More evidence coffee, tea could prevent diabetes

This story gave more context and more caveats and in fewer words than a WebMD story on the same study.

Our Review Summary

In 400 words, this story did a better job than its WebMD competition did in 500 words on the same study, namely:

stating the limitations of such observational studies
pointing to potential confounding factors in such a study

Nonetheless, it still:

didn’t provide any independent expert perspective
passed along the researchers’ projections (for which independent expert reactions would have been appreciated) that "if the benefits turn out to be real, health care providers might begin advising patients at risk for diabetes not only to exercise and lose weight, but to drink more tea and coffee, too."

Why This Matters

The flip side is equally true: the benefits may not turn out to be real and that advice may be groundless.

Criteria

Does the story adequately discuss the costs of the intervention?

Not Applicable

There was no discussion of costs, but most people know what coffee and tea costs.

Does the story adequately quantify the benefits of the treatment/test/product/procedure?

Satisfactory

Because the story noted the limitations of an observational study like this, and because it quantified the statistical associations from the study, we give it a satisfactory score on this criterion.

Does the story adequately explain/quantify the harms of the intervention?

Not Satisfactory

There was no discussion of the potential harms of drinking large quantities of coffee and tea. There are always tradeoffs. This is worth at least a line.

Does the story seem to grasp the quality of the evidence?

Satisfactory

The story did mention that the information presented was extracted from a review of the published studies; it went on to explain that a clinical trial would be needed to determine whether the impact of these beverages on diabetes was real.

Does the story commit disease-mongering?

Satisfactory

The story did not engage in overt disease mongering. In contrast with the WebMD story, it provided a source when it stated, "Type 2 diabetes, which is often tied to obesity, affects about 8 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases."

Does the story use independent sources and identify conflicts of interest?

Not Satisfactory

No independent sources were quoted in the story. We especially feel that this was warranted given the inclusion of the researcher’s bold claims of potential impact of the findings.

Does the story compare the new approach with existing alternatives?

Not Satisfactory

While the last line of the story mentioned exercise and diet, there was no context for readers to evaluate how coffee and tea consumption compared to these strategies for reducing the chance of developing type II diabetes.

Does the story establish the availability of the treatment/test/product/procedure?

Not Applicable

The availabilty of coffee and tea is not in question.

Does the story establish the true novelty of the approach?

Satisfactory

The story began by explaining that this was a follow-up to a previous literature review of the impact of coffee and tea consumption on type II diabetes.

Does the story appear to rely solely or largely on a news release?

Not Applicable

There is no evidence that the story relied solely or largely on a news release.

Total Score: 4 of 7 Satisfactory

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