Reality Behind Medical Press Releases

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I thought this was an interesting little article from the Dermatology

Times website.

Take care,

Matija

Medical press releases may exaggerate results

July 29, 2002

Dermatology Times

Hanover, N.H. - Some medical press releases use formats that

exaggerate the perceived importance of findings and do not routinely

highlight study limitations, according to a study published in a

recent issue Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Researchers at the Dartmouth Medical School and the White River

Junction Veterans Affairs Outcomes Group examined the medical press

release process at several high-profile medical journals and reviewed

recent releases to evaluate how study findings are presented, and

whether limitations and potential conflicts of interest are

acknowledged.

While medical journals strive to ensure accuracy and the

acknowledgment of limitations in articles, press releases may not

reflect these efforts, JAMA reported. Medical press releases are

perhaps the most direct way that journals communicate with the media.

Although releases provide an opportunity to help journalists get

stories " right, " there has been little scrutiny of the release

process or quality.

Of 127 releases analyzed, 23 percent noted study limitations, while

65 percent reported main affects using numbers. Fifty-eight of the

releases reported differences between study groups, and of these, 55

percent provided the corresponding base rate, the format least prone

to exaggeration.

Industry funding was noted in only 22 percent of 23 studies receiving

such funding.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I thought this was an interesting little article from the Dermatology

Times website.

Take care,

Matija

Medical press releases may exaggerate results

July 29, 2002

Dermatology Times

Hanover, N.H. - Some medical press releases use formats that

exaggerate the perceived importance of findings and do not routinely

highlight study limitations, according to a study published in a

recent issue Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Researchers at the Dartmouth Medical School and the White River

Junction Veterans Affairs Outcomes Group examined the medical press

release process at several high-profile medical journals and reviewed

recent releases to evaluate how study findings are presented, and

whether limitations and potential conflicts of interest are

acknowledged.

While medical journals strive to ensure accuracy and the

acknowledgment of limitations in articles, press releases may not

reflect these efforts, JAMA reported. Medical press releases are

perhaps the most direct way that journals communicate with the media.

Although releases provide an opportunity to help journalists get

stories " right, " there has been little scrutiny of the release

process or quality.

Of 127 releases analyzed, 23 percent noted study limitations, while

65 percent reported main affects using numbers. Fifty-eight of the

releases reported differences between study groups, and of these, 55

percent provided the corresponding base rate, the format least prone

to exaggeration.

Industry funding was noted in only 22 percent of 23 studies receiving

such funding.