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Pal A, Klingmann I, Wangmo T, Elger B. Publishing clinical trial results in plain language: a clash of ethical principles? Curr Med Res Opin 2024; 40:493-503. [PMID: 38354123 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2024.2308729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Plain language resources (PLR) are lay summaries of clinical trial results or plain language summaries of publications, in digital/visual/language formats. They aim to provide accurate information in jargon-free, and easy-to-understand language that can meet the health information needs of the general public, especially patients and caregivers. These are typically developed by the study sponsors or investigators, or by national public health bodies, research hospitals, patient organizations, and non-profit organizations. While the usefulness of PLR seems unequivocal, they have never been analyzed from the perspective of ethics. In this commentary, we do so and reflect on whether PLR are categorically advantageous or if they solve certain issues but raise new problems at the same time. Ethical concerns that PLR can potentially address include but are not limited to individual and community level health literacy, patient empowerment and autonomy. We also highlight the ethical issues that PLR may potentially exacerbate, such as fair balanced presentation and interpretation of medical knowledge, positive publication bias, and equitable access to information. PLR are important resources for patients, with promising implications for individual as well as community health. However, they require appropriate oversight and standards to optimize their potential value. Hence, we also highlight recommendations and best practices from our reading of the literature, that aim to minimize these biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avishek Pal
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ingrid Klingmann
- European Forum for Good Clinical Practice, Brussels, Belgium
- Pharmaplex BV, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tenzin Wangmo
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bernice Elger
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Spalvieri D, Mauviel AM, Lambert M, Férey N, Sacquin-Mora S, Chavent M, Baaden M. Design - a new way to look at old molecules. J Integr Bioinform 2022; 19:jib-2022-0020. [PMID: 35776840 PMCID: PMC9377703 DOI: 10.1515/jib-2022-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We discuss how design enriches molecular science, particularly structural biology and bioinformatics. We present two use cases, one in academic practice and the other to design for outreach. The first case targets the representation of ion channels and their dynamic properties. In the second, we document a transition process from a research environment to general-purpose designs. Several testimonials from practitioners are given. By describing the design process of abstracted shapes, exploded views of molecular structures, motion-averaged slices, 360-degree panoramic projections, and experiments with lit sphere shading, we document how designers help make scientific data accessible without betraying its meaning, and how a creative mind adds value over purely data-driven visualizations. A similar conclusion was drawn for public outreach, as we found that comic-book-style drawings are better suited for communicating science to a broad audience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Spalvieri
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75005, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique - Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marine Mauviel
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75005, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique - Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, Paris, France
| | | | - Nicolas Férey
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75005, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique - Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Sciences du Numérique, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Sophie Sacquin-Mora
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75005, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique - Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, Paris, France
| | - Matthieu Chavent
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - Marc Baaden
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75005, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique - Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, Paris, France
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