Search Results for "observational"
For breakfast, give me 2 observational studies and an anti-irritant
This is the way many of my days begin. I check for messages – across all media – and I see this on Twitter from Adam Cifu, MD, one of our former editorial contributors: I think this article was published just to irritate @VPrasadMDMPH and @garyschwitzer https://t.co/KWVqMEk3K8 — Adam Cifu (@adamcifu) June 30, 2020 Once […]
Observational study can’t prove surgery better than more conservative prostate cancer treatment
But the release did a nice job of quantifying what researchers found and describing the harms of more aggressive prostate cancer treatment.
Combo therapy of prostatectomy plus radiotherapy may improve survival in prostate cancer
Observational study on testosterone replacement therapy for COPD doesn’t prove cause and effect
More information on the harms, costs and conflicts of interests of the researchers would have made this a better news release.
Testosterone replacement therapy may slow the progression of COPD
Observations about today’s observational studies in the news
We write about the limitations of drawing conclusions from observational studies quite a bit. Why? Because there are ever more such studies and ever more news stories and PR news releases about such studies. And few include an important discussion of what these studies can do and what they can’t. We want to be very […]
Eat more fish for higher IQ? Announcement skips limitations of an observational study
Observational studies that draw connections between health and food intake sometimes raise more questions than answers and need to be treated with a high degree of caution.
Weekly fish consumption linked to better sleep, higher IQ
BuzzFeed story on IUDs and cervical cancer warns readers ‘these are observational studies’
Yet it didn’t give enough details on how cervical cancer rates compared among groups.
IUDs Are Linked To A Lower Cervical Cancer Risk, Study Finds
Observational study on cooling treatment for reducing epilepsy in newborns: what’s new?
Therapeutic hypothermia for newborns deprived of oxygen at birth is a new but fairly well adopted practice. We’re not sure how this observational study sets this research apart.
Cooling treatment reduces epilepsy in children
Do ADHD meds prevent future substance abuse? An observational study can’t prove that.
Multiple conflicts of interest and no mention of the limitations of observational studies make this a problematic news release.
ADHD medication tied to lower risk for alcohol, drug abuse in teens and adults
‘Aspirin can lower risk of breast cancer’ – No mention that this was an observational study
This study found an association between aspirin use and lower rates of breast cancer, but not whether the use of aspirin was actually responsible for lower rates of breast cancer — an important distinction.
City of Hope researchers find regular use of aspirin can lower risk of breast cancer for women
CNN claims aspirin can reduce cancer death risk, falling into observational study trap
This story is a brief, uncritical look at a study examining ties between aspirin use and rates of cancer mortality.
Low-dose aspirin can reduce risk of death from cancer, research says
Soy benefits women with breast cancer? Release on observational study needed more caution
Does soy consumption help you live longer? An observational study can’t tell you that.
Soy food consumption linked to prolonged survival in some breast cancer patients
Licorice & pregnancy…caffeine & longer life: Distorted news stories about observational research
Step back. Breathe deeply. Join us in sucking in some recent research news coverage. Coughing on cacophony of coffee/caffeine news USA Today reported, “Caffeine may lead to a longer life.” Or, it may not, the story could just as easily–and accurately– have reported. Instead, it makes a leap to this news-you-can use assertion: “Perk up. That daily cup […]
CBS barely dodges observational study trap with hot chili pepper story
In this study, hot chili peppers were associated with a longer life but also lower income and higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption.
Good news for people who love spicy food
4 pre-Thanksgiving health news turkeys on observational studies
The limits of observational studies–once again missing from health care PR news releases. And from health care news stories. Two examples of each caught our eye in this pre-Thanksgiving news slowdown period. As real news slows down, news about observational studies often fills the void. Just what we didn’t need. Here are some things that […]
Caffeine and dementia risk: news release ignores limitations of observational research
A word about limitations of observational studies and a mention of the vast amount of past research into caffeine and dementia were warranted — but omitted.
