🧑🏻‍🔬 Reading more papers won't make you a better doctor

Reading more studies won’t make you a better doctor.

Reading them better will.

Here are three ways to sharpen your clinical eye when reading research:

1. Statistical significance ≠ Clinical relevance
A paper says a new dry eye drug “significantly” improves SPK signs. Big study, 1000 patients. Sounds promising.

But when you look closer, the difference? Just 5%.

Is that 5% shift on one metric enough to change how your patient feels? Will it change what you prescribe?

Authors want to sell you a story. It's your job to decide if the story matters in your clinic.

2. Correlation ≠ Causation
Still needs repeating. Even for us. 

3. Does this model apply to your patients?
Science does wild things to animals. It helps us learn — but it’s not always translatable.

I read a paper where violet light slowed myopia progression. Cool. But the model? Mice wearing -30D goggles to induce myopia.

So, sure — violet light might help. But before you tell parents to shine purple strobes at their kids after dinner, ask:
How similar are -30D-goggled mice to the kids in your chair?

tldr: Be curious. Be skeptical. Don’t just read — think!

See you next week,

Jin