The story describes a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advising that aspirin and other similar drugs not be taken for prevention of colon cancer in people at average risk. The story does appropriately describe the natural history or disease burden of colon cancer without obvious embellishments or overstatements, but many other criteria were not met. Areas that were lacking included: a discussion of the actual evidence on which the recommendation is based, quantification of the potential benefits, a description of how frequent or severe harms might be, a source that was clearly independent of the study or panel, and a description of alternate colon cancer prevention approaches, like screening and follow-up of any abnormal screening results, particularly given the fact that the story is about a potential prevention approach that is now not advised. So what else is there? Readers are not given much context here.
The article doesn't mention costs of taking aspirin or other such drugs for colon cancer prevention, but most people know they are not costly.
The story does not quantify any benefits. While it's stated that the benefits don't outweigh the risks, readers have no idea what the chance of benefit (or risks) actually are.
The major risks associated with taking aspirin or other similar drugs for colon cancer prevention are provided, but there is no indication of how frequent or severe these may be.
The article presents no evidence whatsoever for the panel's recommendation. Readers don't know the strength of the evidence that supports such a recommendation nor anything about the panel itself (made up of 16 primary care physicians with recognized expertise in prevention, evidence-based medicine, and primary care).
The article appropriately describes the disease burden of colon cancer. There is no obvious disease mongering.
The story uses only one source and it's not clear whether he is part of the panel or not.
The story mentions that people over 50 should be screened for colon cancer, but does not explain how this can be done. Nor does it does it describe what followup on any abnormal screening result would be. This is important since this story is about a potential prevention approach that is now not advised. So what else is there? Readers are not given much context here.
Most people would know that these medications can be purchased over the counter with ease.
The article doesn't describe the novelty of using aspirin or other similar drugs for preventing colon cancer. While it talks about this practice in previous research studies, it isn't clear whether this was a common practice in real-life, an FDA-approved use of these drugs, or whether this was recommended by other groups or doctors prior to this panel's recommendation.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
We’ve written about the hype of liquid biopsies for years (see link in comment below). And now this…. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/12/medicare-shouldnt-cover-liquid-biopsies-early-cancer-detection/
Case counts still matter. “(There) are stories that may not be told adequately if only hospitalizations and deaths are emphasized.” @garyschwitzer interviewed by @dbauder of @AP. https://apnews.com/article/omicron-changing-news-outlets-covid-data-da9272f7c4c8a109c3bfb56bed9e9c76
My friend Gary @garyschwitzer wrote to his city council representative in a Minnesota town about a Viva Las Vegas event scheduled for January.
The response he got seems to perfectly capture where we are now.
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/12/2021-ends-with-covid-craziness-in-sports-and-politics/
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