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FILLERS: Susan Bewley Getting to the bottom of evidence based medicine BMJ 2008; 336: 764 [Full text]

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Re-shaping suppositories

Stephen H Raymond   (5 April 2008)

But are double points the bottom line?

Anthony EJ Fitchett   (8 April 2008)

Re-shaping suppositories 5 April 2008
Stephen H Raymond, Staff Specialist in O & G Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania 7001 Send response to journal: Re: Re-shaping suppositories	Instead of getting the protocols changed, the manufacturers should be persuaded to change the shape of suppositories so that they are pointed at both ends. This way they will perhaps slide in at the start more easily and once half way in will be "sucked" the rest of the way as described. Furthermore, there will no longer be any confusion as to which end goes in first as both ends will be the same shape. Competing interests: None declared
But are double points the bottom line? 8 April 2008
Anthony EJ Fitchett, General Practitioner Mornington Health Centre, 169 Eglinton Road, Dunedin, New Zealand Send response to journal: Re: But are double points the bottom line?	Is Dr Raymond also making an intuitive assumption without evidence? It may be that the blunt end of the suppository plays a part in triggering the "sucking up" phenomenon. Shouldn't double-pointed suppositories only be promoted if there is evidence of their value. Competing interests: None declared