Helen Macdonald, Juan Franco, and Joe Ross are back with our monthly update on the world of evidence based medicine.

This episode delves into new methodologies which can use observational data to emulate trial data. We discuss a new systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs for surgical treatment of sciatica. There is elaboration and explanation of the CONSORT Harms 2022 statement - and we'll be asking if it goes far enough. Finally, the old chestnut of surrogate endpoints in cancer treatment trials - are benefits communicated to patients accurately?

Reading list;

Nirmatrelvir and risk of hospital admission or death in adults with covid-19: emulation of a randomized target trial using electronic health records - https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-073312

Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica

https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-070730

CONSORT Harms 2022 statement, explanation, and elaboration

https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-073725

Funders crack down on unpublished clinical trials—but is it enough?

https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p840

Communication of anticancer drug benefits and related uncertainties to patients and clinicians