Medical chatbots and empathy, RCTs for masks, the podcast returns, and more

May 7, 2023 Check out STAT+

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By Torie Bosch Editor, First Opinion

On First Opinion this week, Jennifer Lycette examines that viral study on chatbots, human physicians, and empathy. Baruch Fischhoff, Martin Cetron, and Katelyn Jetelina push back on the idea of RCTs for masks and Covid. Vanessa Kerry and Travis Bias look at how Global North health care systems recruiting practices are leading to worker shortages in the Global South. And much more, including the return of the First Opinion podcast! Have an opinion for or on First Opinion? Thoughts on my first go-round as podcast host? Email me: first.opinion@statnews.com.

Adobe Why a chatbot might seem more empathetic than a human physician A new study has generated much discussion on physician-patient communication. But that conversation is missing some key points. By Jennifer Lycette Do masks work? Randomized controlled trials are the worst way to answer the question With behavioral interventions like wearing masks, vastly more ambitious studies may be needed to produce results that are anything other than noise. By Baruch Fischhoff and Martin Cetron and Katelyn Jetelina The Global North can't solve its health care worker shortage by recruiting from the Global South International recruitment for health care workers has painful repercussions for middle- and lower-income countries left behind. By Vanessa Kerry and Travis Bias Adobe Clinical trials for Alzheimer's treatments need to include people with Down syndrome Around 70% of people with Down syndrome will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's in their 40s and 50s. Bringing them into clinical trials is a must. By Michelle Sie Whitten Listen: Two medical residents debate their hospital's unionization drive Will unionization help medical residents get better pay and hours, improving patient care? Or are unions overpromising? By Torie Bosch Long waits to see a doctor are a public health crisis Long doctor appointment wait times are not just an inconvenience, they're a public health disaster. Here are some solutions. By Oliver Kharraz AP Photo/Middle East Images The apparent poisoning of schoolgirls is just one part of Iran's health crisis The "chemical attacks" on schoolgirls are just one part of the health threats to people in the Islamic Republic of Iran. By Arghavan Salles

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