Abstract
This is the eighth in a series of articles on making evidence-based medicine work for you. The series is based on the book ‘Attenti Alle Bufale’ by Tom Jefferson (www.attentiallebufale.it)
Quick Instrument
Relax. The message here is so obviously commercial that the dangers are greatly reduced. If you have a little bit of time look at the references cited to support the ad. Laugh at anything that reports as a source ‘data on file’ or publication in the Journal of the Medical Association of Tierra del Fuego.
Full Instrument
Do not waste time on these. I cut them out of my journals, if the page make-up of the journal allows me to do so without ruining it.
Rationale
If adverts were useless why would industry spend trillions on them? On the other hand, the message here is hardly subtle, so they carry less bufala potential than the rest.