Checking our blind spots: current status of research evidence summaries in ME/CFS (2018) Davenport et al

Checking our blind spots: current status of research evidence summaries in ME/CFS

Todd E Davenport, Staci R Stevens, J Mark VanNess, Jared Stevens, Christopher R Snell

The evidence-based practice (EBP) model hierarchically organises scientific information by level, from lowly case studies to lofty systematic reviews and clinical trials. Clinical trials best influence recommendations because they putatively have the greatest internal validity.1 This assumption is based on sound research ethics, such as scientific competence and good faith actors, as well as observed differences in outcomes. An EBP blind spot emerges when fundamental assumptions are unmet. Based on findings of a 2018 PEDro evidence summary in BJSM 2 and elsewhere,3 it now seems clear that scientific research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) resides in a blind spot.

ME/CFS—a multisystem condition
ME/CFS is estimated to affect 836 000 to 2.5 million people in the USA.4 Ninety per cent of cases are thought to go undiagnosed,4 suggesting that people with ME/CFS are substantially undercounted, underdiagnosed and undertreated. Substantial literature exists to support that ME/CFS is a multisystem condition that appears associated with a combination of genetic, cellular and systemic metabolic deficits in …

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2018/07/17/bjsports-2018-099553

Behind paywall

 

It's a one-pager. Some good lines:

Mostly combating the idea of the Cohrane review being the final word, unless I miss my guess.

A final call for evidence based medicine also involving patient perspective.

If quoting to this limited degree is unacceptable, lmk mods, and I will remove.

 

Bravo! thank you Todd E Davenport, Staci R Stevens, J Mark VanNess, Jared Stevens, Christopher R Snell. You are true heroes.

 

It’s an excellent short paper, my science writer friend George Lumison (who has himself written eloquently on PACE several times) just sent me the pdf though I don’t have permission to share. Thank you to the authors for articulating the blindspot in ME research so well and concisely.

 

Pleased to see this. We need academics and clinicians speaking out in their journals.

 

Here a link to the full paper:
https://sci-hub.tw/https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2018/07/17/bjsports-2018-099553

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1019605098178269184

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1019609009660317697

 

Does not get enough credit even tho I see her name EVERYWHERE, so signal-boost.

 

Thank you and welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks for the welcome, @Skycloud !