News

The Christmas issue of the BMJ contains spoof articles and "interesting" research papers and this year is no exception. If you feel in need of some cheer at the end of this difficult year you might like to try one of the following:

• Effect on gastric function and symptoms of drinking wine, black tea, or schnapps with a Swiss cheese fondue: randomised controlled crossover trial
• Testing the validity of the Danish urban myth that alcohol can be absorbed through feet
• Red for danger: the effects of red hair in surgical practice
• The IKEA pencil: a surprising find in the NHS

Strategies for coping with information overload

This editorial in the Christmas issue takes a light hearted look at the issue of information overload for doctors, and how this affects their practice and their relationships with their patients. Here is a short excerpt:

"But 20 years after the launch of the Cochrane Collaboration a review has found progress to be poor.Around 75 clinical trials and 11 systematic reviews are published every day, with no sign of abating. Yet many clinical topics have no Cochrane Library systematic reviews, and perhaps three quarters of interventions lack a firm evidence base. We have what Muir Gray, once director of the National Library for Health, calls an information paradox—we are overwhelmed by new information yet have many unanswered questions. The average 10 minute consultation between a doctor and patient will throw up at least one question that cannot be answered."

The author, Richard Smith suggests a number of coping strategies including the ostrich strategy (ignore all new information), the pigeon strategy (hang around other doctors and pick up bits of information) and the inhuman strategy (create a machine to help you).

Subscription required: www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c7126.full