Journal Club

How common is venous thromboembolism after major trauma, and who is most at risk? This 2017 systematic-review appraisal finds widely varying estimates and limited evidence, exploring why differences in populations and testing make simple conclusions difficult.

Does apnoeic oxygenation help during emergency department intubation? This appraisal of the 2017 ENDAO trial questions whether average oxygen saturation captures the outcome that matters, examining exclusions, sample size and the uncertainty around patients most likely to desaturate.

A tempting publication offer can leave an inexperienced author with an unexpected bill and an unusable paper. Mike Charlesworth and Lee Feddy argue that deception, inadequate supervision and poor journal selection deserve attention, rather than blaming open access itself.

Can statistical checks uncover unreliable clinical research? This 2017 discussion examines John Carlisle’s analysis of baseline data in randomised trials, considering errors, possible fabrication and the responsibilities of journals, while cautioning that an unusual result is not proof of fraud.

Whose assessment counts when a child is in pain? This 2017 appraisal of paediatric pain scales examines agreement between children, nurses and doctors, questioning whether disagreement justifies dismissing children’s reports and what a single pain measurement can really tell us.

Do teaching hospitals deliver better outcomes? This 2017 appraisal examines a large US study linking teaching status with lower mortality, while exploring confounding, limits to generalisability and why the association does not show that teaching itself caused the difference.