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Vaqar M, Tariq M, Khan MR, Khan S, Riaz Q, Mahmood S, Ali N, Haider AH. A Journey of Innovation: 40 years of Pioneering Medical Education at the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. Postgrad Med J 2024; 100:350-357. [PMID: 38648192 DOI: 10.1093/postmj/qgad139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
This article presents an overview of Aga Khan University's (AKU) pioneering medical education initiatives over the past 40 years, exploring its impact on healthcare in the region and its commitment to advancing medical education and research in the developing world. Established in 1983 as the first private university in Pakistan, AKU has evolved into a global institution with a focus on improving healthcare standards and addressing healthcare needs in the developing world. The article also discusses the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education programs at AKU Medical College, Pakistan, highlighting their unique features and pioneering approaches to medical education. The institution's journey highlights its ability to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape while maintaining a focus on quality and excellence, offering a model for other institutions striving to meet healthcare needs in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maham Vaqar
- Research Fellow, Dean's Office, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tariq
- Vice Dean, Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rizwan Khan
- Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Sadaf Khan
- Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Qamar Riaz
- Assistant Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Sana Mahmood
- Director, Strategy and Advancement, Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Natasha Ali
- Associate Dean, Department of Continuing Professional Education, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Adil H Haider
- Dean, Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
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2
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Rosen R, Vasiloudes V, Mhaskar R. The emergence of MedTok: a qualitative analysis of popular medical TikTok videos. Postgrad Med J 2024:qgae021. [PMID: 38376147 DOI: 10.1093/postmj/qgae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Social media is increasingly being used by the public as a medium for health information. Unfortunately, misinformation has become widely available on these sites, often being provided using content that is designed to be more popular and engaging, and it is difficult for the public to differentiate between what is true and what is false. TikTok is one of these platforms and has been rapidly growing over the last few years. As an increasing number of people look to TikTok for their health information, it is important that quality information is accessible and popular on the platform. We conducted a review of TikTok videos using the top 10 videos to show when searching for 13 common conditions. Characteristics of both the creator and video were recorded and analyzed. Videos on conditions commonly diagnosed younger were commonly produced by younger creators with the condition, often based on their own experiences. Conversely, videos on conditions commonly diagnosed older were commonly produced by healthcare professionals providing educational information. Though for conditions affecting older individuals healthcare professionals may be able to create didactic, educational videos, for those affecting younger individuals, it may be beneficial to partner with younger creators, or "influencers," to produce more viral content. Further studies may expand on these ideas to encompass more facets of healthcare. As this study did not analyze the quality of the information in the videos, future research should also focus on determining the quality of popular content on TikTok and other social media platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Rosen
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 560 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
| | - Vasilis Vasiloudes
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 560 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
| | - Rahul Mhaskar
- Department of Medical Education, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 560 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
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Deighton B, Akhondi H, Gracious BL, Lind DS, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Reviewers and Editors for the First Half of 2023. HCA Healthc J Med 2023; 4:263-265. [PMID: 37753407 PMCID: PMC10519636 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Description The HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine would like to thank those behind the scenes who make this publication possible. Our journal would not be possible without the assistance of our peer reviewers, authors, and board members. We also announce our inclusion in PubMed Central.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Deighton
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Brentwood, TN
| | | | | | | | - Graig Donini
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Brentwood, TN
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Falconer Hall P, Falconer Hall T, Webster S, Poprádi-Fazekas O, Bricknell M. Around the bazaars: a global compendium of military medical journals in 2021. BMJ Mil Health 2023; 169:bmjmilitary-2021-002006. [PMID: 34876478 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-002006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Falconer Hall
- AMS Support Unit, Army Medical Services, Camberley, UK
- Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - S Webster
- AMS Support Unit, Army Medical Services, Camberley, UK
- Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK
| | - O Poprádi-Fazekas
- Interoperability Branch, NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - M Bricknell
- Conflict and Health Research Group, King's College London - Strand Campus, London, UK
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Deighton B, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Reviewers and Editors for the 2nd Half of 2022. HCA Healthc J Med 2023; 4:1-3. [PMID: 37426561 PMCID: PMC10327952 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Description The HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine would like to thank those behind the scenes who make this publication possible. Our journal would not be possible without the assistance of our peer reviewers, authors, and board members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Deighton
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Brentwood, TN
| | - Graig Donini
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Brentwood, TN
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Taheri A, Adibi P, Abbasi A, Sabbagh Jaffari M, Rahimi A. Analysis of the Reporting Requirements of Clinical Case Reports Dedicated Journals: Towards Updating the CARE Guideline. Adv Biomed Res 2023; 12:41. [PMID: 37057220 PMCID: PMC10086658 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_391_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Following personalized medicine and the development of e-publishing, a large number of case report-dedicated journals have emerged. But the lack of integrated guidelines is a major obstacle to the quality of this evidence. The purpose of this study is to analyze the reporting requirements of case report-dedicated journals to update and strengthen the CARE guidelines. Material and Methods Quantitative and qualitative research approach has been done using the content analysis method. All case report-dedicated journals were selected from Scopus (54 out of a total of 68 journals). By referring to these journals' websites, all the contents of the authors' guideline section and two sample articles were examined as a unit of analysis. Quantitative data includes frequency and percentile; qualitative data was conducted through open coding, creating categories, and abstraction. Results 51% of journals are related to Elsevier and Hindawi publications. 14.8% of journals have been launched in the form of companions. 52% of journals endorse the CARE guidelines. Among the CARE elements, title, consent form (100%), discussion, abstract (94.4%), and introduction (90.7%) had the most frequent elements, and timeline and patients' perspective had the least repetition in the authors' guideline. Also, 19 new reporting elements and 27 types of case reports were identified. Conclusions Improving the reporting and content quality of case reports is very important to benefit from knowledge synthesis services. Medical journals publishing case reports should follow a more integrated process. An updated version of reporting guidelines needs to be available for publishers and editors of journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abolfazl Taheri
- Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Peyman Adibi
- Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Alireza Abbasi
- School of Engineering and Information Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Alireza Rahimi
- Clinical Informationist Research Group, Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Address for correspondence: Dr. Alireza Rahimi, Clinical Informationist Research Group, Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. E-mail:
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Deighton B, Akhondi H, Lind DS, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Reviewers and Editors for the 1st Half of 2022. HCA Healthc J Med 2022; 3:221-223. [PMID: 37426863 PMCID: PMC10324713 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Description The HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine would like to thank those behind the scenes who make this publication possible. Our journal would not be possible without the assistance of our reviewers, authors and board members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Deighton
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, HCA Florida West Hospital, Pensacola, FL
| | - Hossein Akhondi
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, HCA Florida West Hospital, Pensacola, FL
- HCA Florida West Hospital, Pensacola, FL
| | - D. Scott Lind
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, HCA Florida West Hospital, Pensacola, FL
- HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, Orange Park, FL
| | - Graig Donini
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, HCA Florida West Hospital, Pensacola, FL
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Deighton B, Akhondi H, Lind DS, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Reviewers and Editors for the 2nd Half of 2021. HCA Healthc J Med 2022; 3:1-3. [PMID: 37426874 PMCID: PMC10324683 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Description As we celebrate the start of 2022, the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine would like to thank those behind the scenes who make this publication possible. Our journal would not be possible without the assistance of our reviewers, authors, and board members.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hossein Akhondi
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- West Florida Hospital, Pensacola, FL
| | - D. Scott Lind
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- Orange Park Medical Center, Orange Park, FL
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Ioannidis JP, Tezel A, Jagsi R. Overall and COVID-19-specific citation impact of highly visible COVID-19 media experts: bibliometric analysis. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e052856. [PMID: 34706959 PMCID: PMC8551747 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the COVID-19 experts who appear most frequently in media have high citation impact for their research overall, and for their COVID-19 peer-reviewed publications in particular and to examine the representation of women among such experts. DESIGN Cross-linking of data sets of most highly visible COVID-19 media experts with citation data on the impact of their published work (career-long publication record and COVID-19-specific work). SETTING Cable news appearance in prime-time programming or overall media appearances. PARTICIPANTS Most highly visible COVID-19 media experts in the USA, Switzerland, Greece and Denmark. INTERVENTIONS None. OUTCOME MEASURES Citation data from Scopus along with discipline-specific ranks of overall career-long and COVID-19-specific impact based on a previously validated composite citation indicator. RESULTS We assessed 76 COVID-19 experts who were highly visible in US prime-time cable news, and 50, 12 and 2 highly visible experts in media in Denmark, Greece and Switzerland, respectively. Of those, 23/76, 10/50, 2/12 and 0/2 were among the top 2% of overall citation impact among scientists in the same discipline worldwide. Moreover, 37/76, 15/50, 7/12 and 2/2 had published anything on COVID-19 that was indexed in Scopus as of 30 August 2021. Only 18/76, 6/50, 2/12 and 0/2 of the highly visible COVID-19 media experts were women. 55 scientists in the USA, 5 in Denmark, 64 in Greece and 56 in Switzerland had a higher citation impact for their COVID-19 work than any of the evaluated highly visible media COVID-19 experts in the respective country; 10/55, 2/5, 22/64 and 14/56 of them were women. CONCLUSIONS Despite notable exceptions, there is a worrisome disconnect between COVID-19 claimed media expertise and scholarship. Highly cited women COVID-19 experts are rarely included among highly visible media experts.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Ioannidis
- Meta-Resarch Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, and of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Reshma Jagsi
- Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE We assessed the extent of lag times in the publication and indexing of network meta-analyses (NMAs). STUDY DESIGN This was a survey of published NMAs on drug interventions. SETTING NMAs indexed in PubMed (searches updated in May 2020). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Lag times were measured as the time between the last systematic search and the article submission, acceptance, online publication, indexing and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) allocation dates. Time-to-event analyses were performed considering independent variables (geographical origin, Journal Impact Factor, Scopus CiteScore, open access status) (SPSS V.24, R/RStudio). RESULTS We included 1245 NMAs. The median time from last search to article submission was 6.8 months (204 days (IQR 95-381)), and to publication was 11.6 months. Only 5% of authors updated their search after first submission. There is a very slightly decreasing historical trend of acceptance (rho=-0.087; p=0.010), online publication (rho=-0.080; p=0.008) and indexing (rho=-0.080; p=0.007) lag times. Journal Impact Factor influenced the MeSH allocation process, but not the other lag times. The comparison between open access versus subscription journals confirmed meaningless differences in acceptance, online publication and indexing lag times. CONCLUSION Efforts by authors to update their search before submission are needed to reduce evidence production time. Peer reviewers and editors should ensure authors' compliance with NMA standards. The accuracy of these findings depends on the accuracy of the metadata used; as we evaluated only NMA on drug interventions, results may not be generalisable to all types of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda S Tonin
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Ariane G Araujo
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mariana M Fachi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Vinicius L Ferreira
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Roberto Pontarolo
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
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Deighton B, Akhondi H, Lind DS, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Reviewers and Editors for the 1st Half of 2021. HCA Healthc J Med 2021; 2:243-245. [PMID: 37424851 PMCID: PMC10324809 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Description As we reach the midway point of 2021, the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine would like to thank those behind the scenes that make this publication possible. Our journal would not have been possible without the assistance of our reviewers, authors and board members.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hossein Akhondi
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- West Florida Hospital, Pensacola, FL
| | - D. Scott Lind
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- Orange Park Medical Center, Orange Park, FL
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12
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Bayram A. What Has Changed in the Last Decade in the Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology? Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 59:88-94. [PMID: 34386794 PMCID: PMC8329399 DOI: 10.4274/tao.2021.2021-2-27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The primary aim of the study was to perform sequential analyses together with a citation analysis on the characteristics of the studies published in the Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (TAO) in the periods of 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Methods The studies published in the indicated periods were reviewed for study type, study topic, language and country of origin. Then, the citation analysis of the articles was performed through the Google Scholar and Web of Science (WoS) databases for the indicated periods. The estimated annual impact factors (EIF) of TAO from 2017 to 2020 were calculated by dividing the total number of citations performed in the projected year to the total number of citable articles published in the preceding two years. Results The total numbers of articles published from 2010 to 2014 and from 2015 to 2019 were 144 and 214, respectively. In 2010 to 2014, the most frequent study topic was head and neck with case reports ranking highest among study types. In 2015-2019, the most frequent study type had changed to original investigation and topic to general otorhinolaryngology. There was a remarkable increase in the total number of citations in 2015-2019 according to Google Scholar and WoS databases. Also, there was a remarkable increase in the EIF values for 2019 and 2020. Conclusion Although the increase in the number of citations and impact factor values cannot be appreciated as a single indicator for the success of a journal, the results of the presented study showed a promising advancement in the scientific quality of the TAO, driven by the inclusion of the journal to national and international indexes and by changing the language of the journal to English, as well as the well-orchestrated editorial efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Bayram
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
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Severin A, Strinzel M, Egger M, Domingo M, Barros T. Characteristics of scholars who review for predatory and legitimate journals: linkage study of Cabells Scholarly Analytics and Publons data. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e050270. [PMID: 34290071 PMCID: PMC8296767 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe and compare the characteristics of scholars who reviewed for predatory or legitimate journals in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and reviewing and publishing behaviour. DESIGN Linkage of random samples of predatory journals and legitimate journals of the Cabells Scholarly Analytics' journal lists with the Publons database, employing the Jaro-Winkler string metric. Descriptive analysis of sociodemographic characteristics and reviewing and publishing behaviour of scholars for whom reviews were found in the Publons database. SETTING Peer review of journal articles. PARTICIPANTS Reviewers who submitted peer review reports to Publons. MEASUREMENTS Numbers of reviews for predatory journals and legitimate journals per reviewer. Academic age of reviewers, the total number of reviews, number of publications and number of reviews and publications per year. RESULTS Analyses included 183 743 unique reviews submitted to Publons by 19 598 reviewers. Six thousand and seventy-seven reviews were for 1160 predatory journals (3.31% of all reviews) and 177 666 reviews for 6403 legitimate journals (96.69%). Most scholars never submitted reviews for predatory journals (90.0% of all scholars); few scholars (7.6%) reviewed occasionally or rarely (1.9%) for predatory journals. Very few scholars submitted reviews predominantly or exclusively for predatory journals (0.26% and 0.35%, respectively). The latter groups of scholars were of younger academic age and had fewer publications and reviews than the first groups. Regions with the highest shares of predatory reviews were sub-Saharan Africa (21.8% reviews for predatory journals), Middle East and North Africa (13.9%) and South Asia (7.0%), followed by North America (2.1%), Latin America and the Caribbean (2.1%), Europe and Central Asia (1.9%) and East Asia and the Pacific (1.5%). CONCLUSION To tackle predatory journals, universities, funders and publishers need to consider the entire research workflow and educate reviewers on concepts of quality and legitimacy in scholarly publishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Severin
- Strategy Division, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michaela Strinzel
- Strategy Division, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Research Council, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Bern, Switzerland
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Misra V, Safi F, Brewerton KA, Wu W, Mason R, Chan AW, Rochon PA, Lega IC, Abdel-Qadir H. Gender disparity between authors in leading medical journals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional review. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e051224. [PMID: 34261692 PMCID: PMC8282422 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Evaluate gender differences in authorship of COVID-19 articles in high-impact medical journals compared with other topics. DESIGN Cross-sectional review. DATA SOURCES Medline database. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Articles published from 1 January to 31 December 2020 in the seven leading general medical journals by impact factor. Article types included primary research, reviews, editorials and commentaries. DATA EXTRACTION Key data elements were whether the study topic was related to COVID-19 and names of the principal and the senior authors. A hierarchical approach was used to determine the likely gender of authors. Logistic regression assessed the association of study characteristics, including COVID-19 status, with authors' likely gender; this was quantified using adjusted ORs (aORs). RESULTS We included 2252 articles, of which 748 (33.2%) were COVID-19-related and 1504 (66.8%) covered other topics. A likely gender was determined for 2138 (94.9%) principal authors and 1890 (83.9%) senior authors. Men were significantly more likely to be both principal (1364 men; 63.8%) and senior (1332 men; 70.5%) authors. COVID-19-related articles were not associated with the odds of men being principal (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.21; p=0.89) or senior authors (aOR 0.96; 95% CI 0.78 to 1.19; p=0.71) relative to other topics. Articles with men as senior authors were more likely to have men as principal authors (aOR 1.49; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.83; p<0.001). Men were more likely to author articles reporting original research and those with corresponding authors based outside the USA and Europe. CONCLUSIONS Women were substantially under-represented as authors among articles in leading medical journals; this was not significantly different for COVID-19-related articles. Study limitations include potential for misclassification bias due to the name-based analysis. Results suggest that barriers to women's authorship in high-impact journals during COVID-19 are not significantly larger than barriers that preceded the pandemic and that are likely to continue beyond it. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42020186702.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaidehi Misra
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frozan Safi
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Wei Wu
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robin Mason
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - An-Wen Chan
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paula A Rochon
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iliana C Lega
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Husam Abdel-Qadir
- Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC), University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Rostadmo M, Strømme SL, Nylenna M, Gulbrandsen P, Hem E, Skovlund E, Brean A, Orstavik R. How well do doctors understand a scientific article in English when it is not their first language? A randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e043444. [PMID: 34112640 PMCID: PMC8194323 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION English is the lingua franca of science. How well doctors understand English is therefore crucial for their understanding of scientific articles. However, only 5% of the world's population have English as their first language. METHODS Objectives: To compare doctors' comprehension of a scientific article when read in their first language (Norwegian) versus their second language (English). Our hypothesis was that doctors reading the article in Norwegian would comprehend the content better than those reading it in English. DESIGN Parallel group randomised controlled trial. We randomised doctors to read the same clinical review article in either Norwegian or English, before completing a questionnaire about the content of the article. SETTING Conference in primary care medicine in Norway, 2018. PARTICIPANTS 130 native Norwegian-speaking doctors, 71 women and 59 men. One participant withdrew before responding to the questionnaire and was excluded from the analyses. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to read a review article in either Norwegian (n=64) or English (n=66). Reading time was limited to 7 min followed by 7 min to answer a questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total score on questions related to the article content (potential range -9 to 20). RESULTS Doctors who read the article in Norwegian had a mean total score of 10.40 (SD 3.96) compared with 9.08 (SD 3.47) among doctors who read the article in English, giving a mean difference of 1.32 (95% CI 0.03 to 2.62; p=0.046). Age was independently associated with total score, with decreased comprehension with increasing age. CONCLUSION The difference in comprehension between the group who read in Norwegian and the group who read in English was statistically significant but modest, suggesting that the language gap in academia is possible to overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Magne Nylenna
- Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pal Gulbrandsen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- HØKH, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erlend Hem
- Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute for Studies of the Medical Profession, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eva Skovlund
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Are Brean
- The Journal of The Norwegian Medical Association, Oslo, Norway
- The Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Orstavik
- The Journal of The Norwegian Medical Association, Oslo, Norway
- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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O'Keeffe M, Nickel B, Dakin T, Maher CG, Albarqouni L, McCaffery K, Barratt A, Moynihan R. Journalists' views on media coverage of medical tests and overdiagnosis: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e043991. [PMID: 34078634 PMCID: PMC8173287 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Promotional media coverage of early detection tests is an important driver of overdiagnosis. Following research evidence that global media coverage presents the benefits of testing healthy people far more frequently than harms, and gives little coverage to overdiagnosis, we sought to examine journalists' views on media reporting of tests, overdiagnosis, and strategies to improve critical reporting on tests. DESIGN Qualitative study using semistructured telephone interviews. Interviews were conducted between February and March 2020 and were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Framework thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Twenty-two journalists (mainly specialising in health reporting, average 14.5 years' experience) based in Australia. RESULTS This sample of journalists acknowledged the potential harms of medical tests but felt that knowledge of harms was low among journalists and the public at large. Most were aware of the term overdiagnosis, but commonly felt that it is challenging to both understand and communicate in light of strong beliefs in the benefits of early detection. Journalists felt that newsworthiness in the form of major public health impact was the key ingredient for stories about medical tests. The journalists acknowledged that factors, like the press release and 'click bait culture' in particular, can influence the framing of coverage about tests. Lack of knowledge and training, as well as time pressures, were perceived to be the main barriers to critical reporting on tests. Journalists felt that training and better access to information about potential harms would enable more critical reporting. CONCLUSIONS Effectively communicating overdiagnosis is a challenge in light of common beliefs about the benefits of testing and the culture of current journalism practices. Providing journalists with training, support and better access to information about potential harms of tests could aid critical reporting of tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary O'Keeffe
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brooke Nickel
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Dakin
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chris G Maher
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Loai Albarqouni
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kirsten McCaffery
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexandra Barratt
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ray Moynihan
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Tuma F. Educational benefits of writing multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with evidence-based explanation. Postgrad Med J 2021; 98:77-78. [PMID: 33688069 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2021-139876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Faiz Tuma
- Department of Surgery, Central Michigan University College of Medicine East Campus, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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Deighton B, Akhondi H, Lind DS, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Reviewers and Editors for the 2nd Half of 2020. HCA Healthc J Med 2021; 2:5-7. [PMID: 37424882 PMCID: PMC10324724 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Description As the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine reaches the end of our first year in publication, we want to thank those who have provided invaluable support for the journal from July to December 2020. Our journal would not have been possible without the assistance of our reviewers, authors and board members.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hossein Akhondi
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- MountainView Hospital, Las Vegas, NV
| | - D. Scott Lind
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- Orange Park Medical Center, Orange Park, FL
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Ellingson MK, Shi X, Skydel JJ, Nyhan K, Lehman R, Ross JS, Wallach JD. Publishing at any cost: a cross-sectional study of the amount that medical researchers spend on open access publishing each year. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e047107. [PMID: 33526505 PMCID: PMC7852964 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the financial costs paid by individual medical researchers from meeting the article processing charges (APCs) levied by open access journals in 2019. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis. DATA SOURCES Scopus was used to generate two random samples of researchers, the first with a senior author article indexed in the 'Medicine' subject area (general researchers) and the second with an article published in the ten highest-impact factor general clinical medicine journals (high-impact researchers) in 2019. For each researcher, Scopus was used to identify all first and senior author original research or review articles published in 2019. Data were obtained from Scopus, institutional profiles, Journal Citation Reports, publisher databases, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and individual journal websites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Median APCs paid by general and high-impact researchers for all first and senior author research and review articles published in 2019. RESULTS There were 241 general and 246 high-impact researchers identified as eligible for our study. In 2019, the general and high-impact researchers published a total of 914 (median 2, IQR 1-5) and 1471 (4, 2-8) first or senior author research or review articles, respectively. 42% (384/914) of the articles from the general researchers and 29% (428/1471) of the articles from the high-impact medical researchers were published in fully open access journals. The median total APCs paid by general researchers in 2019 was US$191 (US$0-US$2500) and the median total paid by high-impact researchers was US$2900 (US$0-US$5465); the maximum paid by a single researcher in total APCs was US$30115 and US$34676, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Medical researchers in 2019 were found to have paid between US$0 and US$34676 in total APCs. As journals with APCs become more common, it is important to continue to evaluate the potential cost to researchers, especially on individuals who may not have the funding or institutional resources to cover these costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallory K Ellingson
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xiaoting Shi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joshua J Skydel
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kate Nyhan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health; and Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Richard Lehman
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Joseph S Ross
- Section of General Medicine and the National Clinician Scholars Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health; and Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale-New Haven Health System, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joshua D Wallach
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Sumner P, Schwartz L, Woloshin S, Bratton L, Chambers C. Disclosure of study funding and author conflicts of interest in press releases and the news: a retrospective content analysis with two cohorts. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e041385. [PMID: 33419908 PMCID: PMC7798706 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine how often study funding and author conflicts of interest are stated in science and health press releases and in corresponding news; and whether disclosure in press releases is associated with disclosure in news. Second, to specifically examine disclosure rates in industry-funded studies. DESIGN Retrospective content analysis with two cohorts. SETTING Press releases about health, psychology or neuroscience research from research universities and journals from 2011 (n=996) and 2015 (n=254) and their associated news stories (n=1250 and 578). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Mention of study funding and author conflicts of interest. RESULTS In our 2011 cohort, funding was reported in 94% (934/996) of journal articles, 29% (284/996) of press releases and 9% (112/1250) of news. The corresponding figures for 2015 were: 84% (214/254), 52% (131/254) and 10% (58/578). A similar pattern was seen for the industry funding subset. If the press release reported study funding, news was more likely to: 22% if in the press release versus 7% if not in the press release (2011), relative risk (RR) 3.1 (95% CI 2.1 to 4.3); for 2015, corresponding figures were 16% versus 2%, RR 6.8 (95% CI 2.2 to 17). In journal articles, 27% and 22% reported a conflict of interest, while less than 2% of press releases or news ever mentioned these. CONCLUSIONS Press releases and associated news did not frequently state funding sources or conflicts of interest. Funding information in press releases was associated with such information in news. Given converging evidence that news draws on press release content, including statements of funding and conflicts of interest in press releases may lead to increased reporting in news.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petroc Sumner
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Lisa Schwartz
- Center for Medicine and the Media, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Steven Woloshin
- Center for Medicine and the Media, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
- The Lisa Schwartz Foundation for Truth in Medicine, Norwich, Vermont, USA
| | - Luke Bratton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to identify all preprint platforms with biomedical and medical scope and to compare and contrast the key characteristics and policies of these platforms. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Preprint platforms that were launched up to 25 June 2019 and have a biomedical and medical scope according to MEDLINE's journal selection criteria were identified using existing lists, web-based searches and the expertise of both academic and non-academic publication scientists. A data extraction form was developed, pilot tested and used to collect data from each preprint platform's webpage(s). RESULTS A total of 44 preprint platforms were identified as having biomedical and medical scope, 17 (39%) were hosted by the Open Science Framework preprint infrastructure, 6 (14%) were provided by F1000 Research (the Open Research Central infrastructure) and 21 (48%) were other independent preprint platforms. Preprint platforms were either owned by non-profit academic groups, scientific societies or funding organisations (n=28; 64%), owned/partly owned by for-profit publishers or companies (n=14; 32%) or owned by individuals/small communities (n=2; 5%). Twenty-four (55%) preprint platforms accepted content from all scientific fields although some of these had restrictions relating to funding source, geographical region or an affiliated journal's remit. Thirty-three (75%) preprint platforms provided details about article screening (basic checks) and 14 (32%) of these actively involved researchers with context expertise in the screening process. Almost all preprint platforms allow submission to any peer-reviewed journal following publication, have a preservation plan for read access and most have a policy regarding reasons for retraction and the sustainability of the service. CONCLUSION A large number of preprint platforms exist for use in biomedical and medical sciences, all of which offer researchers an opportunity to rapidly disseminate their research findings onto an open-access public server, subject to scope and eligibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie J Kirkham
- Centre for Biostatistics, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | - Isabelle Boutron
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), Inserm, Paris, France
| | - John P Ioannidis
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS) and Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Data Science, and of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - David Moher
- Centre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Korshunov AM, Gubachev NN. [Russian media about medical innovations and technologies]. Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med 2020; 28:758-761. [PMID: 32856821 DOI: 10.32687/0869-866x-2020-28-s1-758-761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The current state of demand for medical information in the media has a high practical significance for the mass audience. Medicine is a science-intensive, rapidly developing field. In this regard, it is necessary to systematically inform the public about the achievements of medicine - in science, technology and industry, explaining the essence and possible consequences of a scientific discovery, popularizing methods of treatment of a particular disease, introducing society to innovative technological processes in the medical field, achievements and developments of the medical and pharmaceutical industry. The paper reviews the experience of media coverage of medical issues in the aspect of familiarity with innovations and technologies in the context of historical development both in our country and abroad. It also describes the presentation of medical topics in modern media - in periodicals, on radio, on television - in popular science programs or TV movies, in electronic sources. In addition, the article analyzes the genre diversity of the presentation of medical topics. The paper provides information about the media coverage of the main directions of the national project "Health" and its innovative directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Korshunov
- A. N. Kosygin Russian State University (Technologies. Design. Art), 119071, Moscow, Russia,
| | - N N Gubachev
- A. N. Kosygin Russian State University (Technologies. Design. Art), 119071, Moscow, Russia
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Maggio LA, Krakow M, Moorhead LL. 'There were some clues': a qualitative study of heuristics used by parents of adolescents to make credibility judgements of online health news articles citing research. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e039692. [PMID: 32847924 PMCID: PMC7451268 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify how parents judge the credibility of online health news stories with links to scientific research. DESIGN This qualitative study interviewed parents who read online stories about e-cigarettes and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination published by top-tier US news organisations. Researchers asked participants to describe elements of a story that influenced their judgement about content credibility. Researchers analysed transcripts using inductive and deductive techniques. Deductive analysis drew on cognitive heuristics previously identified as being used by the public to judge online health information. Inductive analysis allowed the emergence of new heuristics, especially relating to health. SETTING The US National Cancer Institute's Audience Research Lab in Maryland, in August-November 2018. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-four parents with at least one child between the ages of 9 and 17 residing in Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia participated. Researchers randomly assigned 31 parents to the HPV vaccination story and 33 to the e-cigarette story. RESULTS Evidence of existing heuristics, including reputation, endorsement, consistency, self-confirmation, expectancy violation and persuasive intent emerged from the interviews, with participants deeming stories credible when mentioning physicians (reputation heuristic) and/or consistent with information provided by personal physicians (consistency heuristic). Participants also described making credibility judgements based on presence of statistics, links to scientific research and their general feelings about news media. In relation to presence of statistics and links, participants reported these elements increased the credibility of the news story, whereas their feelings about the news media decreased their credibility judgement. CONCLUSIONS Parents used a constellation of heuristics to judge the credibility of online health news stories. Previously identified heuristics for online health information are also applicable in the context of health news stories. The findings have implications for initiatives in education, health communication and journalism directed towards increasing the public's engagement with health news and their credibility judgements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Maggio
- Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Melinda Krakow
- Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Laura L Moorhead
- Journalism, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
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Trethewey SP, Beck KJ, Symonds RF. Experience and perspectives of primary care practitioners on the credibility assessment of health-related information online. Postgrad Med J 2020; 97:608-610. [PMID: 32796110 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To generate an understanding of the communication practices that might influence the peer-review process in biomedical journals. METHOD Recruitment was based on purposive maximum variation sampling. We conducted semistructured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis method. PARTICIPANTS 56 journal editors from general medicine (n=13) and specialty (n=43) biomedical journals. Most were editor-in-chiefs (n=39), men (n=40) and worked part time (n=50). RESULTS Our analysis generated four themes (1) providing minimal guidance to peer reviewers-two subthemes described the way journal editors rationalised their behaviour: (a) peer reviewers should know without guidelines how to review and (b) detailed guidance and structure might have a negative effect; (2) communication strategies of engagement with peer reviewers-two opposing strategies that journal editors employed to handle peer reviewers: (a) use of direct and personal communication to motivate peer reviewers and (b) use of indirect communication to avoid conflict; (3) concerns about impact of review model on communication-maintenance of anonymity as a means of facilitating critical and unburdened communication and minimising biases and (4) different practices in the moderation of communication between authors and peer reviewers-some journal editors actively interjected themselves into the communication chain to guide authors through peer reviewers' comments, others remained at a distance, leaving it to the authors to work through peer reviewers' comments. CONCLUSIONS These journal editors' descriptions reveal several communication practices that might have a significant impact on the peer-review process. Editorial strategies to manage miscommunication are discussed. Further research on these proposed strategies and on communication practices from the point of view of authors and peer reviewers is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketevan Glonti
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska, Croatia
- CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - David Moher
- Ottawa Methods Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Darko Hren
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska, Croatia
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Oxman AD, Glenton C, Flottorp S, Lewin S, Rosenbaum S, Fretheim A. Development of a checklist for people communicating evidence-based information about the effects of healthcare interventions: a mixed methods study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036348. [PMID: 32699132 PMCID: PMC7375421 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To make informed decisions about healthcare, patients and the public, health professionals and policymakers need information about the effects of interventions. People need information that is based on the best available evidence; that is presented in a complete and unbiased way; and that is relevant, trustworthy and easy to use and to understand. The aim of this paper is to provide guidance and a checklist to those producing and communicating evidence-based information about the effects of interventions intended to inform decisions about healthcare. DESIGN To inform the development of this checklist, we identified research relevant to communicating evidence-based information about the effects of interventions. We used an iterative, informal consensus process to synthesise our recommendations. We began by discussing and agreeing on some initial recommendations, based on our own experience and research over the past 20-30 years. Subsequent revisions were informed by the literature we examined and feedback. We also compared our recommendations to those made by others. We sought structured feedback from people with relevant expertise, including people who prepare and use information about the effects of interventions for the public, health professionals or policymakers. RESULTS We produced a checklist with 10 recommendations. Three recommendations focus on making it easy to quickly determine the relevance of the information and find the key messages. Five recommendations are about helping the reader understand the size of effects and how sure we are about those estimates. Two recommendations are about helping the reader put information about intervention effects in context and understand if and why the information is trustworthy. CONCLUSIONS These 10 recommendations summarise lessons we have learnt developing and evaluating ways of helping people to make well-informed decisions by making research evidence more understandable and useful for them. We welcome feedback for how to improve our advice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Oxman
- Centre for Informed Health Choices, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Claire Glenton
- Centre for Informed Health Choices, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Signe Flottorp
- Centre for Informed Health Choices, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Simon Lewin
- Centre for Informed Health Choices, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sarah Rosenbaum
- Centre for Informed Health Choices, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Atle Fretheim
- Centre for Informed Health Choices, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Disinformation on medical matters has become an increasing public health concern. Public engagement by scientists, clinicians and patient advocates can contribute towards public understanding of medicine. However, depth of feeling on many issues (notably vaccination and cancer) can lead to adverse reactions for those communicating medical science, including vexatious interactions and targeted campaigns. Our objective in this work is to establish a taxonomy of common negative experiences encountered by those communicating medical science, and suggest guidelines so that they may be circumvented. DESIGN We establish a taxonomy of the common negative experiences reported by those communicating medical science, informed by surveying medical science communicators with public platforms. PARTICIPANTS 142 prominent medical science communicators (defined as having >1000 Twitter followers and experience communicating medical science on social and traditional media platforms) were invited to take part in a survey, with 101 responses. RESULTS 101 responses were analysed. Most participants experienced abusive behaviour (91.9%), including persistent harassment (69.3%) and physical violence and intimidation (5.9%). A substantial number (38.6%) received vexatious complaints to their employers, professional bodies or legal intimidation. The majority (62.4%) reported negative mental health sequelae due to public outreach, including depression, anxiety and stress. A significant minority (19.8%) were obligated to seek police advice or legal counsel due to actions associated with their outreach work. While the majority targeted with vexatious complaints felt supported by their employer/professional body, 32.4% reported neutral, poor or non-existent support. CONCLUSIONS Those engaging in public outreach of medical science are vulnerable to negative repercussions, and we suggest guidelines for professional bodies and organisations to remedy some of these impacts on front-line members.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Robert Grimes
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Laura J Brennan
- Not applicable (patient advocate, deceased), Ennis, Munster, Ireland
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Deighton B, Toklu HZ, Donini G. An Acknowledgement to the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine's Initial Cohort of Reviewers, Authors, Editors and Advisory Board. HCA Healthc J Med 2020; 1:127-130. [PMID: 37424720 PMCID: PMC10324706 DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Description As the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine reaches the half way point of our first year in publication, we want to thank those who have provided invaluable support for the journal since the first submissions arrived in November of last year. The successful launch of our journal would not have been possible without the assistance of our reviewers, authors and board members.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hale Z. Toklu
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Department of Clinical Science
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Blanco D, Schroter S, Aldcroft A, Moher D, Boutron I, Kirkham JJ, Cobo E. Effect of an editorial intervention to improve the completeness of reporting of randomised trials: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036799. [PMID: 32430454 PMCID: PMC7239541 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of an editorial intervention to improve completeness of reporting of reports of randomised trials. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial (RCT). SETTING BMJ Open's quality improvement programme. PARTICIPANTS 24 manuscripts describing RCTs. INTERVENTIONS We used an R Shiny application to randomise manuscripts (1:1 allocation ratio, blocks of 4) to the intervention (n=12) or control (n=12) group. The intervention was performed by a researcher with expertise in the content of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and consisted of an evaluation of completeness of reporting of eight core CONSORT items using the submitted checklist to locate information, and the production of a report containing specific requests for authors based on the reporting issues found, provided alongside the peer review reports. The control group underwent the usual peer review. OUTCOMES The primary outcome is the number of adequately reported items (0-8 scale) in the revised manuscript after the first round of peer review. The main analysis was intention-to-treat (n=24), and we imputed the scores of lost to follow-up manuscripts (rejected after peer review and not resubmitted). The secondary outcome is the proportion of manuscripts where each item was adequately reported. Two blinded reviewers assessed the outcomes independently and in duplicate and solved disagreements by consensus. We also recorded the amount of time to perform the intervention. RESULTS Manuscripts in the intervention group (mean: 7.01; SD: 1.47) were more completely reported than those in the control group (mean: 5.68; SD: 1.43) (mean difference 1.43, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.58). We observed the main differences in items 6a (outcomes), 9 (allocation concealment mechanism), 11a (blinding) and 17a (outcomes and estimation). The mean time to perform the intervention was 87 (SD 42) min. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the benefit of involving a reporting guideline expert in the editorial process. Improving the completeness of RCTs is essential to enhance their usability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03751878.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Blanco
- Statistics and Operations Research Department, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | | | - David Moher
- Centre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- Statistics and Operations Research Department, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jamie J Kirkham
- Centre for Biostatistics, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University, Manchester, UK
| | - Erik Cobo
- Statistics and Operations Research Department, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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Trethewey SP. Distinguishing between statistical and clinical significance in a meta-analysis of acupuncture for obesity: avoiding miscommunication of study findings. Postgrad Med J 2020; 97:63-64. [PMID: 32300057 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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31
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Trethewey SP, Beck KJ, Symonds RF. The FPM International Awards for Medical Writing in Social Media: a step in the right direction. Postgrad Med J 2020; 96:304. [PMID: 32241882 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rehan F Symonds
- Oak Tree Surgery, Liskeard, Cornwall, UK.,Cornwall Clinical Research Group, Cornwall, UK
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32
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Cukier S, Lalu M, Bryson GL, Cobey KD, Grudniewicz A, Moher D. Defining predatory journals and responding to the threat they pose: a modified Delphi consensus process. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e035561. [PMID: 32041864 PMCID: PMC7045268 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct a Delphi survey informing a consensus definition of predatory journals and publishers. DESIGN This is a modified three-round Delphi survey delivered online for the first two rounds and in-person for the third round. Questions encompassed three themes: (1) predatory journal definition; (2) educational outreach and policy initiatives on predatory publishing; and (3) developing technological solutions to stop submissions to predatory journals and other low-quality journals. PARTICIPANTS Through snowball and purposive sampling of targeted experts, we identified 45 noted experts in predatory journals and journalology. The international group included funders, academics and representatives of academic institutions, librarians and information scientists, policy makers, journal editors, publishers, researchers involved in studying predatory journals and legitimate journals, and patient partners. In addition, 198 authors of articles discussing predatory journals were invited to participate in round 1. RESULTS A total of 115 individuals (107 in round 1 and 45 in rounds 2 and 3) completed the survey on predatory journals and publishers. We reached consensus on 18 items out of a total of 33 to be included in a consensus definition of predatory journals and publishers. We came to consensus on educational outreach and policy initiatives on which to focus, including the development of a single checklist to detect predatory journals and publishers, and public funding to support research in this general area. We identified technological solutions to address the problem: a 'one-stop-shop' website to consolidate information on the topic and a 'predatory journal research observatory' to identify ongoing research and analysis about predatory journals/publishers. CONCLUSIONS In bringing together an international group of diverse stakeholders, we were able to use a modified Delphi process to inform the development of a definition of predatory journals and publishers. This definition will help institutions, funders and other stakeholders generate practical guidance on avoiding predatory journals and publishers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Cukier
- Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manoj Lalu
- Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gregory L Bryson
- Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kelly D Cobey
- Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Agnes Grudniewicz
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Moher
- Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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33
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Abstract
The last decades saw remarkable change in the way healthcare professionals generate and consume medical knowledge. Information management technologies have evolved considerably, yet medical publications continue to use a referencing system that has changed very little since the turn of the 20th century. Research suggests that up to one in five referenced claims quotes the original text inaccurately. Many authors, perhaps inadvertently, contribute to this process by citing non-primary data and amplifying the errors of their predecessors. Erroneous claims are propagated, accumulate into false belief systems and generate inaccurate knowledge. Updating the referencing system to provide additional information to support each referenced claim (eg, the location of the referenced statement in the original text and the nature of that text) could, perhaps, address this cycle of inaccuracy. We believe such changes in the referencing system would prompt authors to rigorously verify referenced claims and provide readers with context to inform a critical evaluation of the text. We detail our proposal for changes in the notations used for referencing, as well as in the information provided within reference lists. We also discuss some barriers and solutions to the adoption of our proposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Bareket
- Department of Family Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical Center and Tel Aviv & Dan districts, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mara A Schonberg
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yochai Schonmann
- Department of Family Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical Center and Tel Aviv & Dan districts, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Vehof H, Heerdink E, Sanders J, Das E. Associations Between Characteristics of Web-Based Diabetes News and Readers' Sentiments: Observational Study in the Netherlands. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e14554. [PMID: 31719025 PMCID: PMC6881782 DOI: 10.2196/14554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although experts agree that Web-based health information often contains exaggeration and misrepresentation of science, it is not yet known how this information affects the readers’ sentiments. Objective This study aimed to investigate whether specific aspects of Web-based diabetes research news are associated with positive or negative sentiments in readers. Methods A retrospective observational study of the comments on diabetes research news posted on Facebook pages was conducted as a function of the innovations’ developmental phase, the intended treatment effect, and the use of strong language to intensify the news messages (superlatives). Data for the investigation were drawn from the diabetes research news posted between January 2014 and January 2018 on the two largest Dutch Facebook pages on diabetes and the corresponding reader comments. By manually coding these Facebook user comments, three binary outcome variables were created, reflecting the presence of a positive sentiment, the presence of a negative sentiment, and the presence of a statement expressing hopefulness. Results Facebook users made a total of 3710 comments on 173 diabetes research news posts that were eligible for further analysis. Facebook user comments on posts about diabetes prevention (odds ratio [OR] 0.55, 95% CI 0.37-0.84), improved blood glucose regulation (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.84), and symptom relief (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.21-0.44) were associated with less positive sentiments as compared with potential diabetes cures. Furthermore, comments on innovations supported by preclinical evidence in animals were associated with more positive sentiments (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07-1.99) and statements expressing hope (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.01-2.14), when compared with innovations that have evidence from large human trials. This study found no evidence for the associations between language intensification of the news posts and the readers’ sentiments. Conclusions Our finding that the attitudes toward diabetes research news on Facebook are most positive when clinical efficacy is not (or not yet) proven in large patient trials suggests that news authors and editors, as well as medical professionals, must exercise caution when acting as a conduit for diabetes research news.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Vehof
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Research Group Process Innovations in Pharmaceutical Care, HU University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Eibert Heerdink
- Research Group Process Innovations in Pharmaceutical Care, HU University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Division Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - José Sanders
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Enny Das
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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36
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E Freedman
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
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37
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Scott-Jupp R, Brown N. Art of listening. Arch Dis Child 2019; 104:412. [PMID: 30472667 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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38
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Crumley ET, Sheppard C, Bowden C, Nelson G. Canadian French and English newspapers' portrayals of physicians' role and medical assistance in dying (MAiD) from 1972 to 2016: a qualitative textual analysis. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e020369. [PMID: 31048417 PMCID: PMC6502060 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine how Canadian newspapers portrayed physicians' role and medical assistance in dying (MAiD). DESIGN Qualitative textual analysis. SETTING Online and print articles from Canadian French and English newspapers. PARTICIPANTS 813 newspaper articles published from 1972 to 2016. RESULTS Key Canadian events defined five eras. From 1972 to 1990, newspapers portrayed physician's MAiD role as a social issue by reporting supportive public opinion polls and revealing it was already occurring in secret. From 1991 to 1995, newspapers discussed legal aspects of physicians' MAiD role including Rodriguez' Supreme Court of Canada appeal and Federal government Bills. From 1996 to 2004, journalists discussed professional aspects of physicians' MAiD role and the growing split between palliative care and physicians who supported MAiD. They also reported on court cases against Canadian physicians, Dr Kevorkian and suffering patients who could not receive MAiD. From 2005 to 2013, newspapers described political aspects including the tabling of MAiD legislation to change physicians' role. Lastly, from 2014 to 2016, newspapers again portrayed legal aspects of physicians' role as the Supreme Court of Canada was anticipated to legalise MAiD and the Québec government passed its own legislation. Remarkably, newspapers kept attention to MAiD over 44 years before it became legal. Articles generally reflected Canadians' acceptance of MAiD and physicians were typically portrayed as opposing it, but not all did. CONCLUSIONS Newspaper portrayals of physicians' MAiD role discussed public opinion, politicians' activities and professional and legal aspects. Portrayals followed the issue-attention cycle through three of five stages: 1) preproblem, 2) alarmed discovery and euphoric enthusiasm and 3) realising the cost of significant progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen T Crumley
- Rowe School of Business, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Caroline Sheppard
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chantelle Bowden
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gregg Nelson
- Departments of Oncology and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Schroter S, Pakpoor J, Morris J, Chew M, Godlee F. Effect of different financial competing interest statements on readers' perceptions of clinical educational articles: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e025029. [PMID: 30782923 PMCID: PMC6377520 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate how different competing interest (COI) statements affect clinical readers' perceptions of education articles. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Random sample of UK doctors. INTERVENTIONS We created four permutations of each of two clinical reviews (on gout or dyspepsia), which varied only in terms of the COI statement. Volunteers were blinded and randomised to receive one review and asked to complete a questionnaire after reading it. Blinded factorial analyses of variance and analyses of covariance were carried out to assess the influence of each review and type of COI on outcomes. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES Confidence in the article's conclusions (primary outcome), its importance, their level of interest in the article and their likelihood to change practice after reading it. RESULTS Of 10 889 doctors invited to participate, 1065 (10%) volunteered. Of these, 749 (70%) completed the survey. Analysis of covariance (adjusting for age, sex, job type, years since qualification) showed no significant difference between the groups in participants' confidence in the article (gout: p=0.32, dyspepsia: p=0.78) or their rating of its importance (gout: p=0.09, dyspepsia: p=0.79). For the gout review, participants rated articles with advisory board and consultancies COI as significantly less interesting than those with no COI (p=0.028 with Bonferroni correction). Among participants indicating that they treat the condition and that the article's recommendations differed from their own practice, there was no significant difference in likelihood to change practice between groups (gout: p=0.59, n=59; dyspepsia: p=0.56, n=80). CONCLUSIONS Doctors' confidence in educational articles was not influenced by the COI statements. Further work is required to determine if doctors do not perceive these COIs as important in educational articles or if they do not pay attention to these statements. More meaningful COI disclosure practices may be needed, which highlight context-specific potential sources of bias to readers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02548312; Results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Pakpoor
- Academic Clinical Fellow in Public Health, Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School, Oxford, UK
| | - Julie Morris
- Education & Research Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Wythenshawe Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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40
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterise how online media coverage of journal articles on cancer funded by the US government varies by cancer type and stage of the cancer control continuum and to compare the disease prevalence rates with the amount of funded research published for each cancer type and with the amount of media attention each receives. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING The United States. PARTICIPANTS The subject of analysis was 11 436 journal articles on cancer funded by the US government published in 2016. These articles were identified via PubMed and characterised as receiving online media attention based on data provided by Altmetric. RESULTS 16.8% (n=1925) of articles published on US government-funded research were covered in the media. Published journal articles addressed all common cancers. Frequency of journal articles differed substantially across the common cancers, with breast cancer (n=1284), lung cancer (n=630) and prostate cancer (n=586) being the subject of the most journal articles. Roughly one-fifth to one-fourth of journal articles within each cancer category received online media attention. Media mentions were disproportionate to actual burden of each cancer type (ie, incidence and mortality), with breast cancer articles receiving the most media mentions. Scientific articles also covered the stages of the cancer continuum to varying degrees. Across the 13 most common cancer types, 4.4% (n=206) of articles focused on prevention and control, 11.7% (n=550) on diagnosis and 10.7% (n=502) on therapy. CONCLUSIONS Findings revealed a mismatch between prevalent cancers and cancers highlighted in online media. Further, journal articles on cancer control and prevention received less media attention than other cancer continuum stages. Media mentions were not proportional to actual public cancer burden nor volume of scientific publications in each cancer category. Results highlight a need for continued research on the role of media, especially online media, in research dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Maggio
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Asura Enkhbayar
- Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Juan Pablo Alperin
- Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Ren L, Li C, Li W, Zeng Y, Ye S, Li Z, Feng H, Lei Z, Cai J, Hu S, Sui Y, Liu Q, Cheung BMY. Fast-tracking acute stroke care in China: Shenzhen Stroke Emergency Map. Postgrad Med J 2019; 95:46-47. [PMID: 30696707 PMCID: PMC6581085 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2018-136192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
China has the largest stroke population and at-risk population in the world. However, it has a lower thrombolytic therapy rate and longer onset-to-needle time/door-to-needle time for patients who had an acute stroke compared with developed countries, which might be due to redundant procedures or inefficient systems. Things are changing due to some new initiatives. Two years ago, a new emergency system in China, Stroke Emergency Map, was first launched as a regional emergency system in Shenzhen, the bustling metropolis just north of Hong Kong. As a result of the Stroke Emergency Map in Shenzhen, the number of thrombolytic cases increased in the last 2 years, from 568 to 809 annually. The Stroke Emergency Map, first pioneered in Shenzhen and now spreading to the rest of China, is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary system. The benefits are not just the immediate improvements in the acute stroke care because the continuous data collection and audit allows for improvements in logistics and future strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Ren
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiping Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yixuan Zeng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shisheng Ye
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhichao Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongye Feng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhihao Lei
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingjing Cai
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiyu Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Sui
- Department of Neurology, Shenyang First People's Hospital, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bernard M Y Cheung
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahid Hussain Khan
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Nashibi
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Amir Javadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Abstract
Background: Media play crucial role in disseminating health information. Due to the importance of accurate health news reports, and the national need to professionalism in health journalism, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics of health journalists, and health reporting status and the challenges involved. Materials and Methods: Using consensus sampling, this descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on all health news reporters in Isfahan (34 journalists) in 2015–2016. Data collection was done via a researcher-made questionnaire. Content validity of the questionnaire was determined by qualitative method and based on the opinions of six experts. The test–retest reliability coefficient was 98.0. Data analysis was done by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 16 and descriptive statistics and content analysis were used for analyzing the responses to two open questions. Results: Among 34 journalists, 56% were women and 44% men; the majority of journalists (65%) had no specialized training on health reporting, 35% of journalists were not able to understand the health issues, and the knowledge of medical terminology in 59% of them was moderate to low. The most important required skill for reporters was the ability to interpret medical research reports (88%), 97% were eager to participate in specialized health education. Conclusions: Our study showed that health journalists lacked knowledge and specialized training for dissemination of health news. This has brought about serious challenges. Thus, development and implementation of training courses in close collaboration with educational department of the Ministry of Health and news programs professionals at Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahrokh Keshvari
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Community Health and Gerontology Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Niko Yamani
- Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Peyman Adibi
- Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Shahnazi
- Department of Health Education, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Ashoorkhani M, Majdzadeh R, Nedjat S, Gholami J. Promoting the Quality of Health Research-based News: Introduction of a Tool. Int J Prev Med 2017; 8:87. [PMID: 29184638 PMCID: PMC5686918 DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_16_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: While disseminating health research findings to the public, it is very important to present appropriate and accurate information to give the target audience a correct understanding of the subject matter. The objective of this study was to design and psychometrically evaluate a checklist for health journalists to help them prepare news of appropriate accuracy and authenticity. Methods: The study consisted of two phases, checklist design and psychometrics. Literature review and expert opinion were used to extract the items of the checklist in the first phase. In the second phase, to assess content and face validity, the judgment of 38 persons (epidemiologists with a tool production history, editors-in-chief, and health journalists) was used to check the items’ understandability, nonambiguity, relevancy, and clarity. Reliability was assessed by the test–retest method using intra-cluster correlation (ICC) indices in the two phases. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal validity of the checklist. Results: Based on the participants’ opinions, the items were reduced from 20 to 14 in number. The items were categorized into the following three domains: (a) items assessing the source of news and its validity, (b) items addressing the presentation of complete and accurate information on research findings, and (c) items which if adhered to lead to the target audiences’ better understanding. The checklist was approved for content and face validity. The reliability of the checklist was assessed in the last stage; the ICC was 1 for 12 items and above 0.8 for the other two. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.98. Discussion and Conclusions: The resultant indices of the study indicate that the checklist has appropriate validity and reliability. Hence, it can be used by health journalists to develop health research-based news.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Ashoorkhani
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Majdzadeh
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saharnaz Nedjat
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jaleh Gholami
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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45
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyse the total number of newspaper articles citing the four leading general medical journals and to describe national citation patterns. DESIGN Quantitative content analysis. SETTING/SAMPLE Full text of 22 general newspapers in 14 countries over the period 2008-2015, collected from LexisNexis. The 14 countries have been categorised into four regions: the USA, the UK, Western World (European countries other than the UK, and Australia, New Zealand and Canada) and Rest of the World (other countries). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Press citations of four medical journals (two American: NEJM and JAMA; and two British: The Lancet and The BMJ) in 22 newspapers. RESULTS British and American newspapers cited some of the four analysed medical journals about three times a week in 2008-2015 (weekly mean 3.2 and 2.7 citations, respectively); the newspapers from other Western countries did so about once a week (weekly mean 1.1), and those from the Rest of the World cited them about once a month (monthly mean 1.1). The New York Times cited above all other newspapers (weekly mean 4.7). The analysis showed the existence of three national citation patterns in the daily press: American newspapers cited mostly American journals (70.0% of citations), British newspapers cited mostly British journals (86.5%) and the rest of the analysed press cited more British journals than American ones. The Lancet was the most cited journal in the press of almost all Western countries outside the USA and the UK. Multivariate correspondence analysis confirmed the national patterns and showed that over 85% of the citation data variability is retained in just one single new variable: the national dimension. CONCLUSION British and American newspapers are the ones that cite the four analysed medical journals more often, showing a domestic preference for their respective national journals; non-British and non-American newspapers show a common international citation pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Casino
- Department of Communication, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Rius
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Erik Cobo
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
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46
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Kerschner B, Wipplinger J, Klerings I, Gartlehner G. [How evidence-based are print- and online mass media in Austria? A quantitative analysis]. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes 2015; 109:341-9. [PMID: 26354134 DOI: 10.1016/j.zefq.2015.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We rated the body of evidence for 219 health-related questions that had been covered by 990 media articles in Austrian print and online media. In 59.5 % of these articles, the evidence for medical facts is reported in a highly distorted (exaggerated or understated) manner; only 10.8 % adequately reflect the actual strength of evidence. While 61.3% of the articles imply that the reported effects are based on the highest level of evidence, it really only applies to 2.6% of the articles. Compared to quality media, tabloid media report in a more distorted way. However, this is mainly due to a different subject coverage, since the degree of distorted reporting does not significantly differ for subjects covered by both tabloid and quality media. Online media do not report in a more distorted way than print media, with the exception of the newspaper "Der Standard". A clear difference can be seen in the reporting on different subjects. Articles on medications regulated by governmental authorities or interventions which only physicians are allowed to perform were significantly less distorted than articles on nutritional supplements or interventions that may be provided by non-physician staff. Reports on cosmetic or weight loss interventions were most distorted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Kerschner
- Department für Evidenzbasierte Medizin und Klinische Epidemiologie, Donau-Universität Krems, Österreich.
| | - Jörg Wipplinger
- Department für Evidenzbasierte Medizin und Klinische Epidemiologie, Donau-Universität Krems, Österreich
| | - Irma Klerings
- Department für Evidenzbasierte Medizin und Klinische Epidemiologie, Donau-Universität Krems, Österreich
| | - Gerald Gartlehner
- Department für Evidenzbasierte Medizin und Klinische Epidemiologie, Donau-Universität Krems, Österreich
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis R First
- Editor-in-Chief, Pediatrics Editorial Office, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 89 Beaumont Ave, Given Courtyard S250, Burlington, VT 05405.
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48
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the structure and content of a non-random sample of clinical study reports (CSRs) to guide clinicians and systematic reviewers. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched public sources and lodged Freedom of Information requests for previously confidential CSRs primarily written by the industry for regulators. SELECTION CRITERIA CSRs reporting sufficient information for extraction ('adequate'). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Presence and length of essential elements of trial design and reporting and compression factor (ratio of page length for CSRs compared to its published counterpart in a scientific journal). DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted on standard forms and crosschecked for accuracy. RESULTS We assembled a population of 78 CSRs (covering 90 randomised controlled trials; 144 610 pages total) dated 1991-2011 of 14 pharmaceuticals. Report synopses had a median length of 5 pages, efficacy evaluation 13.5 pages, safety evaluation 17 pages, attached tables 337 pages, trial protocol 62 pages, statistical analysis plan 15 pages and individual efficacy and safety listings had a median length of 447 and 109.5 pages, respectively. While 16 (21%) of CSRs contained completed case report forms, these were accessible to us in only one case (765 pages representing 16 individuals). Compression factors ranged between 1 and 8805. CONCLUSIONS Clinical study reports represent a hitherto mostly hidden and untapped source of detailed and exhaustive data on each trial. They should be consulted by independent parties interested in a detailed record of a clinical trial, and should form the basic unit for evidence synthesis as their use is likely to minimise the problem of reporting bias. We cannot say whether our sample is representative and whether our conclusions are generalisable to an undefined and undefinable population of CSRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Doshi
- Divisions of General Pediatrics and General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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49
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether, where and when manuscripts were published following rejection by the Journal of the Danish Medical Association, a general medical journal published in Danish. Similar previous studies have focused on specialty/subspecialty journals published in English. DESIGN Manuscripts rejected during a 4-year period were searched for in PubMed and Embase in order to assess the percentage of manuscripts subsequently published in other journals. In addition, characteristics of both the published manuscripts and the journals in which they were evaluated. RESULTS Of 198 rejected manuscripts, 21 (10.6%) were eventually published after a median of 685 days (range 209-1463). The majority of these were original research, published in English-language specialty/subspecialty journals. The median number of citations per article was 2-3 (IQR 0.5-9.5, depending on the database searched). CONCLUSIONS 10.6% of the rejected manuscripts were eventually published in other journals, mainly English-language specialty journals. This proportion was considerably lower than that for other journals that have studied the fate of rejected manuscripts. Manuscript translation could be a barrier for resubmitting to English-language journals with larger readerships, thus hindering the dissemination of knowledge to the international community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siri Vinther
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
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50
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Abstract
While some media reports offer accurate interpretations of clinical research, other reports are misleading. The uneven accuracy of medical reporting may act in concert with its sheer volume to confuse the lay public about which health messages are most important and evidence-based. I outline one possible step towards a solution: medical journals can embed quality of evidence ratings in article summaries and create incentives for inclusion of these ratings in lay media reports.
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