Misrepresentation of Randomized Controlled Trials in Press Releases and News Coverage: A Cohort Study
PLoS MedicinePublished 11 September 2012Open access
Amélie Yavchitz, Isabelle Boutron, Aïda Bafeta, Ibrahim Marroun, Pierre Charles, Jean Mantz
Citations266
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score4.28
SNIP3.21
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TL;DR
A study examines the factors associated with “spin” (specific reporting strategies, intentional or unintentional, that emphasize the beneficial effect of treatments) in press releases of clinical trials.
Abstract
"Spin" was identified in about half of press releases and media coverage. In multivariable analysis, the main factor associated with "spin" in press releases was the presence of "spin" in the article abstract conclusion.
Keywords
Decision SciencesEconomics, Econometrics and FinancePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
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