A new #Cochrane Review on physical interventions against respiratory viruses is making the rounds. The review focuses exclusively on #RCTs and finds that in the entire scientific literature, there are 78 studies with a bearing on the various questions asked. (1/n)
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6
In the summer 2021, I collected a lot of literature on this and wrote up some thoughts. Much of it applies to the reception of the latest #Cochrane's summary too.
https://intemittdefault.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/evidence-decisions-and-default-reasoning/
(3/n, n=3)
#Cochrane makes statement
https://www.cochrane.org/de/node/81904
New commentary on statnews #masks #cochrane
https://www.statnews.com/2023/05/02/do-masks-work-rcts-randomized-controlled-trials/
Commentary by Naomi Oreskes
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-went-wrong-with-a-highly-publicized-covid-mask-analysis/
Found an interview with the lead author of the #Cochrane review. He is a good example of someone engaging in default thinking:
"[...] it's a complete subversion of the ‘precautionary principle’ which states that you should do nothing unless you have reasonable evidence that benefits outweigh the harms."
https://maryannedemasi.substack.com/p/exclusive-lead-author-of-new-cochrane?utm_campaign=post