This story is about a relatively new option for breast cancer screening – digital mammography. The story is clear that this is a new type of mammography, but that it is not available everywhere. The story mentions the existing alternative, film mammography and explains that digital mammograms are superior to film mammograms in younger women, those with dense breast tissue, and those who are pre- or peri-menopausal. Although there is mention of a trial, the author does not describe the study design. Therefore, the reader has very little information on which to evaluate the evidence for or against digital mammography. The author does not provide quantitative estimates of benefits, nor any potential harms or costs. If all film mammography machines were to be replaced with digital machines, the costs would likely be substantial.
No mention of costs. The author should have mentioned that the cost of installing a digital system is substantial and the cost-effectiveness of digital mammography as a screening program has not yet been evaluated.
No quantitative estimates of the benefit of digital mammography are presented.
No mention of harms.
Although there is mention of a large trial, there is no description of the study design and other studies that may have conflicting results. The reader, therefore, does not have enough information on which to evaluate the evidence.
Multiple sources are quoted.
The story does mention plain film mammograms and explains that digital is better in younger women with dense breast tissue.
The story is clear that although this is a new technology, it is not available everywhere.
There is no evidence that this story relied solely or largely on a news 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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