1
|
Alderighi C, Rasoini R, De Fiore R, Ambrosino F, Woloshin S. Bad news: how the media reported on an observational study about cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19. BMJ Evid Based Med 2024:bmjebm-2023-112814. [PMID: 38631881 DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2023-112814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Alderighi
- Lisa Schwartz Foundation for Truth in Medicine, Norwich, Vermont, USA
- Alessandro Liberati Association - Cochrane Affiliate Centre, Potenza, Italy
| | - Raffaele Rasoini
- Lisa Schwartz Foundation for Truth in Medicine, Norwich, Vermont, USA
- Alessandro Liberati Association - Cochrane Affiliate Centre, Potenza, Italy
| | - Rebecca De Fiore
- Alessandro Liberati Association - Cochrane Affiliate Centre, Potenza, Italy
- Pensiero Scientifico Editore s.r.l, Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Ambrosino
- Alessandro Liberati Association - Cochrane Affiliate Centre, Potenza, Italy
- Pensiero Scientifico Editore s.r.l, Roma, Italy
| | - Steven Woloshin
- Lisa Schwartz Foundation for Truth in Medicine, Norwich, Vermont, USA
- Center for Medicine and the Media, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Dartmouth University, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Oono F, Adachi R, Yaegashi A, Kishino M, Ogata R, Kinugawa A, Tsumura A, Suga M, Matsumoto M, Takaoka T, Kakutani Y, Murakami K, Sasaki S. Are popular books about diet and health written based on scientific evidence? A comparison of citations between the USA and Japan. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:2815-2825. [PMID: 37955110 PMCID: PMC10755443 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023002549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe and compare the references cited in popular books about diet and health between the USA and Japan. DESIGN Books were selected based on their best-seller rankings in the diet and health category of online bookstores. We identified references throughout all pages of the books and examined the number of references, reference format (identifiable or not) and presence of specific types of references, such as systematic reviews of human research. We compared the characteristics of references between the two countries and examined related factors to citation. SETTING Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS Books (n 100 in each country). RESULTS Among 100 books from each country, sixty-five US and sixty-six Japanese books had references. Forty-five US books cited more than 100 references, against only five Japanese books. The number of books that cited systematic reviews of human research differed between the USA (n 49) and Japan (n 9). Additionally, the number of books that provided identifiable information for all references was significantly higher in the USA (n 63) than in Japan (n 42). Books whose first authors have licences of medical doctors were more likely to cite references than those without in both countries. CONCLUSIONS Two-thirds of books about diet and health cited references in both the USA and Japan, but Japanese books cited fewer references and were less likely to cite systematic reviews and provide identifiable references than US books. Further research into the scientific reliability of information in books about diet and health is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fumi Oono
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Riho Adachi
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akinori Yaegashi
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Science, Hokkaido Bunkyo University, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Madoka Kishino
- Department of Food and Nutritional Science, Graduate School of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Risa Ogata
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Science, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anna Kinugawa
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Ayari Tsumura
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Food Management, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mizuki Suga
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Moe Matsumoto
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoya Takaoka
- Division of Clinical Nutrition, Shinshu University Hospital, Nagano, Japan
- Medical Science Division, Department of Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Yuya Kakutani
- Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Osaka Shoin Women’s University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kentaro Murakami
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sasaki
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mugisha M, Nyirazinyoye L, Simbi CMC, Chesire F, Senyonga R, Oxman M, Nsangi A, Semakula D, Rose CJ, Moberg J, Dahlgren A, Kaseje M, Lewin S, Sewankambo NK, Rosenbaum S, Oxman AD. Effects of the Informed Health Choices secondary school intervention on the ability of students in Rwanda to think critically about health choices: A cluster-randomized trial. J Evid Based Med 2023; 16:264-274. [PMID: 37735809 DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of the Informed Health Choices intervention on the ability of students in Rwandan to think critically and make Informed Health Choices. METHODS We conducted a two-arm cluster-randomized trial in 84 lower secondary schools from 10 districts representing five provinces of Rwanda. We used stratified randomization to allocate schools to the intervention or control. One class in each intervention school had ten 40-min lessons taught by a trained teacher in addition to the usual curriculum. Control schools followed the usual curriculum. The primary outcome was a passing score (≥ 9 out of 18 questions answered correctly) for students on the Critical Thinking about Health Test completed within 2 weeks after the intervention. We conducted an intention-to-treat analysis using generalized linear mixed models, accounting for the cluster design using random intercepts. RESULTS Between February 25 and March 29, 2022, we recruited 3,212 participants. We assigned 1,572 students and 42 teachers to the intervention arm and 1,556 students and 42 teachers to the control arm. The proportion of students who passed the test in the intervention arm was 915/1,572 (58.2%) compared to 302/1,556 (19.4%) in the control arm, adjusted odds ratio 10.6 (95% CI: 6.3-17.8), p < 0.0001, adjusted difference 37.2% (95% CI: 29.5%-45.0%). CONCLUSIONS The intervention is effective in helping students think critically about health choices. It was possible to improve students' ability to think critically about health in the context of a competence-based curriculum in Rwanda, despite challenging postpandemic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mugisha
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Laetitia Nyirazinyoye
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Faith Chesire
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ronald Senyonga
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Matt Oxman
- Centre for Epidemic Intervention Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Allen Nsangi
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Daniel Semakula
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christopher James Rose
- Centre for Epidemic Intervention Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jenny Moberg
- Centre for Epidemic Intervention Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Astrid Dahlgren
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Margaret Kaseje
- Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Simon Lewin
- Centre for Epidemic Intervention Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Health Sciences Ålesund, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Ålesund, Norway
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nelson K Sewankambo
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sarah Rosenbaum
- Centre for Epidemic Intervention Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andrew D Oxman
- Centre for Epidemic Intervention Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jofra LS, Alonso-Coello P, Martínez EC, de Britos Marsal C, Gallego Iborra A, Niño de Guzman Quispe EP, Pérez-Gaxiola G, Requeijo C, Roqué I Figuls M, Rosenbaum S, Salas-Gama K, Urreta-Barallobre I, Martínez García L. Piloting the informed health choices resources in Barcelona primary schools: A mixed methods study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288082. [PMID: 37418372 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The main objective of the Informed Health Choices (IHC) project is to teach people to assess treatment claims and make informed health choices. For this purpose, the IHC learning resources were developed for primary school children. The aim of this study is to explore students' and teachers' experience when using the IHC resources in primary schools in Barcelona (Spain). METHODS We conducted a mixed methods study for piloting the IHC resources in a convenience sample of primary schools in Barcelona. The intervention included a workshop with teachers, and nine lessons with students. We collected data using multiple approaches. We performed quantitative and qualitative analyses, and integrated the findings in a joint display. Finally, we formulated recommendations for using the IHC resources in this setting. RESULTS Two schools, with a total of 143 students in 4th and 5th grade and six teachers, participated in the study. One school followed the suggested IHC teaching plan and competed all the lessons; the other school modified the plan substantially and did not complete all the lessons. Overall, students and teachers from both schools understood, were interested in, and were able to apply the content of the lessons. During the lessons, the textbook was useful for students; nevertheless, for the teachers, the usefulness of the IHC resources was variable. Teachers adapted the IHC resources to increase student participation and used Information and Communications Technologies tools. We observed more facilitators than barriers to teach the lessons. The teachers suggested some ideas to improve the lessons based on activities they developed and implemented. The integration analysis showed great convergence of the quantitative and qualitative findings. We propose seven recommendations for using the IHC resources in this setting. CONCLUSIONS Students and teachers from primary schools in Barcelona showed a positive experience when using IHC resources; however, these resources should be adapted to promote classroom participation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Samsó Jofra
- Epidemiology and Public Health Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) - Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Alonso-Coello
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) - Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Cánovas Martínez
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) - Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ena Pery Niño de Guzman Quispe
- Cancer Prevention and Control Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology - IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Carolina Requeijo
- Epidemiology and Public Health Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Roqué I Figuls
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) - Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Rosenbaum
- Centre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Iratxe Urreta-Barallobre
- Clinical Epidemiology, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Donostialdea Integrated Health Organisation, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Laura Martínez García
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) - Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Prados-Bo A, Rabassa M, Bosch M, Casino G. Online information in Spanish on probiotics, yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, fibre and prebiotics: an analysis of the quality of information and the certainty of the evidence supporting health claims. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e063316. [PMID: 35922106 PMCID: PMC9352994 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the certainty of the evidence supporting health claims about probiotics, yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, fibre and prebiotics, and to assess the quality of online information in Spanish. DESIGN Content analysis. METHODS We compiled a data set of 114 web pages by searching six popular search phrases in Spanish relating to probiotics, yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, fibre and prebiotics on Google.es and coded them for typology and health claims. We examined the certainty of the evidence for health claims from systematic reviews. Information quality was assessed according to 10 criteria, where a web page: mentions scientific publications and reports their conclusions; quantifies relative and absolute effects; acknowledges some limitations; discusses certainty of evidence; reports the potential harms, alternatives and costs; and does not argue based on personal experiences. RESULTS Gastrointestinal health (86.0%), general health (57.9%), cardiovascular health (53.5%) and immune system health (50.9%) were the most widely mentioned topics. Half of claims (52.6%, 70/133) were supported by evidence from systematic reviews. Probiotics had the highest number of claims supported by evidence and kombucha the lowest. The highest certainty was found for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, necrotising enterocolitis and otitis (moderate) in probiotics and yoghurt, infectious diarrhoea and hepatic encephalopathy (moderate) in prebiotics, and cardiovascular health (high to moderate) and colorectal cancer (moderate) in fibre. On a scale of 0-10, the median information quality score for all web pages was 3. Only 18.4% reported study conclusions, 7.9% quantified the effects, 28.9% acknowledged some limitations in the research and 42.1% reported potential harms. CONCLUSIONS Most online health claims for dietary interventions intended for improving health through the gut microbiome are supported by low or very low certainty of evidence. Online information does not align with the evidence and is incomplete or unbalanced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreu Prados-Bo
- Departament de Comunicació, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Ciències de la Salut Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Rabassa
- Unitat de Nutrició i Salut, Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Reus, Spain
| | - Mireia Bosch
- Unitat de Nutrició i Salut, Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Reus, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Casino
- Departament de Comunicació, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Copp T, Dakin T, Nickel B, Albarqouni L, Mannix L, McCaffery KJ, Barratt A, Moynihan R. Interventions to improve media coverage of medical research: a codesigned feasibility and acceptability study with Australian journalists. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e062706. [PMID: 35715183 PMCID: PMC9207948 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although the media can influence public perceptions and utilisation of healthcare, journalists generally receive no routine training in interpreting and reporting on medical research. Given growing evidence about the problems of medical overuse, the need for quality media reporting has become a greater priority. This study aimed to codesign and assess the feasibility of a multicomponent training intervention for journalists in Australia. DESIGN A small pragmatic feasibility study using a pre- and postdesign. SETTING 90 min online workshop. PARTICIPANTS Eight journalists currently working in Australia, recruited through the study's journalist advisor and existing contacts of the researchers. INTERVENTION The training intervention covered a range of topics, including study designs, conflicts of interest, misleading medical statistics, population screening and overdiagnosis. The intervention also provided tools to help journalists with reporting, including a Tip Sheet and list of expert contacts in health and medicine. Preworkshop and postworkshop questionnaires were administered via Qualtrics. MEASURES Acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, and journalists' knowledge of overdiagnosis and common issues with health stories. Quantitative results were analysed descriptively using SPSS. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. RESULTS All participants completed preworkshop and postworkshop questionnaires, and 6 completed the 6-week follow-up (75% retention). Feasibility findings suggest the intervention is acceptable and relevant to journalists, with participants indicating the workshop increased confidence with reporting on medical research. We observed increases in knowledge preworkshop to postworkshop for all knowledge measures on overdiagnosis and common issues with media coverage of medicine. Analysis of free-text responses identified several areas for improvement, such as including more examples to aid understanding of the counterintuitive topic of overdiagnosis and more time for discussion. CONCLUSIONS Piloting suggested the multicomponent training intervention is acceptable to journalists and provided important feedback and insights to inform a future trial of the intervention's impact on media coverage of medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Copp
- Wiser Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Dakin
- Wiser Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brooke Nickel
- Wiser Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Loai Albarqouni
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Kirsten J McCaffery
- Wiser Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexandra Barratt
- Wiser Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ray Moynihan
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oxman AD, Fretheim A, Lewin S, Flottorp S, Glenton C, Helleve A, Vestrheim DF, Iversen BG, Rosenbaum SE. Health communication in and out of public health emergencies: to persuade or to inform? Health Res Policy Syst 2022; 20:28. [PMID: 35248064 PMCID: PMC8897761 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-022-00828-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractMuch health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic has been designed to persuade people more than to inform them. For example, messages like “masks save lives” are intended to compel people to wear face masks, not to enable them to make an informed decision about whether to wear a face mask or to understand the justification for a mask mandate. Both persuading people and informing them are reasonable goals for health communication. However, those goals can sometimes be in conflict. In this article, we discuss potential conflicts between seeking to persuade or to inform people, the use of spin to persuade people, the ethics of persuasion, and implications for health communication in the context of the pandemic and generally. Decisions to persuade people rather than enable them to make an informed choice may be justified, but the basis for those decisions should be transparent and the evidence should not be distorted. We suggest nine principles to guide decisions by health authorities about whether to try to persuade people.
Collapse
|