I asked ChatGPT: How many other specific examples can you give where access to the full text of a research paper saved a life? ChatGPT provided 5 examples (below). I have added a personal comment on example 1 and invite you to join me in critical appraisal of the five examples that ChatGPT provides.
Here is ChatGPT's response:
1. Example: Open Access to Research on "Early Detection of Stroke Using MRI"
Context:
A study published in Neurology (2015) explored a new method for detecting strokes using advanced MRI imaging techniques, allowing for earlier identification of ischemic strokes (where blood flow to the brain is blocked).
The Role of Open Access:
The paper was open access, so it was freely available to hospitals around the world, including many community hospitals with limited resources. The study detailed new MRI scanning protocols that could detect smaller, early-stage strokes that conventional imaging methods missed.
Real-Life Impact:
A patient in a small, rural hospital presented with symptoms of a stroke — weakness on one side of the body and difficulty speaking. The healthcare team, who had access to the open access research, used the advanced MRI techniques from the paper to identify micro-strokes that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Early treatment with clot-busting drugs (tPA) helped prevent major brain damage, and the patient survived with minimal neurological deficits.
Why Open Access Was Crucial:
Without access to the specific imaging technique outlined in the research paper, the hospital would have missed the early signs of stroke. The open access availability made it possible for the hospital to apply the latest, life-saving imaging technology in an underserved community.
COMMENT (NPW): We need clarification on this. It seems odd to talk of a 'small, rural hospital' with 'advanced MRI techniques'. ChatGPT said the patient 'presented with symptoms of a stroke' but hthen said 'Without access to the specific imaging techniqu, the hospital would have missed the early signs of stroke'. The suggestion that the full text of the paper prompted 'early treatment with clot-busting drugs' is also odd. It is normal practice, based on established clinical guidelines (and not a specific paper), to treat suspected thromboembolic stroke with 'clot-busting drugs'.
I invite HIFA members to comment on the above, and to apply your critical appraisal to the other examples that ChatGPT provides:
2. Example: Open Access to Research on "Antibiotic Resistance and Treatment Protocols"
Context:
A 2016 study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases investigated the growing issue of antibiotic resistance and outlined a new protocol for treating drug-resistant infections. The paper presented detailed, evidence-based guidelines on how to effectively treat infections caused by resistant bacteria like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
The Role of Open Access:
The paper was made open access, and a healthcare provider in a developing country gained access to the full text. The local hospital had seen an increase in patients with drug-resistant infections, and the clinicians were struggling to treat these infections with the limited antibiotics available to them.
Real-Life Impact:
A middle-aged man arrived at the hospital with severe cellulitis and signs of sepsis caused by MRSA. The healthcare team, guided by the open access paper, implemented the new antibiotic treatment protocol for resistant infections. The patient’s condition improved significantly after receiving the appropriate combination of antibiotics, and he survived a potentially fatal infection.
Why Open Access Was Crucial:
In the absence of this open access research, the clinicians might not have known about the new protocol for handling resistant infections. Access to the paper allowed them to administer the correct treatment quickly, which saved the patient's life by preventing septic shock.
3. Example: Open Access to Research on "Early Intervention for Preterm Birth"
Context:
A study published in The Lancet (2017) reviewed clinical trials on interventions for preventing preterm birth and identified several effective treatments. The paper included evidence that administering magnesium sulfate to mothers at risk of preterm labor could significantly reduce the likelihood of severe complications in premature infants.
The Role of Open Access:
The paper was open access, so it became available to hospitals in regions with high rates of preterm births, including low-resource areas. One hospital in a developing country used the information from the paper to improve its maternal care protocol.
Real-Life Impact:
A pregnant woman at 27 weeks of gestation came into labor unexpectedly. The doctors, having read the open access research, immediately administered magnesium sulfate, which greatly reduced the likelihood of the newborn developing severe neurological issues associated with preterm birth. The infant survived, and the mother recovered without complications.
Why Open Access Was Crucial:
Without the paper's specific guidance on magnesium sulfate use, the hospital staff might have missed the window to administer the life-saving drug. The open access research allowed them to intervene in a timely manner, saving both the mother and child.
4. Example: Open Access to Research on "Emergency Treatment for Cardiac Arrest"
Context:
A 2019 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine explored new approaches to the early defibrillation of patients who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting. The research highlighted the importance of immediate use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and proper CPR techniques.
The Role of Open Access:
The study was made available as open access, and a volunteer in a high school gym who had been trained in CPR and AED use was able to access this paper. The paper described updated guidelines for handling cardiac arrest more effectively.
Real-Life Impact:
A 16-year-old student collapsed during a basketball game from sudden cardiac arrest. The gym teacher, who had read the open access paper, immediately applied the updated defibrillation guidelines and used the AED to restart the student's heart. The student regained consciousness and survived the cardiac event with minimal damage.
Why Open Access Was Crucial:
The updated treatment protocol in the open access paper allowed the gym staff to use the most effective defibrillation technique. Without it, the student might not have survived. Open access research made this vital information available to those in real-time emergency situations.
5. Example: Open Access to Research on "Nutritional Interventions for Malnutrition in Children"
Context:
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Nutrition investigated the impact of specific nutritional interventions to treat severe malnutrition in children under five years old. The study showed that ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF), like peanut-based pastes, dramatically improved recovery rates for severely malnourished children.
The Role of Open Access:
This paper was open access, which allowed NGOs and healthcare workers in rural areas of countries like Ethiopia and Somalia to access the latest evidence on how to combat malnutrition effectively.
Real-Life Impact:
A severely malnourished child was brought to a remote clinic. The clinic workers, who had access to the open access research, immediately administered the recommended RUTFs. Over the next few weeks, the child regained weight and strength, avoiding life-threatening complications like organ failure or death from malnutrition.
Why Open Access Was Crucial:
Without the open access paper, the clinic might not have had the latest evidence on the most effective treatment for malnutrition. The ability to access this research allowed them to provide the most appropriate care in time, saving the child's life.
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Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org