Our Review Summary
More outside sources, hard analysis of the data, use of absolute (not relative) data and better specifics about costs could have made the story even better.
Why This Matters
Ever since Katie Couric broadcast her colonscopy in 2002, the procedure has become an unlikely media darling. Stories like this one lower the hype volume and give readers a fuller picture of this evolving technology. Newer isn’t always better. But for some reason, the story still ignored one of the old tried and true – fecal occult blood tests – the only screening test for colon cancer showed by randomized clinical trial to decrease colon cancer mortality and incidence. Sure it has limitations, but so do these more highly covered media darlings, and so FOBT deserves at least a mention.
Criteria
Satisfactory
The story devotes a few sentences to costs, without actually providing dollar figures. Still, the effort is far stronger than in most stories about colonoscopies or other procedures. This sentence was especially nice to see: "An alternative to colonoscopy is flexible sigmoidoscopy, a shorter, less expensive exam which looks only at the bottom portion of the colon, combined with a fecal occult blood test, which looks for blood in the stool."
Satisfactory
This story mentions two different studies as part of a broader evaluation of the new technology. In both cases, it shows that the new technology is a minor improvement. This point could have been made more forcefully by providing some absolute numbers. It says "A 2,430-patient study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, published earlier this year in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found adenomas in 28.8% of patients examined with high-definition colonoscopy, compared with 24.3% in those examined with standard colonoscopy. Polyps were found in 42.2% versus 37.8%. The scope tested, from Olympus, had both high-definition and a wide-angle view." Assuming that the groups were split exactly in half, this means that adenomas were found in about 350 patients versus about 300 with the standard method.
Not Satisfactory
Something missing from the studies mentioned were any sort of placebo controls or comparisons to alternative screening techniques. Too much screening can lead to unnecessary surgeries that have their own risks. The story does say, "the additional polyps found may result in more biopsies, raising costs." But it should have also talked about the potential downsides of screening and any potentail side effects from undergoing this procedure.
Satisfactory
Right in the lead of the story, the evaluation begins. "Several recent studies have found a small benefit to high-definition colonoscopy over the standard variety, but gastroenterologists say physician technique is more important in detecting polyps than equipment." The story continues in this vein and even has the high-def camera’s proponents explaning the importance of technique over technology.
Satisfactory
The second graph defines the potentail impact of an advance in colon screening using plain language. "Colonoscopy, a screening test doctors recommend for most people starting at age 50, allows doctors to remove pre-cancerous growths before they become full-blown cancer." It would have been helfpul to see how many people are diagnosed with colon cancer every year and how many die as a result. At about 100,000 new cases a year, colon cancer certainly has an impact, but what slice of those cases were detected through colonoscopy?
Satisfactory
Great job in identifying and calling out conflicts. There is one independent source in the story and more would have been nice. At the same time, though, the reporter pulled together so much good, well balanced information that the independent voices were not as missed as they often are in stories like this.
Not Satisfactory
As mentioned above, the story discusses several options and ends with two good graphs that actually rely on the lead doctor in the most recent study to show the benefits of high-def colonscopy, a doctor who "receives research funding from Olympus Corp., a manufacturer of HD scopes." He helps emphasize the importance of colonscopy technique and provides specifics that could help patients ask tough questions of their own physicians.
The last graph in the story is about a cheaper alternative that is described as a "reasonable alternative" that has to be performed with more frequency. But why no mention of fecal occult blood stool tests? FOBT is the only screening test for colon cancer showed by randomized clinical trial to decrease colon cancer mortality and incidence. As good as the story may have been on other points, this story joins many journalistic efforts that don’t seem to give FOBT its due. And for that we must rule this criterion unsatisfactory.
Not Satisfactory
Three graphs in, the story says, "Many hospitals now use high-definition colonoscopes, which are sold by a number of companies." That’s a vague sentence in a story that provides a lot more specifics in other areas. How many hospitals? Where? How likely is a reader to be in a situation where she/he is encouraged to have this type?
Satisfactory
It is rare when a story manages to fit in two treatment protocols. This one discusses the new advance in colonoscopies, the standard method, an emerging technology and an alternative procedure.
Satisfactory
This story does not rely on a news release.
Total Score: 7 of 10 Satisfactory
Comments
Please note, comments are no longer published through this website. All previously made comments are still archived and available for viewing through select posts.
Our Comments Policy
But before leaving a comment, please review these notes about our policy.
You are responsible for any comments you leave on this site.
This site is primarily a forum for discussion about the quality (or lack thereof) in journalism or other media messages (advertising, marketing, public relations, medical journals, etc.) It is not intended to be a forum for definitive discussions about medicine or science.
We will delete comments that include personal attacks, unfounded allegations, unverified claims, product pitches, profanity or any from anyone who does not list a full name and a functioning email address. We will also end any thread of repetitive comments. We don”t give medical advice so we won”t respond to questions asking for it.
We don”t have sufficient staffing to contact each commenter who left such a message. If you have a question about why your comment was edited or removed, you can email us at feedback@healthnewsreview.org.
There has been a recent burst of attention to troubles with many comments left on science and science news/communication websites. Read “Online science comments: trolls, trash and treasure.”
The authors of the Retraction Watch comments policy urge commenters:
We”re also concerned about anonymous comments. We ask that all commenters leave their full name and provide an actual email address in case we feel we need to contact them. We may delete any comment left by someone who does not leave their name and a legitimate email address.
And, as noted, product pitches of any sort – pushing treatments, tests, products, procedures, physicians, medical centers, books, websites – are likely to be deleted. We don”t accept advertising on this site and are not going to give it away free.
The ability to leave comments expires after a certain period of time. So you may find that you’re unable to leave a comment on an article that is more than a few months old.