for patients to get more insights and support alongside traditional care. Combining technology with medical expertise might improve overall mental health treatment.

Less Meat, More Plants: A Rules of Evidence Controversy Pt I

Unsettled Science • 3 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Evidence-based
  1. Eating plant-based diets tends to be healthier than consuming a lot of meat, especially processed meat, which is linked to heart disease and diabetes.
  2. The controversy lies in the differing levels of evidence - observational studies show plant-based diets may be healthier, but randomized controlled trials do not strongly support this.
  3. The GRADE methodology challenges the reliability of evidence from observational studies in nutrition, raising questions about long-standing dietary advice.

The world is hard to change

Hypertext • 0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Evidence-based
  1. Social science has its limits when it comes to creating large, lasting changes through evidence-based policymaking.
  2. Social science is about learning from failures and adapting to the challenges of understanding and changing human behavior.
  3. Disappointment in evidence-based policymaking does not justify reverting to ideological assumptions; instead, it highlights the complexity of creating effective social change.

Trust Science

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 08 Feb 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Evidence-based
  1. Trust the science behind COVID-19 vaccines and public health measures.
  2. Vaccination is key to returning to normalcy, and optimism based on evidence is important for motivation.
  3. Continue to follow safety guidelines, get vaccinated, and maintain hope for a healthier future.
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