Guidelines Push Back Age for Cervical Cancer Tests
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Rating
Guidelines Push Back Age for Cervical Cancer Tests
Our Review Summary
This story on new cervical screening guidelines attempts–and largely succeeds–at putting the new recommendations in political and medical context.
But, despite its considerable length, it leaves big information gaps:
- What evidence are the new guidelines based on?
- How much does screening cost, and how much money is being spent on what the new guidelines say are unnecessary–and possibly harmful–screenings?
- What is the risk of deaths, cancers, and/or unnecessary treatment for women in various age groups?
The story is well-sourced and is certainly granted sufficient length–1,250 words.
But at the end readers learn essentially that there are controversial new guidelines–but get little information to help them evaluate their credibility, applicability or relevance.
On the other hand, they do learn that politicians are using the guidelines to argue about health care reform.
That doesn’t serve readers who care about cervical cancer risks.
Criteria
Not Satisfactory
The report does not mention costs. Price should be taken into account whenever population screening is an issue.
Given how much emphasis the story puts on the political ramifications for health care reform, the omission is particularly unfortunate.
Not Satisfactory
The story does not quantify benefits of screening.
Satisfactory
The story mentions the harms of not catching cervical cancers early. It devotes some attention to the harms of over-treatment that follow unnecessary screening, particularly in low-risk younger women.
The story should have mentioned the likelihood of these risks.
Not Satisfactory
The story fails to describe the evidence upon which the new recommendation is based. It makes only a glancing reference to "new medical information."
Satisfactory
The story does nothing to exaggerate the prevalence or severity of cervical cancer.
Satisfactory
Sourcing is excellent. Sources include:
- A member of the guidelines committee
- Three physicians, one with the American Cancer Society
- Three political players
- Two patients
Not Satisfactory
The story adequately compares the two guidelines.
But it failed to compare the options–and consequences to patients–of getting screened and not getting screened.
Not Applicable
The availability of Pap testing is assumed.
Not Applicable
The relative novelty of cervical cancer screening is not in question in this story.
Satisfactory
The story does not draw from any of the press releases associated with this story.
Total Score: 4 of 8 Satisfactory
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