For the millions of women who take hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms, the news that the therapy may damage their hearing may be alarming. Other women who take birth control pills that contain progestin may also be wondering if they are also putting themselves at risk. However, by no means is this recent finding conclusive and this story does little to clear up the confusion.
By focusing on “hearing damage” without describing the degree of loss or explaining whether the amount of loss is clinically significant or not, the story crosses the line into disease mongering. The story does not quantify the harms of HRT in terms of hearing loss so the reader cannot know whether the amount of loss is significant to the individual. Furthermore, the story does not adequately describe the nature of the clinical evidence. The story does not explicitly state important details about the design of the recent study. For example, was it prospective or retrospective? The story leaves it up to the reader to infer this detail from a quote from an expert. The story should have been more clear.
In addition, the story does not mention the other harms of HRT such as heart attack, stroke or blood clot. However, the story does a good job of quoting multiple, independent sources who provide some much needed perspective.
This criterion is not applicable in this story.
The story does not quantify the harms of HRT in terms of hearing loss. Furthermore, the story does not explain whether the amount of loss is significant to the individual.
The story does not mention the other harms of HRT such as heart attack, stroke or blood clot.
The story does not adequately describe the nature of the clinical evidence. The story does not explicitly state important details about the design of the recent study. For example, was it prospective or retrospective? The story leaves it up to the reader to infer this detail from a quote from an expert. The story should have been more clear on the study design.
By focusing on “hearing damage” without describing the degree of loss or explaining whether the amount of loss is clinically significant or not, the story crosses the line into disease mongering.
The story does a good job of quoting multiple, independent sources.
The story stated: “A study of 124 postmenopausal women found that those taking hormone replacement therapy that included progestin had poorer speech understanding than women who were not taking hormones or who were using estrogen only.” So it at least nodded in the direction of other options, although not in any depth. Nonethless, we’ll give the story the benefit of the doubt on this criterion.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is clearly available.
HRT is clearly an existing therapy.
Because the story quoted several independent sources, it appears that the story did not rely solely or largely on a news release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Puleeeeease... this 'game changer' weight loss drug causes more nausea and vomiting than a placebo. Some game, some change. My friend Gary would spank you for using the eighth word medical reporters should never, ever use. @garyschwitzer @thackerpd
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/toolkit/just-journalists-writing-tips-case-studies/7-words-and-more-you-shouldnt-use-in-medical-news/ https://twitter.com/OttawaCitizen/status/1361426796126830597
A scary @statnews Op-Ed warns that govt attempts to rein in Pharma may cut off access to "life-changing" drugs.
It takes @garyschwitzer to let us know: the author spent 10 years as Pfizer's public-policy chief. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1360325022578053123
.@TranspariMED criticizes STAT op-ed for not disclosing pharma funding of author’s institute - similar to criticism we’ve made of STAT op-eds in the past. @transparify @ThinkTankWatch @icer_review https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/02/transparency-watchdog-criticizes-stats-non-disclosure-on-pro-pharma-op-ed/
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