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The Medical Letter
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics is an independent, peer-reviewed, non-profit publication that offers unbiased critical evaluations of drugs - with special emphasis on new drugs - to physicians and other members of the health professions. Published every other week in a four-page newsletter format, it carries no advertising and is supported entirely by subscription fees. A typical issue appraises two or three new drugs in terms of their effectiveness, toxicity, cost, and possible alternatives. Occasionally, the Medical Letter publishes an article on an entire class of drugs, a new non-drug treatment or a new diagnostic aid. The Medical Letter started publication in 1959. It now has a circulation of more than 120,000, including practicing physicians in every medical specialty, medical educators, interns, residents and medical students. The Medical Letter is intended specifically to meet the needs of the busy physician who wants unbiased, reliable and timely information on new drugs. Many physicians are aware that manufacturers and their representatives may exaggerate the therapeutic effects and understate the adverse effects of drugs, but have neither the time nor the resources to check the accuracy of the manufacturers' claims. How articles are prepared: The Medical Letter evaluates virtually all new drugs and also reviews older drugs when important new information becomes available on their usefulness or adverse effects. The manufacturer is given the opportunity to supply material supporting the claims for the drug, and both published and available unpublished studies are carefully examined, paying special attention to the results of controlled clinical trials. An expert consultant prepares a preliminary report on the drug in terms of its effectiveness, adverse effects and possible alternatives. The preliminary draft is edited and sent to every member of the Advisory Board of The Medical Letter, to 10 to 20 other investigators who have special clinical and experimental experience with the drug or type of drug under review, to an appropriate representative of the pharmaceutical company making the drug, and sometimes to companies that make competitive drugs as well. Many criticisms, suggestions and questions come in from the reviewers in letters, faxes and telephone calls. Further extended communication by mail, phone and personal consultation is followed by final checking and editing to make the appraisal not only accurate, but also easy to read. If a new drug offers genuine advantages over older drugs, The Medical Letter says so. If it offers no advantage, if its effectiveness is limited, or if it is too toxic or too expensive to justify its use, The Medical Letter says so plainly. If new information changes the picture, follow-up reports are published. As a Members Only benefit, FAPA members can click on the link in the navigation bar of the Members Only homepage and go to a special page on the website for The Medical Letter and follow the directions for subscribing at the special FAPA rate. This is just another example of what FAPA is doing for you. Spread the word! Written by Ron Pace, PA-C, Webmaster & President-elect |
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