Here’s another newspaper column that helps readers scrutinize the quality of evidence behind claims made for health care interventions.
The Washington Post’s periodic “Quick Study” feature does a nice job in a small space. The most recent column looked at the latest study of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs in apparently healthy people. Each column includes some caveats, as in this case:
CAVEATS The study did not differentiate between specific statins or dosages, nor did it determine if the drugs might have any longer-term effect.
And each column ends with this important reminder:
The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment’s effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.
In the past, I’ve also praised Jeremy Singer-Vine’s Research Report columnin the Wall Street Journal.
I wish more newspapers would help readers scrutinize claims and evidence in this way. Kudos to the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
Opinions on other issues in news, journals, PR, advertising, marketing
Come on, NY Times; you must do better than this. Important research doesn’t need hype and the “breaking news” BS doesn’t help readers or patients. https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2022/03/nyt-proclaims-breaking-news/
Our editorial team was blessed to have Sharon as a contributor during our best years. As this obit states, she was “kind, patient, wise, thoughtful and generous.” Thank you, Sharon; now rest in peace. https://journalism.wisc.edu/news/in-memoriam-sharon-dunwoody-1947-2022/
We’ve written about the hype of liquid biopsies for years (see link in comment below). And now this…. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/12/medicare-shouldnt-cover-liquid-biopsies-early-cancer-detection/
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