Four Tips For Understanding Medical News

March 29, 2008

Medicine is a science. That means research should provide clear

answers that stand the test of time and scrutiny from additional

investigations. That's the theory behind evidence-based, data-driven

scientific medicine. But in our imperfect world, things don't always

turn out as they should. The April 2008 issue of Harvard Men's Health

Watch explains how to handle medical advice that changes from day to

day and study to study.

Here are four tips:

1. Understand the different types of research you are likely to hear

about. Randomized controlled clinical trials are the gold standard

for medical research, and really the only way to prove whether an

intervention is beneficial or harmful. Meta-analyses are also

important they combine the results of many different studies and use

sophisticated statistical techniques to analyze the pooled data.

Observational studies can provide information on links between two

factors, but they cannot prove that one factor caused another.

Results from animal and laboratory studies should be considered

preliminary.

2. Read behind the headlines. Beware of summaries that transform

research findings into simplistic formulas for health, and focus on

results that have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

3. Even high-visibility medical studies published in major journals

are often contradicted or modified by subsequent research. This may

be frustrating, but new information should always be welcome, even if

it casts doubt on established beliefs.

4. When you read about medical research, see how the new information

fits into your personal health puzzle before you decide to change

your ways. Keep the big picture in mind, and remember to factor in

your personal preferences and priorities. If you have lingering

questions, discuss them with your doctor.

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