INSERM, U738, Paris, France.
PLoS Med. 2012;9(9):e1001308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001308. Epub 2012 Sep 11.
Previous studies indicate that in published reports, trial results can be distorted by the use of "spin" (specific reporting strategies, intentional or unintentional, emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment). We aimed to (1) evaluate the presence of "spin" in press releases and associated media coverage; and (2) evaluate whether findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on press releases and media coverage are misinterpreted.
We systematically searched for all press releases indexed in the EurekAlert! database between December 2009 and March 2010. Of the 498 press releases retrieved and screened, we included press releases for all two-arm, parallel-group RCTs (n = 70). We obtained a copy of the scientific article to which the press release related and we systematically searched for related news items using Lexis Nexis. "Spin," defined as specific reporting strategies (intentional or unintentional) emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment, was identified in 28 (40%) scientific article abstract conclusions and in 33 (47%) press releases. From bivariate and multivariable analysis assessing the journal type, funding source, sample size, type of treatment (drug or other), results of the primary outcomes (all nonstatistically significant versus other), author of the press release, and the presence of "spin" in the abstract conclusion, the only factor associated, with "spin" in the press release was "spin" in the article abstract conclusions (relative risk [RR] 5.6, [95% CI 2.8-11.1], p < 0.001). Findings of RCTs based on press releases were overestimated for 19 (27%) reports. News items were identified for 41 RCTs; 21 (51%) were reported with "spin," mainly the same type of "spin" as those identified in the press release and article abstract conclusion. Findings of RCTs based on the news item was overestimated for ten (24%) reports.
"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.
之前的研究表明，在已发表的报告中，试验结果可能会因“选择性报道”（具体的报道策略，无论是有意还是无意，强调实验性治疗的有益效果）而失真。我们旨在：（1）评估新闻稿和相关媒体报道中“选择性报道”的存在情况；（2）评估基于新闻稿和媒体报道的随机对照试验（RCT）的结果是否存在误解。
我们系统地搜索了 2009 年 12 月至 2010 年 3 月期间 EurekAlert!数据库中索引的所有新闻稿。在检索到的 498 份新闻稿中，我们筛选出了所有 70 项双臂平行组 RCT 的新闻稿。我们获得了与新闻稿相关的科学文章的副本，并使用 Lexis Nexis 系统地搜索了相关的新闻报道。“选择性报道”被定义为（有意或无意）强调实验性治疗有益效果的特定报道策略，在 28 篇（40%）科学文章摘要结论和 33 篇（47%）新闻稿中被发现。在评估期刊类型、资金来源、样本量、治疗类型（药物或其他）、主要结局的结果（所有非统计学显著与其他结果）、新闻稿作者以及摘要结论中“选择性报道”的存在情况的二变量和多变量分析中，唯一与新闻稿中“选择性报道”相关的因素是文章摘要结论中的“选择性报道”（相对风险[RR] 5.6，[95%CI 2.8-11.1]，p<0.001）。基于新闻稿的 RCT 结果被高估了 19 项（27%）。我们确定了 41 项 RCT 的新闻报道；其中 21 项（51%）有“选择性报道”，主要是与新闻稿和文章摘要结论中发现的相同类型的“选择性报道”。基于新闻报道的 RCT 结果也被高估了 10 项（24%）。
约一半的新闻稿和媒体报道中存在“选择性报道”。在多变量分析中，与新闻稿中“选择性报道”相关的主要因素是文章摘要结论中的“选择性报道”的存在。
