The questions are still coming in and we’re approaching 300, so I thought we could have a quick look at the types of questions!

Conditions: below is a list of conditions that the questions related to, the fact that diabetes, with 4, is the highest shows the large range of conditions asked about.

Diabetes: 4
Heart failure: 3
Hypertension: 3
Pregnancy: 3
Tetanus: 3
VTE (Venous Thromboembolism): 3
ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease): 3
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: 3
Perinatal mental health: 3
Surgical site infection: 2
Stroke: 2
Type 2 diabetes mellitus: 2
Infertility: 2
Ventilator associated pneumonia: 2
Obesity: 2
Frozen shoulder: 2
Alzheimer dementia: 2
Asthma: 2
Coronary revascularization: 2
Tuberculosis (TB): 2
Low back pain: 2
Bowel cancer: 2
Cirrhosis: 2
Acute myocarditis: 2
Binge eating disorder: 2
Insomnia: 2
Venous insufficiency: 2
Pain: 2
Dilated cardiomyopathy: 2

Question type:

  • Treatment/Management 70-80
  • Evidence/Studies/Literature Review 45-55
  • Diagnosis/Assessment 20-25
  • Guidelines/Recommendations/Best Practices 15-20
  • Drug Information/Mechanism of Action/Reviews 15-20
  • Etiology/Causes/Mechanisms 10-15
  • Prognosis/Outcomes 10-15
  • Public Health/Prevention 10-15
  • Basic Science/Pathophysiology 5-10
  • Patient Experience/Qualitative Aspects 5-10
  • Ethical/Societal Considerations < 5
  • Other/Unclear < 5

Broad versus narrow questions:

  • Broad questions: These typically cover a wide range of aspects related to a condition, treatment, or topic. They might ask for general overviews, multiple options, or the fundamental principles.
  • Narrow questions: These focus on a very specific aspect, such as a particular drug, a precise diagnostic criterion, a specific patient population, or a detailed mechanism.
    Approximate Count of Broad vs. Narrow Questions:

Broad Questions: Approximately 60 – 75 questions seem to have a broader scope. These often start with phrases like “What are,” “Explain,” “Discuss,” “What matters to patients in their patient experience,” or ask for lists or overviews of a topic. Example of a Broad Question: “What are the core concepts in the primary prevention of ASCVD ?”

Narrow Questions: Approximately 150 – 165 questions appear to be more narrowly focused. These often inquire about specific treatments (“What is the best treatment for…”), particular diagnostic methods (“How to diagnose…”), the role of a specific drug (“How do SGLT2 inhibitors affect…”), or very defined scenarios. Example of a Narrow Question: “What is the correct dose for Meropenem in patients with hemodiafiltration?”

Fascinating….