Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.

<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies indicate that in published reports, trial results can be distorted by the use of "spin" (specific reporting strategies, intentional or unintentional, emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment). We aimed to (1) evaluate t...

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Autores principales:	Amélie Yavchitz, Isabelle Boutron, Aida Bafeta, Ibrahim Marroun, Pierre Charles, Jean Mantz, Philippe Ravaud
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012
Materias:	Medicine R
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/b8a989a7404a4814acea08d48434b53e
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:b8a989a7404a4814acea08d48434b53e2021-11-18T05:42:06ZMisrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.1549-12771549-167610.1371/journal.pmed.1001308https://doaj.org/article/b8a989a7404a4814acea08d48434b53e2012-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22984354/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1549-1277https://doaj.org/toc/1549-1676<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies indicate that in published reports, trial results can be distorted by the use of "spin" (specific reporting strategies, intentional or unintentional, emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment). We aimed to (1) evaluate the presence of "spin" in press releases and associated media coverage; and (2) evaluate whether findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on press releases and media coverage are misinterpreted.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We systematically searched for all press releases indexed in the EurekAlert! database between December 2009 and March 2010. Of the 498 press releases retrieved and screened, we included press releases for all two-arm, parallel-group RCTs (n = 70). We obtained a copy of the scientific article to which the press release related and we systematically searched for related news items using Lexis Nexis. "Spin," defined as specific reporting strategies (intentional or unintentional) emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment, was identified in 28 (40%) scientific article abstract conclusions and in 33 (47%) press releases. From bivariate and multivariable analysis assessing the journal type, funding source, sample size, type of treatment (drug or other), results of the primary outcomes (all nonstatistically significant versus other), author of the press release, and the presence of "spin" in the abstract conclusion, the only factor associated, with "spin" in the press release was "spin" in the article abstract conclusions (relative risk [RR] 5.6, [95% CI 2.8-11.1], p < 0.001). Findings of RCTs based on press releases were overestimated for 19 (27%) reports. News items were identified for 41 RCTs; 21 (51%) were reported with "spin," mainly the same type of "spin" as those identified in the press release and article abstract conclusion. Findings of RCTs based on the news item was overestimated for ten (24%) reports.<h4>Conclusion</h4>"Spin" was identified in about half of press releases and media coverage. In multivariable analysis, the main factor associated with "spin" in press releases was the presence of "spin" in the article abstract conclusion.Amélie YavchitzIsabelle BoutronAida BafetaIbrahim MarrounPierre CharlesJean MantzPhilippe RavaudPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRENPLoS Medicine, Vol 9, Iss 9, p e1001308 (2012)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R
spellingShingle	Medicine R Amélie Yavchitz Isabelle Boutron Aida Bafeta Ibrahim Marroun Pierre Charles Jean Mantz Philippe Ravaud Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
description	<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies indicate that in published reports, trial results can be distorted by the use of "spin" (specific reporting strategies, intentional or unintentional, emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment). We aimed to (1) evaluate the presence of "spin" in press releases and associated media coverage; and (2) evaluate whether findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on press releases and media coverage are misinterpreted.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We systematically searched for all press releases indexed in the EurekAlert! database between December 2009 and March 2010. Of the 498 press releases retrieved and screened, we included press releases for all two-arm, parallel-group RCTs (n = 70). We obtained a copy of the scientific article to which the press release related and we systematically searched for related news items using Lexis Nexis. "Spin," defined as specific reporting strategies (intentional or unintentional) emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment, was identified in 28 (40%) scientific article abstract conclusions and in 33 (47%) press releases. From bivariate and multivariable analysis assessing the journal type, funding source, sample size, type of treatment (drug or other), results of the primary outcomes (all nonstatistically significant versus other), author of the press release, and the presence of "spin" in the abstract conclusion, the only factor associated, with "spin" in the press release was "spin" in the article abstract conclusions (relative risk [RR] 5.6, [95% CI 2.8-11.1], p < 0.001). Findings of RCTs based on press releases were overestimated for 19 (27%) reports. News items were identified for 41 RCTs; 21 (51%) were reported with "spin," mainly the same type of "spin" as those identified in the press release and article abstract conclusion. Findings of RCTs based on the news item was overestimated for ten (24%) reports.<h4>Conclusion</h4>"Spin" was identified in about half of press releases and media coverage. In multivariable analysis, the main factor associated with "spin" in press releases was the presence of "spin" in the article abstract conclusion.
format	article
author	Amélie Yavchitz Isabelle Boutron Aida Bafeta Ibrahim Marroun Pierre Charles Jean Mantz Philippe Ravaud
author_facet	Amélie Yavchitz Isabelle Boutron Aida Bafeta Ibrahim Marroun Pierre Charles Jean Mantz Philippe Ravaud
author_sort	Amélie Yavchitz
title	Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
title_short	Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
title_full	Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
title_fullStr	Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
title_full_unstemmed	Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
title_sort	misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2012
url	https://doaj.org/article/b8a989a7404a4814acea08d48434b53e
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Misrepresentation of randomized controlled trials in press releases and news coverage: a cohort study.

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