Academic hype 'distorting' health news

Conclusion As the authors point out, this was a retrospective observational study, so it cannot prove exaggeration in press releases accompanying health studies causes exaggeration in news stories. To find out more, they are now planning a randomised trial on how different styles of press release influence the accuracy of science news stories. However, it does chime with anecdotal evidence on the exaggerations in press releases that are then taken up by the media. It can only be a good thing if, as a result of this and future research, scientists themselves take more responsibility for the accuracy of press releases related to their studies.  There is always the danger of creating a "boy who cried wolf" scenario. Readers may become so mistrustful of what they perceive as hype and exaggeration in health news that they ignore valid, evidence-based advice, which could lead to real harms.  Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Join the Healthy Evidence forum. Links To The Headlines Science and health news hype: where does it come from? The Guardian, December 10 2014 Bad science reporting blamed on exaggerations in university press releases. The Independent, December 10 2014 Links To Science Sumner P, Vivian-Griffiths S, Boivin J, et al. The association between exaggeration in health related science news and academic press releases: retrospective observational study. BMJ. Published online December 10 2014
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Source Type: news