As a medical communicator, I am often with medical articles, e-mails, press releases and literature on the latest results and other medical bombed. Determine which product is really interesting is the ability to quickly assess the value of medical research are available.
Remember, today everybody likes to use the word “discovery” and “revolutionary” in terms of their product or medical service. I usually go with caution when I see that the stories I produced the Revolution and was worth something for the nickname to be reserved.
Here are some ways that I have to sort this mess. I thought these tips may be helpful to new medical journalists and producers who work under deadline pressure.
First, to validate the study
1st Determining what in the study.
2nd Ask yourself, is the subject of the study (This information may appear in the summary “summary).
3rd What is the size of the study?
In general, the larger the number of patients included in the study, the reliable evidence.
Second, check your sources
1st Check the source of the information.
2nd Who did the study is important, but it has also paid for the study. This information is usually at the end of the report, often referred to as “information” or “conflict of interest.” Studies by universities, hospitals or other independent research funding are usually more likely to provide objective information.
3rd Determine which type of study it is.
Third, Know Your Studies
There are three major classifications of studies:
1st Observational studies – patients observed and recorded features
2nd Experimental studies involve – some form of intervention as a drug or treatment
3rd The meta-analysis or review articles – Findings from similar studies and analyzed as a whole
* Reports of the case and series: View of one or a few individuals whose characteristics are recorded
* Retrospective studies to examine: the histories of the last groups of people who try to find a cause or risk factors for certain diseases or conditions
* Experimental Foresight can also follow a group of patients over time
* Controlled studies: studies with at least two matched groups-one group with an experimental drug than the control group and not receive the drug or placebo treatment
* Randomized: assigned to groups of people for one treatment or another.
* A randomized controlled trial: the gold standard for the design of medical studiesIt important to note that even if a study is new, it does not necessarily mean it is better that the old one on the same subject.
As the media is the most common way that the health of the public inside information, it is important that reports on new health someone familiar with the foregoing. Moreover, reading between the lines. A “theory” is still unproven and “can not” means “may” or “will.” Studies are the subject of criticism and peer review by other experts in the field that highlight the shortcomings or weaknesses in a study.
It is important to seek the views of others so that consumers receive sufficient information to make decisions about their health.
About the author: Maria Dorfner is a veteran broadcaster who is a medical award-winning producer / journalist and founder of the Communication NewsMD, LLC, a company specialized in the production is full-service health stories.
