A very informative story that helps frame for readers some of the complications with respect to treatment options. In the face of claims in advertisements, it provided a clear set of questions about issues that may otherwise be bypassed. Especially with respect to a treatment option that on the surface appears to be the latest and greatest, it is helpful to remind consumers that there are long term issues to be considered as well as the highlighted short term gains. This was a valuable story that can be used by readers to prepare questions to help them assess the relative value in the treatment options available.
There was no discussion of costs.
The story clearly mentioned the reduction in hospitalization time, need for blood transfusions, and internal scarring were benefits of the procedure though it did not provide quantitative details. In addition, the story did provide quantitative data on the 30-day risk of sexual and urinary function complications.
Clearly elaborated.
The story provided information that would better enable people to read between the lines and ask relevant questions about claims made with respect to outcomes following surgery. It described a study comparing outcomes for men having their prostates removed using different approaches. It also included sufficient detail for readers to understand some of the limitations about the study data.
However the story is incorrect in stating that it’s not clear whether either surgery is superior to watchful waiting. In fact, the traditional surgery has been proven to reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to watchful waiting in a controlled trial–the highest level of evidence. But – and this is important in the context of this particular story – there is no similar evidence for the laparoscopic surgeries.
The story did not engage in disease mongering.
Comments from several clinicians were included in this piece to point out some of the potential confounders with the study results.
It was mildly amusing that one of the clinicians interviewed stated categorically that there are over 800 previous studies on robot-assisted prostate -v the majority of which demonstrate superiority. This is an awfully large number of studies about a relatively new technology; further, one of the important points of this story is that there are both short term and longer term outcomes to be considered.
The story mentioned different approaches to the removal of the prostate as well as complete list of the treatment options for early stage prostate cancer.
The story indicated that the robotic apparatus needed for the procedure reported on is not available in all facilities though it was becoming more common.
The story included the trajectory of use for the treatment.
Does not appear to rely on a press release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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