Turning layoff lemons into lemonade
By Mary Gabb (mary.gabb@rxcomms.com) With all of the recent news about job cuts or outsourcing in the pharmaceutical industry, health economists maybe worried about their own employment, as the downturn…
How to participate in or lead a panel discussion
By Mary Gabb (mary.gabb@rxcomms.com) As health economics plays a more prominent role in medical research and public policy, participation in panel discussions – either in front of a live audience…
How to be a more effective public speaker
By Mary Gabb (mary.gabb@rxcomms.com) A frequently overlooked professional skill – especially among scientists – is public speaking, yet the inability to effectively communicate your work can place significant roadblocks in…
Why not take a ‘sensory break?’
By Clare Gurton (clare.gurton@rxcomms.com) During a coffee-break at a recent medical conference, I went outside and almost immediately became aware of the familiar sounds of swifts high above. As I…
Observational studies: answering real-life questions about healthcare practice
By Ruth Whittington (ruth.whittington@rxcomms.com) Part 4 – Interpreting the results of observational studies In the last of our series on observational studies, this article addresses some of the issues involved…
Big Brother may be reading your emails
By Mary Gabb (mary.gabb@rxcomms.com) Billions of emails are sent each day round the world. What most people don’t realise, however, is that email is like a postcard; it can be…
Prevention information on the Internet
By Jonathan Coopersmith (jonathan.coopersmith@rxcomms.com) Benjamin Franklin said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Perhaps the best way to reduce errors in medicine, then, is to prevent…
Bridging cultural gaps
By Clare Gurton (clare.gurton@rxcomms.com) There is an increasing need for all of us to develop strategies for dealing with different cultures as business becomes more international and cross communication among…
Observational studies: answering real-life questions about healthcare practice
By Ruth Whittington (ruth.whittington@rxcomms.com) Part 3 – Conducting an observational study Last month, we looked at the differences between observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Here, we look at…
Drowning in email? Here are some life belts
By David Woods (david.woods@rxcomms.com) If you feel that emails are inundating you, and you yearn for the days of the quill pen, help is at hand. In her recent book…