Aspirin Linked to Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk
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Rating
Aspirin Linked to Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk
Our Review Summary
Despite a few attempts at caveats, this story still used misleading language pointing to possible benefits – from a study that can’t establish cause and effect or benefits.
Readers also are not given sufficient context on the true scope of the “29% lower risk.”
And the story appears to be based solely on a news release, with no input from an independent source.
Why This Matters
Pancreatic cancer is an ugly problem. Stories about it deserve more context than this.
Criteria
Not Applicable
Not applicable. Readers should know the lost cost of aspirin.
Not Satisfactory
The story said that aspirin users were 29% less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who used other types of pain relievers or nothing at all. But what was that baseline rate? It’s impossible for readers to judge the scope of the potential benefits when given just the 29% figure. 29% of what?
Not Satisfactory
All the story said was that aspirin “carries some side effects.” It never explained what they are nor how often they may occur. Even one additional line in the story could have done this.
Not Satisfactory
While the story explained that such a study can’t establish cause and effect, it nonethless still used language suggesting possible beneficial effects: www.healthnewsreview.org/tips-for-understanding-studies.php#tip4
- lower pancreatic cancer risk in the headline
- “Preventing pancreatic cancer may be an additional benefit” in the opening sentence
The language used to describe observational studies is important to avoid misleading readers. And it doesn’t take much to make these changes. See our primer.
The story also never addressed the limitations of drawing conclusions based on talks at scientific meetings, which have not undergone rigorous peer review. We have a primer on that topic as well.
Not Applicable
Not applicable only because the story really didn’t give any background on pancreatic cancer, so it couldn’t have disease mongered.
Not Satisfactory
No independent source is quoted.
Not Satisfactory
We’re really not given any context or background about pancreatic cancer in this short, 320-word story. And we certainly didn’t learn of any other research into ways to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Not Applicable
Not applicable. The availability of aspirin is not in question.
Not Satisfactory
We’re not given any context about whether this is the first and only research that looked at this question.
Not Satisfactory
It appears that the story was based solely on a news release, since the researcher quote comes from a news release. And no independent source is cited.
Total Score: 0 of 7 Satisfactory
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