What to do when the studies disagree

[Guest guest]

While this article focus on traditional medicine, what

it says ought to apply to any study......thought it was

interesting........Lynn

Tips for understanding medical newsApril

1, 2008

Four tips for understanding medical news: What to do when

the studies disagree, from the Harvard Men's Health

WatchMedicine is a science. That means research

should provide clear answers that stand the test of time and scrutiny

from additional investigations. That’s the theory behind evidence-based,

data-driven scientific medicine. But in our imperfect world, things don’t

always turn out as they should. The April 2008 issue of

 

Harvard Men’s Health Watch explains how to handle medical

advice that changes from day to day and study to study.

Here are four tips:

 

Understand the different types of research you are likely to hear

about. Randomized controlled clinical trials are the gold standard for

medical research, and really the only way to prove whether an

intervention is beneficial or harmful. Meta-analyses are also

important­they combine the results of many different studies and use

sophisticated statistical techniques to analyze the pooled data.

Observational studies can provide information on links between two

factors, but they cannot prove that one factor caused another. Results

from animal and laboratory studies should be considered preliminary.

 

Read behind the headlines. Beware of summaries that transform

research findings into simplistic formulas for health, and focus on

results that have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Even high-visibility medical studies published in major journals are

often contradicted or modified by subsequent research. This may be

frustrating, but new information should always be welcome, even if it

casts doubt on established beliefs.

When you read about medical research, see how the new information

fits into your personal health puzzle before you decide to change your

ways. Keep the big picture in mind, and remember to factor in your

personal preferences and priorities. If you have lingering questions,

discuss them with your doctor.

 

http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/tips-for-understanding-medical-news.htm