The cover of the July Reader’s Digest refers to back pain “cures”? The inside headline refers to seven “breakthroughs”?
C’mon Reader’s Digest: stop the hype. Here are the seven:
1. A neurostimulator for which RD provides not one shred of evidence – only anecdote.
2. An infrared belt which the inventor “is trying to get approved”? Cost: $2,335!
3. A “magic” spine wand. (I’m not into the Harry Potter School of Health Care Devices.)
4. A flexible spine support system as an alternative to fusion. Again, no evidence provided, only anecdotes.
5. Stem cells to regenerate damaged disks. The story admits that human trials are two years away. Kinda early to be talking “cures” and “breakthroughs”?
6. A “grow a new backbone” idea that’s only been tested in rats and mice. Good news for rodents with back pain.
7. Get a new bed. Even the article admits “it sounds like cheerleading from bedding companies” and discloses the study was partly sponsored by a sleep products trade group.
Final score:
Headline hype: 7
Cures & breakthroughs: 0
Opinions on other issues in news, journals, PR, advertising, marketing
Following a shift in journalism’s business model, a diverse ecosystem of publications, many covering science, has sprung up online. This has made it more difficult to sort out what qualifies as journalism, what doesn’t, and whether the public even cares.
https://t.co/qO2a27FiSe
Researchers and journalists do the public a grave disservice when they spin health study results to make them appear safer or more effective than warranted, says @HealthNewsRevu founder @garyschwitzer https://t.co/QIKsRbP6Ed
Comments (2)
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Bill Gleason
June 18, 2007 at 6:31 pmReader’s Disgust?
It has always been this way and will never change.
Congrats on the Mirror Award!
Mr. Bonzo
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