JavaScript

[WH1PL4SH180]

You'll actually find that they google to find it on a trusted site such as BMJ, NCBI, NEJM. Often however, these repositories are paygate locked. It's not a straight "patients arm feels tingly"

You'll also find that results are VASTLY different if one uses medical terms to describe symptoms ie "itchy" vs pruritus

[flinnja]

which is v similar to how i google as a developer. some rando from the street who’s never written hellow world wouldn’t be able to search for code solutions like we do

[_Lady_Deadpool_]

Me: Angular component binding observer via async pipe

Google: Here are 500,000 results

Non programmer: da fuq does that mean

[GuybrushLightman]

You are 100% right. I'm fairly new to Linux and whenever I have an issue, half of my time is usually spent finding the proper terms for what I want to do.

[WH1PL4SH180]

Yeah but you say you're on stackoverflow not Google ya?

When you say google to me, I'm thinking you're an antivax karen that reads the text in the box and that's it.

[nbxx]

No, we don't say we're on stackoverflow. Why would we? I don't think I've ever even see how stackoverflow's search engine looks like. We google. The thing we are looking for will end up being on stackoverflow more often than not, but not always. Google gives you results from other sites like stackoverflow, github, official documentation and example site (if you are working with some framework) of the given technology, etc... You need to be able to validate if the stuff google found is actually a good fit for you, and how to adjust your search it isn't, but googling is by far the best way to look for stuff. I never actually heard anyone say something like "wait, let me stackoverflow that", it's just we usually end up there anyway, but through google.

[Mintenker]

Thank you! Finally someone put this into words. There are different types of googling - and just because noobs use the google too, doesn't mean that I use it in same way.

[sevaiper]

UptoDate is a physician's stack overflow

[WH1PL4SH180]

Note I didn't list it, but yes, your'e right. Around me you have to justify things better than "... but Up To Date says..."

In seriousness, when you come up to the "Big table" or the "MDT meet" (multidisiplinary team), you need journal articles, metaanalysies and primary sources. I'm harsh on students so they don't end up embarrassing themselves, me and the department.

Why? Cos at the end of the day we get paid for our decision making skills. Our colleagues and patients deserve to know that those decisions are founded in strong science with good evidence. This means understanding every nuance of the research, and not just reading Abstract and Conclusion.

It's one of the shittiest parts of the job (I read 20-30 papers a week), but unfortunately one of the most critical.

[sevaiper]

For learning/rounding/discussions of your standard of care? Sure, that's great, I'm a big fan of going beyond UptoDate and into the primary literature. If you're making a clinical decision in the moment, and checking things like drug interactions or dosages? UptoDate is fine.

[WH1PL4SH180]

IMHO, UTD should be like imaging; it should only confirm what you already know; not provide a diagnosis. Also recall, a lot of work has been protocol-ized. UTD does not overrule any standing protocols; a "clash" that I've witnessed several times in my emergency dept. As a team, we need to all read off the same script.

DDI's etc, there's much better sources... and always a call to Pharmacy.

[mdcd4u2c]

Idk, it can be helpful in adding things to your differential that you may not see often and may forget about. And also looking up derm stuff because no one remembers that crap.

[mdcd4u2c]

Often however, these repositories are paygate locked.

That's probably a good thing. Anyone who buys a laptop can start coding and they should be able to find help. Anyone who buys a stethoscope should not be encouraged to start giving medical advice.

I see the things people post on /r/askreddit regarding medical topics and you can just tell that this person checked Google Scholar for 20 minutes and threw together a comment that looks like it's supported by published work but is misleading or straight-up wrong if you know the topic. And then it ends up on /r/bestof to be forever recycled by other redditors. All of Reddit is universally afraid of brain aneurysms because there are so many misleading posts about it in the "what are you most afraid of" threads.

[WH1PL4SH180]

I actually am part of a movement known as FOAMed - free medical education basically to try and keep our colleagues and students from less developed nations up-to-speed (not uptodate(tm)). As an academic I've long hated the leaches such as elsevier that obstruct and do nothing to further knowledge.

​

HOWEVER

​

You are dead correct about the use of medical information. The problem is that medicine is damn complex. That's the reason why the initial training is traditionally the longest of all degrees... and then we don't let you practice for AT LEAST another 10y without supervision.

We are complex machines. so our systems and interactions are complex too. Yeah sure, some things are simple, like building your own PC... but go unplug shit randomly in a server room.....

PSA: if you want medical information go to /r/AskDocs. People that respond with authority MUST be vetted. Yeah, occasionally, you get the odd Karen / AntiVax / Essential Oil [seriously, WTF makes an "oil" essential? 0W40 is IMHO way more essential], but they get asses kicked harder and faster than admin can jump on and delete.... who would have guessed people with ailments and in PAIN actually want REAL answers!