Tag: radio

Diane 35 and thrombosis risk – Argos broadcast part II

~ BS

Last week I wrote a post after hearing the radio broadcast of Argos. They concluded that broadcast with the promise to discuss how it is possibe that a more expensive, just as effective medicine which has more side effects still can be prescribed (in large numbers) in the Netherlands.

So I’ve listen with great interest the second part of the story, which can be heard on the Argos website. They journalists did a good job by covering all sides of the story , and they provide insight in the differences between ‘advertisement’ and ‘providing information’. What if information that is provided is only one sided? Does that count as advertisement? and if you want to play a nice game during the broadcast, ‘spot the logical fallacy’ is good suggestion… Gems!

In case you are wondering: the absolute risk of thrombosis in young women is low, even when using oral contraceptives. But I still believe that all unnecessary added risk without any benefit that can be avoided should be avoided by you in dialogue with your GP!

Diane 35 and thrombosis risk – Argos broadcast

~ BS

The oral contraceptive pill – especially the Diane 35- was in the news again. However, this is a bit strange: there is nothing new about the information that third and fourth generation oral contraceptives have an increased risk of thrombosis compared to the risk conveyed by second generation oral contraceptives. Because the desired effects of the older and newer generation pills are similar (not getting pregnant, preventing or curing acne) there is limited, if any, reason to prescribe the newest and more expensive pills. See also the recent comment by Helmerhorst and Rosendaal in the BMJ. However, still 160.000+ (Diane 35) 500.000 (third generation) women take these newer pills. Since thrombosis risk might be highest in the first few months, it is unclear whether these women all should switch to the safer second generation oral contraceptives. But for women who get their first prescription, a second generation oral contraceptive the best way to go (also according the Dutch GP guidelines).

A lot of the research on this topic has been executed by my colleagues from both the MEGA study and the RATIO study. Want to learn more about the pill controversy, please listen this episode of Argos, a Dutch radio programme.

In case you are wondering: the absolute risk of thrombosis in young women is low, even when using a newer generation oral contraceptives. But all added risk that can be avoided should be avoided by you in dialogue with your GP!

Radio interview – Masterclass ‘Noordwijk’

~ BS

The first weekend of the Masterclass in Noordwijk just finished. It was a great 3 days with a lot of interesting discussions. I hope the students liked it as well.

Today, I was interviewed on the subject of ‘a Masterclass in a youth hostel’. Apparently, the local radio station thought it was quite strange that students of the LUMC would go to Noordwijkerhout to get trained in clinical epidemiology. With 60-80 student applying each years of which only 32 can be selected, we know better! The interview started of a little slow (a lot of Ehms on my part didn’t help) but eventually I think the interview was quite okay. More information can be found on the website of nens.nl. I also uploaded the interview to the media section of the this website.