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pubhealth

Dataset card Data Studio Files
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Breast Cancer Drug Promising in Phase 3 Trial
This HealthDay story covers a clinical trial of a new drug for breast cancer – one that may be useful in women with BRCA mutations. The opening sentence is misleading, saying that the drug, talazoparib, improves survival. The study found that talazoparib helped women go longer without progression of their cancer. It remains to be seen if they live longer. It’s an important distinction that we think should be made crystal clear for readers. Also, there is already an FDA-approved cancer drug that works like this one. The story never explains: Why do we need another one? Is this one novel? New treatments for breast cancer are newsworthy because the disease is one of the most common cancers in women. What’s not clear in this story is why this particular drug trial is important. Another drug on the market works similarly, so some information about why a second drug is worthy of study and worthy of news coverage would have been appreciated.
mixture
1001
10801
Acupuncture Reduces Hot Flashes for Half of Women, Study Finds
The news release focuses on an article published in the journal Menopause, which evaluated the extent to which acupuncture may reduce the number of hot flashes women experience during or after menopause. The release does a good job of describing the study’s key findings, but offered readers no information about its limitations, treatment cost and risks, and the availability of acupuncture treatment. Most importantly, the release did not reveal that the study wasn’t blinded and that there was no sham acupuncture given to the control group, making this a weak study. It’s well established that acupuncture can produce beneficial effects on a wide array of health problems; the issue is whether these effects differ from what would be expected with a placebo or sham treatment. As the NIH puts it, “many women have hot flashes” during menopause — and they can persist for several years after menopause. In fact, according to a 1985 study, approximately 88 percent of women have hot flashes during menopause. Hot flashes, in themselves, do not pose a health risk. However, they can have a significant, adverse affect on a woman’s quality of life, with symptoms ranging from sweating to rapid heartbeat. In some cases, this can lead to sleep problems — and that can pose significant health risks. Given the number of women who experience hot flashes, it’s certainly worth discussing research that can inform patients and healthcare providers about treatment options. However, it’s important for news releases to place new findings in context. i.e., how do the new findings fit into the broader body of work that exists on the subject? This release doesn’t address that need.
false
1002
8554
Japan state of emergency mutes nightlife but cities still open as infections rise.
The total number of Japanese novel coronavirus infections hit more than 5,300 on Thursday, NHK public broadcaster said, showing no signs of slowing despite a state of emergency being imposed this week on Tokyo and six other areas.
true
1003
17308
"""Florida Democratic Party Says Rick Scott """"oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation’s history."""
"""The Florida Democratic Party said Scott """"oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation’s history."""" The Columbia/HCA settlement has since been surpassed in dollar value, though the bigger cases involved Medicare somewhat less directly. Because the Democratic Party could have been a bit more specific in its wording -- by saying that Scott oversaw the largest Medicare fraud at the time. "
true
1004
4031
2 Indiana environmental groups merge, plan kids’ health push.
Two longtime Indiana environmental groups have merged and drafted plans for a refocused mission on children’s environmental and health initiatives.
true
1005
7915
U.N. to create global coronavirus fund, Norway says.
The United Nations will create a fund to prevent the spread of coronavirus and support the treatment of patients worldwide, Norway said on Monday.
true
1006
2394
Food, beverage companies slash calories in obesity fight.
A voluntary effort by the world’s largest food and beverage companies to remove billions of calories from the products they sell in the United States to help combat the nation’s obesity epidemic has far exceeded its five-year goal, according to an independent evaluation released on Thursday.
true
1007
2215
Britain tells Canada and France to pull their weight on Ebola.
Britain’s international development minister Rory Stewart called on France and Canada on Monday to offer more help in tackling the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.
true
1008
5898
NC officials confirm 3rd death from Legionnaires’ disease.
North Carolina health officials say a third person has died from an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease linked to a hot tub display at a fair.
true
1009
4353
Alabama to test Auburn students, employees for TB.
Alabama health officials say they’ve identified an Auburn University student with a case of pulmonary tuberculosis.
true
1010
4705
No-spray zones divide French farmers from anxious neighbors.
When tractors laden with pesticides and other chemicals start spraying the vineyards that produce fruity Bordeaux wines, Marie-Lys Bibeyran’s phone starts to ring.
true
1011
7629
GSK's two-drug HIV treatment proves itself in key tests.
GlaxoSmithKline’s simple two-drug treatment for HIV works as well as standard triple therapy, even in people with relatively high levels of the virus that causes AIDS, clinical study results presented on Tuesday showed.
true
1012
37534
Homemade masks are sufficient against coronavirus exposure during a shortage of masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
‘100 Million Masks’ — Are Homemade Masks Sufficient for COVID-19 First Responders?
mixture
1013
30209
A species of spider new to the U.S. has a lethal bite which killed five people in the summer of 2018.
The author of the post, Gary Neaderhiser, appears to have something of a penchant for fake, scare-mongering Facebook posts, such as the one he published on 21 August 2018, which bore the heading “HEADLESS MANNEQUIN STABS MAN IN MALL WITH KNIFE.”
false
1014
8839
Blood pressure drug Micardis cuts heart risk: study.
The blood pressure drug Micardis was as effective in preventing serious heart problems in high-risk patients as certain older drugs, but with fewer side effects, international researchers said on Monday.
true
1015
10449
Scientists reverse diabetes in monkeys
This television story on pig islet cells being transplanted into monkeys makes a huge leap from a finding in 12 monkeys (some of which rejected the transplant) to “hope for millions of people with diabetes.” And it uses the predictable television approach of finding an 8-year old diabetic and his parents who talk about this being “a huge step.” The story delivered no details of the research findings, didn’t quantify the results or the length of followup. In projecting possible human use, the story failed to address potential risks or costs. If a story is going to project potential benefits, it should offer the balance of potential harms and costs. And it is a critical omission to leave out any mention of potential side effects from powerful immune-suppressing drugs. Finally, it is bad practice for journalists to pass along predictions of being three years away from human testing without giving a basis for that prediction. But that is also a flaw in a single-source story when no independent expert opinion is sought.
false
1016
10007
Diabetes Drug Has Good Results In Long Trial
New Zealand police said on Wednesday they would be scaling down search operations for the two people who are missing after a volcanic eruption last week, admitting the bodies may never be found.
false
1017
35208
Warmer weather will inhibit the spread of the new coronavirus.
What's true: Some viral strains, such as those that cause common cold and influenza, are less likely to spread during warmer seasons. What's false: However, according to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 “can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather.” This disease will not “go away” due to warmer weather. What's undetermined: It's too early to tell if the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 will be dampened by warm weather.
unproven
1018
6493
Madagascar forest overwhelmed by thousands seeking sapphires.
A sapphire rush has brought tens of thousands of people into the remote rainforests of eastern Madagascar, disfiguring a protected environmental area and prompting calls for military intervention.
true
1019
10047
Research shows promise in reversing Type 1 diabetes
Responsible reporting of a promising, but very preliminary finding in diabetes research. The caveats and context were all there. Nice job. As one of the independent experts was quoted saying, ” If this is reproducible and correct, it could be a phenomenal finding.”  The story emphasized that this is still a big IF.
true
1020
37412
Blue Buffalo Dental Bones pose a severe risk of injury or death to dogs, gravely injured a dog named Dallas, and led to the deaths of other dogs.
‘Blue Buffalo Dental Bones Hemorrhagic Gastritis’ Facebook Warning
unproven
1021
30372
President Donald Trump sent a video message to Belgian citizens criticizing their government for being part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Bayer AG had hoped a new trial strategy focusing jurors on scientific evidence could stem a burgeoning tide of U.S. lawsuits over its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup, but a second jury finding on Tuesday that the product caused cancer has narrowed the company’s options, some legal experts said.
false
1022
16348
"""Milwaukee police and firefighters """"are routinely getting 4 percent raises annually while everybody else is either getting zero or one percent raises."""
"""Kovac said police and fire workers """"are routinely getting 4 percent raises annually while everybody else is either getting zero or one percent raises."""" That scenario was seen in 2012, but so far has not reappeared. Uniformed workers have had a leg up on general employees since Act 10, but only marginally in a time of austerity."""
false
1023
32370
Donald Trump dropped out of the presidential race in August 2016 due to a brain tumor.
Needless to say, we hope, this story was a complete fabrication. NTMY News is an entertainment web site that publishes “political news and satire,” and this article was clearly the latter.
false
1024
1840
New Jersey may be first state to ban smoking on beaches, in parks.
New Jersey could become the first state in the nation to ban cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products in all public parks and beaches if Governor Chris Christie signs into law a sweeping anti-smoking bill approved by lawmakers.
true
1025
36809
It’s been rumored that George Soros and pro-Clinton groups funded protests and paid professional protesters after Donald Trump was elected president.
George Soros, Pro-Clinton Groups Fund Trump Protests
unproven
1026
11493
Researchers develop test for pregnancy complication
"""This story took preliminary research on a diagnostic test for a common and urgent pregnancy complication—preeclampsia—and made the research appear to be a life-saving medical breakthrough. In the study, an international group of researchers reported identifying a “metabolic signature”—a group of 14 biomarkers in the blood of pregnant women—that might aid in the diagnosis of preeclampsia in its early stages. The diagnostic test, like any complex diagnostic technology, faces years of research development and clinical trials. The article offered a best-case scenario for the development of this test. It did not provide a single cautionary note to balance out this hopeful view. The main question that goes unanswered in this story is whether a diagnostic test that was studied in 120 women and then validated in 79 pregnant women in Australia will be equally valuable for millions of women around the world. Will it turn into a test that can be administered simply and interpreted easily? Could it be just as useful in Mali, Cambodia, or Micronesia as it might be in developed nations? Will the test have adequate predictive value—both positive and negative—in a wide range of ethnic groups and among women with differing health problems? Only time and further research will tell. If this test lives up the diagnostic potential envisioned in the Reuters story, it would be a major step forward indeed. But the story should have provided more independent experts to give a more balanced view of the evidence that supports it. The Reuters article closed with an optimistic quote from Eleni Tsigas, Executive Director of the Preeclampsia Foundation, on the potential of this test to identify women at risk. But perhaps the article should have included another quote from Tsigas that appeared in a Canadian newspaper: “I am not going to be breaking out the champagne yet…” (See Wingrove J, Globe and Mail, September 13, 2010). Preeclampsia is a common but poorly understood pregnancy complication characterized by dangerously high blood pressure and elevated levels of protein in the urine. It affects up to 8% of pregnancies worldwide, with a particularly damaging impact in developing nations. In the United States preeclampsia is the root cause of 18% of maternal deaths. For babies born prematurely because of maternal preeclampsia, it is an important precursor of developmental abnormalities. The identification of a diagnostic test for preeclampsia has been termed the """"Holy Grail of obstetrics."""" If preeclampsia could be recognized early in pregnancy, it might be possible to ward off some of its potentially serious consequences through vigilant surveillance of mother and baby. And identification of early changes that precede preeclampsia might boost research efforts into finding more effective treatments."""
mixture
1027
27903
Planned Parenthood health centers do not perform mammograms.
That care management program includes providing women with information about mammograms, referring them to health centers where they can obtain mammograms, and assisting them in covering the costs of the procedure by referring them to government programs that provide free mammograms or by using grant funds to reimburse the medical providers who perform the mammograms. (Referrals for mammograms often require the patient have undergone a breast exam within the previous year.)
true
1028
41788
"""The Green New Deal would """"permanently eliminate all Planes, Cars, Cows, Oil, Gas & the Military."""" """
We explain what the Green New Deal includes — and doesn’t — and why there is confusion over some of the content.
false
1029
12120
The governor’s cuts would kick over 8,000 people out of their homes.
Our ruling Quade and Merideth said that the governor’s cuts would cause 8,000 people to lose their homes.
false
1030
7657
Scientists plan DNA hunt for Loch Ness monster next month.
A global team of scientists plans to scour the icy depths of Loch Ness next month using environmental DNA (eDNA) in an experiment that may discover whether Scotland’s fabled monster really does, or did, exist.
true
1031
7497
Africa, Latin America fragile targets for coronavirus spread.
The West African nation of Mali has roughly one ventilator per 1 million people — 20 in all to help the critically ill with respiratory failure. In Peru, with more than 32 million people, about 350 beds in intensive care units exist.
true
1032
13688
"""Florida First Project Says Carlos Beruff """"supported (Charlie) Crist even after he switched parties."""
"""Florida First Project said Beruff """"supported Crist even after he switched parties."""" Beruff had supported Crist’s 2010 Senate run when Crist ran as a Republican, giving the maximum legal amount in donations. After Crist switched to an independent run, Beruff also attended a Crist fundraiser, although he denied supporting Crist in any way at that event. The Bradenton developer was listed as dependable Crist supporter in a news report prior to the switch, and didn’t ask for a refund of his donations. We found nary a mention of Beruff beyond that. But the bottom line is, even if Beruff denies it now, there's evidence that he didn't give Crist the same cold shoulder other Republicans immediately did."""
true
1033
27572
Kissing bugs in the U.S. carry a disease-causing parasite.
In late February 2017, the discovery of a Chagas-infected kissing bug in Lubbock, Texas led to renewed interest in risks posed by the parasite, and in July 2017 the warning spread about “barber beetles.”
true
1034
2882
Death toll from new China bird flu rises: WHO.
Six more people in China have been confirmed as infected with the new H7N9 strain of bird flu and one of them has died, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday.
true
1035
8272
Britain reports two cases of coronavirus, evacuation flight from China lands.
Two patients from the same family in England have tested positive for coronavirus, the first such cases in Britain, health chiefs said on Friday as an evacuation flight brought Britons home from the centre of the outbreak in China.
true
1036
17923
"""The Capitol Police force is """"going so far as to use paramilitary equipment"""" in dealing with singing protesters in Madison"""
"""Larson said the Capitol Police force under Walker is """"going so far as to use paramilitary equipment"""" at daily singalong protests in Madison. There’s an element of truth to his claim, in that these devices have paramilitary and military uses. But they also are used by a variety of non-military agencies for communication and mass notification, and Capitol Police appear to have used them predominantly, if not almost exclusively, to make sure protesters are clued in that arrests will follow if they don’t disperse. Unlike in Pittsburgh and other cities where police have used the devices, we found no scenes here of stunned protesters scurrying away in the face of ear-splitting noise. Editors note: This item was updated Sept. 19, 2013 to clarify in the first paragraph the judge's ruling."""
false
1037
12537
Alex Jones Says police officers smoke marijuana once a year as part of their jobs.
"""Defending his own use of marijuana, Jones said police officers """"smoke it once a year, too."""" He didn’t offer any proof of his claim that cops light up joints annually to test the strength of cannabis, and we couldn’t find any. Perhaps Jones anecdotally knows or has heard of police officers who don't keep off the grass, but we didn't find a cop shop that said that was a policy. Law enforcement agencies generally test marijuana potency in a laboratory setting, and not by lighting up in the squad room (or elsewhere). """
false
1038
8975
"""Liquid biopsy"""" test improves health outcomes and can save over $500 million annually for the U.S. healthcare system"""
Many cases of prostate cancer would benefit from a wait-and-see approach, but the available diagnostic instrument, PSA testing, leads to hundreds of thousands of prostate biopsies each year and, for some 18% of those tested, complications such as infections and sexual dysfunction arise. This news release describes a recent modeling exercise of the impacts of a non-invasive urine test, SelectMDx, that is already being used to identify cancers serious enough to warrant a full biopsy. The exercise found that the test was of modest value to individual patients, leading on average to fewer than 20 additional healthy days, but could lead to significant societal cost savings over the course of a year for more than 300,000 patients by reducing the number of cases that move on to a full biopsy. Prostate cancer was the leading solid tumor and second leading cause of death from cancer in American males in 2017. Paradoxically, it also can simmer at a low ebb without medical intervention or harm for many men. Figuring out whose cancer can be left alone and whose deserve a full-on attack has proved challenging, making the development of non-invasive screening tests important. SelectMDx is one of several such tests. All screening tests are non-invasive, the issue is that PSA is elevated not only in men without cancers but in men with low-risk cancers. Making biopsy decisions based on PSA alone leads to unnecessary biopsies in men without cancer and often to unnecessary treatment in men with a low-risk cancer who undergo active treatment.
false
1039
1755
Scientists find rare burial site of Ice Age infant in Alaska.
Archaeologists working in Alaska’s remote interior have discovered the burial site of an Ice Age infant and a late-term fetus believed to be the youngest remains found in the Americas dating from that period.
true
1040
16097
When Colorado  eased its medical marijuana laws, fatal accidents involving pot-using drivers soared while overall traffic fatalities decreased.
"""""""Drugged driving"""" claim based on flawed data"""
mixture
1041
34339
More than four times as many people are stabbed to death than killed with rifles of any kind.
The most recent UCR report, which contains annual homicide figures from 2014 through 2018, can be viewed here. The report features this disclaimer: “NOTE: The Uniform Crime Reporting Technical Refresh enables updating of prior years’ crime data; therefore, data presented in this table may not match previously published data.”
unproven
1042
28463
A meme presents accurately describes Japan's healthcare and health insurance system.
That’s true. More specifically, the fees are set by a government-appointed body called the Central Social Insurance Medical Council. A 2016 study in the journal Risk Management and Healthcare Policy described the system as “a uniform fee schedule at national level,” noting that “All providers, no matter whether private or public, share the same prices for their medicines, devices, and services under this nationwide fee schedule.”
mixture
1043
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Migraine patients can now try three new drugs for prevention
The story reports on three drugs recently approved by the FDA to prevent headaches in people who get frequent migraine headaches. The drugs, known as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, are erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), and galcanezumab (Emgality). The story did some things well–for example, it included the prices of the drugs and mentioned the lack of long-term safety data. However, the story didn’t disclose that one of the physicians quoted in the story has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from companies that make these and other migraine drugs. We also wanted to know more about the design and veracity of the clinical trials behind these drugs. Migraines can be disabling. Better treatments that reliably ward them off could dramatically increase the quality of life for millions. But given their high costs and short track records, these new drugs need to be written about cautiously by journalists. Financial interests of sources should be made clear.
mixture
1044
14375
"""Donald Trump Says that when Michelle Fields """"found out that there was a security camera, and that they had her on tape, all of a sudden that story changed."""
"""Trump said that when Michelle Fields """"found out that there was a security camera, and that they had her on tape, all of a sudden that story changed."""" We see no evidence that Fields’ story about her altercation with Trump’s campaign manager has changed. She gave an initial account and hasn't backed off of it."""
false
1045
11507
Cravings for High-Calorie Foods May Be Switched Off in the Brain by New Supplement
This news release describes results of a small, preliminary study that adds a bit more tantalizing evidence that a dietary supplement derived from a gut bacteria product may reduce appetite for high-calorie foods. The product is inulin propionate ester, a concentrated form of a compound released by normal gut bacteria when they digest a form of fiber called inulin. In turn, that compound is thought to send signals to the brain’s appetite centers that reduce food cravings. The release, issued by Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow, does a good job of explaining how the gut-brain-satiety issues were studied in 20 human volunteers, and a decent job of framing the findings as evidence for — if not proof of — the principle that altering the gut’s microbiome can affect the regulation of appetite, food choices and possibly weight gain. But the release is much too light on quantification of the results, the limitations of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies and information on the 20 participants. It also omits information on any potential risks associated with the experimental supplement and the fact that an inulin powder supplement product has already made it to market. It’s hardly news that obesity and its disease consequences are epidemic in the developed world, especially, and that any “quick and easy” method that claims to reduce cravings for the most appealing foods (sweets, carbs, etc.) would find a multitude of buyers. Research efforts that succeed in filling in details of the complex mind-brain-gut-appetite pathways are important and difficult to achieve. The research described in this release — framed by one of the investigators as “filling in a missing bit of the jigsaw” by demonstrating that the supplement decreases activity in brain areas linked to “food reward” and even “reducing the amount of food” the volunteers ate — is likely to grab attention. But we’d also caution readers that studies involving fMRI statistical analyses have recently come under fire for questionable validity since they tend to generate a high number of false-positive results.
mixture
1046
15169
"""Reid Ribble Says Donald Trump """"wants to replace"""" Obamacare """"with a single-payer system."""
"""Ribble said Trump """"wants to replace"""" Obamacare """"with a single-payer system."""" Trump continues to praise single payer -- a health care system in which the government pays for care for all citizens -- at least as it used in other countries. But he has spoken a number of times, if vaguely, about a private system and at one point said he does not support single payer in the United States. Since then, his responses have been less clear."""
mixture
1047
1270
London HIV patient becomes world's second AIDS cure hope.
An HIV-positive man in Britain has become the second known adult worldwide to be cleared of the AIDS virus after he received a bone marrow transplant from an HIV-resistant donor, his doctors said.
true
1048
26600
Donald Trump Says N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo “rejected buying recommended 16,000 ventilators in 2015 for the pandemic, for a pandemic, established death panels and lotteries instead. So, he had a chance to buy, in 2015, 16,000 ventilators at a very low price, and he turned it down.”
A 2015 New York state report said that in the case of a “severe” pandemic, the state would be short about 16,000 ventilators during the peak week. But the report did not recommend buying 16,000 ventilators, and did not indicate whether the state was at a fiscal position to purchase them. The state did not plan to increase its ventilator stockpile because it anticipated that in the event of a severe crisis, there would be shortage of trained staff to operate them and demand would outweigh any emergency stockpile. The report said the state had to balance the likely ventilator shortage with the need for adequate funding for current and ongoing health care expenses.
false
1049
4040
Collins bill to combat Lyme and other tick diseases moves on.
A U.S. Senate committee is advancing a proposal from Sen. Susan Collins to improve research about Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.
true
1050
6452
First-of-its-kind US nuclear waste dump marks 20 years.
In a remote stretch of New Mexico desert, the U.S. government put in motion an experiment aimed at proving to the world that radioactive waste could be safely disposed of deep underground, rendering it less of a threat to the environment.
true
1051
26344
“New York is one of only 12 states where the average gallon of gas costs more than $2.00.”
According to AAA data, New York was one of 12 states that had unleaded regular gasoline that cost more than $2.00 a gallon on April 27, as long as the District of Columbia is included as a state. All told, among the 50 states and D.C., New York ranked the seventh-highest for unleaded regular prices per gallon.
true
1052
15347
"""If women seeking an abortion see their ultrasound, """"the odds are pretty high they're going to keep the baby."""
"""Walker said that if women seeking an abortion see their ultrasound, """"the odds are pretty high they're going to keep the baby."""" There is some evidence that some women considering an abortion opt to continue the pregnancy after seeing their ultrasound, although experts said that decision is typically based on counseling or other services that are offered along with the ultrasound. Meanwhile, the latest academic study we found shows that nearly all women who are more certain about their decision proceed with an abortion even after seeing the ultrasound. And we found no independent studies to back Walker’s statement. For a claim that has an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression."""
false
1053
36067
"""An """"extreme haunted house"""" called McKamey Manor possesses and awards $20,000 to attendees who can """"make it through."""
Does McKamey Manor Award $20,000 to Successful ‘Extreme Haunted/Horror House’ Attendees?
unproven
1054
27998
A photograph of Michael Jackson's face taken during a court trial is real and undoctored.
On 25 June 2009, Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Los Angeles.
true
1055
18323
"""The Obama administration has put out """"more of these major rules than the Clinton administration or the Bush administration during comparable times."""
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman says the Obama administration has put out more major rules than other recent administrations
true
1056
8472
France's rate of coronavirus infections, deaths accelerating again.
France said its total death toll from COVID-19 infections rose above 15,000 on Tuesday, becoming the fourth country to exceed that threshold after Italy, Spain and the United States, while the rate of increase in cases and fatalities is re-accelerating.
true
1057
2190
France detects mild bird flu virus on duck farm: OIE.
France has detected a low-pathogenic H5 bird flu virus on a duck farm in the centre of the country, the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Thursday, citing a report from the French agriculture ministry.
true
1058
9534
Can’t Get to Sleep? Lay Off the Drugs
This story explains why those suffering from insomnia should take heed of the American College of Physicians’ recommendation to use cognitive behavioral therapy as a first-line treatment, before turning to prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Rather than focusing on the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy, as a New York Times story we reviewed earlier this year did, the Wall Street Journal story lays out the serious side effects associated with insomnia drugs, providing a clear and easily understood discussion of why drug treatment should be considered a last resort, to be used only by those for whom cognitive behavioral therapy has failed. However, the story would have been stronger if it had discussed the costs of treatments, and provided more specific numbers on how beneficial these treatment options are in clinical research. Lack of sleep is a big concern for many Americans, especially older adults. This story specifically addressed why sleep medications are not ideal for this age group, in terms of potential harms. But it didn’t dig deep enough into the data on the effectiveness of the various options. This helps readers assess the all-important question: Do the benefits outweigh the harms? And, without cost information, readers can’t answer another important question: Can I afford it?
true
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8192
Confusion, concern as locked-down Philippines starts coronavirus quarantine.
Millions of people woke up confused, confined and frustrated in the Philippines on Tuesday, as a sweeping home quarantine order kicked in with just a few hours of warning, and Southeast Asia prepared tighter measures against a surge in coronavirus cases.
true
1060
26621
Dan Crenshaw Says longstanding Food and Drug Administration regulations “created barriers to the private industry creating a test quickly” for the coronavirus.
Food and Drug Administration regulations in place since 2004 require labaratories to get an Emergency Use Authorization from the agency to use diagnostic tests and medical treatments that haven't gone through the typical clearance process. The policy was intended to speed up the process, but researchers reported significant delays between seeking an application and getting approval and these regulations played a role in that. The FDA has since changed the regulations to allow labs to start utilizing tests before receiving clearance.
true
1061
13587
It has been 269 days since (Hillary) Clinton has held a press conference.
"""Trump’s email said, """"It has been 269 days since Clinton has held a press conference."""" Only one event in the past 269 days -- Clinton’s appearance before the minority journalists’ convention -- could reasonably be considered a press conference, and there are good arguments for why it isn’t. The questioners were limited to a small pool of convention participants, leaving most of the Clinton campaign press corps  -- the dozens of journalists who know the campaign the best and who had complained the most about lack of access -- without an equal shot at asking a question. The statement is accurate but needs clarification. """
true
1062
8765
Take the stairs for a healthy heart.
Using the stairs at work instead of taking elevators could be a life saver.
true
1063
10898
Dark Chocolate May Lower Stroke Risk
Three best practices on reporting on research were violated in this story:  The limitations of observational studies were not explained adequately so that readers could understand. The story is based on an abstract of a talk that won’t even be given for two months yet so true peer review hasn’t taken place. Only relative risk reduction data – not absolute risk reduction figures – were provided. This is the kind of science story that helps science and journalism fall out of favor with the public. These chocolate and Valentine’s Day stories are predictable on the calendar – and predictable in content and delivery. If the science behind it were more fully explained, it would be sweet. This wasn’t.
mixture
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Kentucky’s Medicaid enrollment dips ahead of new rules.
After years of expansion because of a poor economy and new eligibility rules, Kentucky’s Medicaid population has been steadily declining as more people get jobs that pay them too much to be eligible for government-funded health care.
true
1065
10807
Stem Cells Repair Heart in First-Ever Study
This story creates a sense that this experimental approach is about to change the course of heart medicine and that, so far, it has only been made available to a very lucky few. The story notes that a “study researcher … could barely contain his excitement in an interview with WebMD.”  It’s the job of journalism to dispassionately evaluate evidence and provide necessary context and caveats. But our reviewers thought too much of the uncontained excitement came through without enough of the C words. The American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions is one of the largest medical conferences in the world, generating a lot of overly effusive coverage every year. As difficult as it may be, reporters need to work especially hard during conferences to find independent sources who can provide cautious analysis of a study’s results, especially when a study is this small and has potential pitfalls built into the study’s design.
mixture
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2032
Heavy drinking may raise abnormal heart rhythm risk.
People who drink regularly, especially heavy drinkers, may be more likely than teetotalers to suffer atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heart rhythm, according to a research review.
true
1067
9343
FDA approves marketing for a contraception app for the 1st time
This Good Morning America/ABCNews.com story reports on the FDA’s first medical device clearance of a birth control app, called Natural Cycles, which helps women track their menstrual cycles and bodily temperatures to figure out when they are fertile. The story provided some data on the reported effectiveness of the app and cautioned it’s not foolproof. But it stumbled by not interviewing an independent source, explaining where the data came from or providing more comparisons with other birth control methods. Birth control methods are plentiful; Planned Parenthood, for example, lists 18. Women need data to make good choices, and news stories about birth control methods should strive to offer comparisons on effectiveness, convenience, safety, and cost. Solid news reporting is especially important given the marketing of this app, touted as offering “more sexual freedom — minus the side effects.” As one European woman who became pregnant while using this app wrote in the Guardian: “I was sold on shiny promises, a sleek user interface and the fact that a former Cern physicist, Elina Berglund, was at the company’s helm. But four months in, it failed. Berglund helped discover the Higgs boson; but it turns out her algorithm couldn’t map my menstrual cycle.” While her experience might or might not be the norm, her broader point is valid: Marketing can create unrealistic expectations.
mixture
1068
2504
Mother says Pennsylvania girl's lung transplant a success.
A 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl with cystic fibrosis who only became eligible for an adult organ transplant because of a federal judge’s order is out of surgery after a double-lung transplant on Wednesday and doing well, her mother said.
true
1069
8908
WHO weighs science and politics in global virus emergency decision.
Most of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) criteria for declaring a global emergency have been met, but it is awaiting clear evidence of a sustained spread of the new coronavirus outside China before doing so, some experts and diplomats said.
true
1070
8506
Greece has won a battle against COVID-19 but war is not over: PM.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised the country’s efforts to contain the coronavirus on Monday but said there was no room for complacency before Orthodox Easter, when hundreds of thousands normally head to family gatherings.
true
1071
12147
We stopped traffic coming through -- 78 percent.
"""Trump said, """"We stopped traffic coming through -- 78 percent."""" Though Trump’s claim is vague, he’s made similar remarks about the border being """"down 78 percent"""" and being """"close to 80 percent stoppage."""" But the latest figures available for southwest border apprehensions do not support his claim. Only cherry-picked data would yield a 76 percent decline in apprehensions. Available information regarding drug seizures do not show a 78 percent decline, either."""
false
1072
27428
President Trump rolled back rules protecting residents of nursing homes.
We reached out to the AHCA for comment, but have not received a response.
true
1073
40935
You cannot catch Covid-19 person to person.
This is incorrect. Like other coronaviruses, Covid-19 is spread via respiratory droplets from an infected person to an uninfected person.
true
1074
17200
There are still more people uninsured today than when Obama was elected president.
Kingston’s claim about number of uninsured has some merit
mixture
1075
6890
Kearney to study ban on vaping in public places.
Kearney’s mayor has asked city staffers to study whether vaping is a threat to public health and should be banned from public places in the city.
true
1076
11187
Research: Healthy diet cuts risk of Alzheimer’s
This article provided only cursory information about a study that adds to the existing literature about dietary interventions for Alzheimers prevention. While providing a fairly complete framework for what would be included in this style diet, it did not offer a balanced view of the real potential for benefit. The story said that said that “People who followed the diet were up to 40 percent less likely than those who largely avoided it to develop Alzheimer’s during the course of the research.” The story shouldn’t make the reader do the math to figure out the absolute risk reduction between the groups. See the importance of “absolute vs. relative risks,” explained in a link by that name on the home page under “Things You Should Know About Research Stories.” The story didn’t explain how or if the researchers monitored adherence to the diet during the trial. It would be useful to provide additional context (even from quotes from experts in the field) so that readers can better evaluate the evidence as they consider making dietary changes. Comparisons between benefits from dietary changes and those beneftis from other preventive strategies would also be helpful in putting this into context.
false
1077
26500
“It has been estimated that only 12% of workers in businesses that are likely to stay open during this crisis are receiving paid sick leave benefits as a result of the second coronavirus relief package.
Bernie Sanders’ estimate that only 12% of essential workers would qualify for paid sick leave under the congressional coronavirus relief package exposes the chokehold that large-employer exemptions have on these benefits. Some experts say the limited scope of the rule could jeopardize efforts to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 if workers who are sick don’t feel they can afford to stay home to recuperate.
true
1078
29817
"""In 2018 or 2019, Brea Olinda Unified School District in California """"taught pedophilia as a sexual orientation."""
Taking the foregoing facts into account, we issue a rating of “false” for the claim that Brea Olinda Unified School District was “teaching pedophilia as a sexual orientation.”
false
1079
34350
A Puerto Rico police officer has revealed that San Juan's mayor is sabotaging relief efforts to reflect poorly on President Donald Trump.
Despite this lack of evidence, the rumors were immediately picked up and distributed as fact.
unproven
1080
346
Antarctic ice shelves: Searching for clues on climate change.
In a remote island outpost on the edge of the Antarctic, hundreds of miles from the southern tip of Chile, scientists at a research base are scouring the ice for clues about everything from climate change to cures for cancer.
true
1081
5565
4 Wyoming schools close after possible meningitis case.
A school district in southern Wyoming has closed four of its campuses over fears that a fourth-grade student might have contracted bacterial meningitis.
true
1082
5325
Actress Glenn Close aims to reduce mental health stigma.
Actress Glenn Close says she wants to live in a world where mental illness is talked about openly and accepted as a fact of life.
true
1083
10275
Diabetes drug tied to bone fractures
"""This article on new research that may explain how Avandia (rosiglitazone) degrades bone health has serious problems from the outset. The first sentence reads: The popular diabetes drug marketed as Avandia may increase bone thinning, a discovery that could help explain why diabetics can have an increased risk of fractures. Contrary to the first part of the sentence, previous research has already established that Avandia increases risk for osteoporosis. Contrary to the second part of the sentence, any link between the drug Avandia and osteoporosis could not explain the increased risk for osteoporosis faced by diabetics who are not taking the drug. The description of Avandia is clinically incorrect. The article implies that it is used to augment the effect of insulin, suggesting that it is only for people who take insulin. Actually it is usually used in people with Type 2 without insulin. Probably what the author meant it that it augments the effectiveness of the patients’  """"natural"""" insulin from their own pancreas. This is not clear. The story fails to clarify two essential points: This piece of research may illuminate the process by which bone health degrades in those taking Avandia. It does not report this link for the first time. The research was done on mice and used modeling. The quality of this evidence is much lower than a gold-standard clinical trial in humans. The report does not interview independent experts in diabetes and osteoporosis treatment for insight into the clinical implications for humans taking Avandia. The larger question here is whether this story should have been reported at all. First, the published report itself is a letter, not a full research paper. Letters in journals are often not subjected to peer review. Journalists should think twice before writing about research based on a letter. Further, at very best, this research sheds light on the physiological process behind a link that is already established. Even assuming that the findings apply to humans, the value of reporting them is not clear. When health journalists write about studies done on animals, the bar for potential relevance should be set very high. This story does not pass over it."""
false
1084
10908
HPV Shot Prevents Genital Warts in Boys and Men
This story shows many strengths, and wisely sets a single research report from the New England Journal of Medicine inside a larger debate about whether thousands of young men should receive the costly vaccine Gardasil. The story wades into discussions of sexual orientation and even at what age an individual knows this truth about him or herself. These difficult topics are germane to the epidemiology of the many human papillomaviruses, and which people of both sexes are at highest risk from infection. Bravo for reading the editorial that accompanied the study article, and chasing down its author on deadline to get her comments. Bravo for asking “why” when confronted with the seemingly contradictory news that Gardasil can prevent genital warts but is not recommended by the CDC for universal prevention in young men. Since Gardasil (and competitor, Cervarix) debuted a few years ago, there have been heated disagreements about the price and most helpful distribution of the vaccines and whether both sexes should receive them. This major study, demonstrating effectiveness in young men, adds important information to complex questions of cost and prevention. But it needs to be reported in a way that provides some of the history and context for readers. HPV infection is transmitted sexually, so questions of prevention within the entire US population of men and women involve potentially vaccinating both sexes. However, both sexes are not at the same level of risk for potentially deadly cancers years later. Women bear the brunt of the health risks, but men can pass the infection to their partners and can suffer from cancerous and non-cancerous effects of the virus. This new study provides additional information for the ongoing discussion about the public health role of immunizing young men against HPV.
mixture
1085
24358
"""A recent Obama executive order could """"lead to a number of investigations by Interpol in the United States, potentially aimed at American officials."""
Gingrich claims Obama's order will let Interpol investigate American officials
false
1086
5782
Sevier County may consider sales tax hike to build hospital.
Voters in Sevier County could be asked to approve a higher sales tax to subsidize the construction of a hospital after the county’s lone facility shut down last month, officials said.
true
1087
1849
"""Children at risk as """"button"""" battery use grows: study."""
Children face a growing risk from “button” batteries, according to a U.S. study showing a near doubling of emergency room visits in the past two decades as the objects can cause electrical or chemical burns if swallowed.
true
1088
10517
Fight your fear with virtual reality therapy
As the ratings and total score show, this newspaper article on virtual reality therapy fails to apply several best practices of health journalism. To call out only the two most significant failures: The reporter makes no attempt to gather independent research on the treatment’s safety or effectiveness, which conditions and populations it is more successful for, etc. Given the fact that the company that makes this information available on its website–and that other recent press reports include some of this information–this reflects very badly on this story. The story makes no mention of costs and coverage for the treatment. For a story about an exotic new technology that might replace a standard practice whose cost is well established, this is inexplicable. The story just didn’t ask enough tough important questions. VR therapy is a fascinating topic. It is being used and researched quite a bit with war veterans and other people with PTSD. The subject should be investigated and the public informed. This story fails to accomplish either.
false
1089
31398
Photographs show a pregnant woman named Paola Lynn who was raped by a Muslim refugee in Michigan.
There are no reports of a pregnant woman being raped by a Muslim refugee in Michigan.
false
1090
7612
WVa providers to get substance abuse, mental health funding.
Health in West Virginia will receive $4 million in federal funding for substance abuse and mental health treatment.
true
1091
2497
Religions seen slow to go green; Pope has chance to inspire.
Few religious communities have gone as far in fighting climate change as a church in Queensland, Australia, which has 24 solar panels bolted to the roof in the shape of a Christian cross.
true
1092
1748
Nip, tuck, click: Demand for U.S. plastic surgery rises in selfie era.
Dental hygienist Jennifer Reynolds was always self-conscious about her looks, never took selfies and felt uncomfortable being tagged in photographs posted on social media.
true
1093
4265
Eastern Idaho high school finds lead in water.
An eastern Idaho high school is supplying bottled water to summer school students after tests found lead in the water at a number of sources.
true
1094
22919
"""In Wisconsin, """"deaths from domestic violence are at the highest in 10 years."""
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore says domestic violence deaths in Wisconsin are at their highest in 10 years
true
1095
5056
EEE detected in Massachusetts for the first time this year.
Massachusetts public health officials say the potentially fatal eastern equine encephalitis virus has been detected in the state for the first time this year.
true
1096
10251
Electronic Nose Sniffs Out Heart Failure
Even in a very short story, WebMD manages to cover many of the important issues readers need to know in order to make sense of what seems like a fascinating piece of research: an electronic nose that sniffs out heart failure. The story could have spent more time with independent experts and delved a little more deeply into the risks associated with a device that provides an incorrect diagnoses 16% of the time. Some of us are old enough to remember Dr. McCoy’s trusty Tricorder from Star Trek, a device that could give lab results and make a diagnosis possible with just a wave of a probe over the patient. It is not surprising then that journalists would pick up on yet another version of a potential real life device.That doesn’t mean, though, that it deserves all the attention and resources that a more significant medical advance based on substantial evidence would merit. Overall, though, WebMD devoted an appropriate amount of attention to this limited study on a computerized heart failure sniffer.
mixture
1097
9897
AIDS treatment should be started sooner, study says
"""This is a Columbus Dispatch version of a story reported by the Associated Press. Since the Columbus paper changed the original article substantially, we send our comments to the Columbus paper. Taking the big view, this story about the benefits of starting the standard multi-drug AIDS treatment sooner than current guidelines suggest accomplishes its mission. It fairly describes important new research that verifies earlier work suggesting the same thing. It says, correctly, that the continuing research could drive changes in treatment. The story is well-sourced and provides a lucid description of the disease process and detailed definition of """"early"""" treatment. Having said that, the report falls short of two key best practices: It fails to quantify the benefits of early treatment in a meaningful way. It uses """"relative risk"""" [a percent reduction in mortality] instead of """"absolute risk"""" [which would allow readers to understand the gravity of the risk and the size of the benefit. It fails to describe the limitations of the study with caveats and context. If the story had mentioned those limitations, its predictions of imminent clinical use and eventual changes to the guidelines would have been properly tempered. As presented, the story fails to check the sources’ consistent enthusiasm with journalistic disinterest. Given the credibility of the study, the opinions of multiple high-quality sources and the previous research record, the predictions seem justifiable. But the history of AIDS science, treatment and politics recommends a bit more reporting distance and care."""
true
1098
28715
Men abandoned a groundbreaking study on male birth control due to side effects such as mood changes, muscle pain, and acne.
What's true: A study investigating an injectable mixture of hormones aimed at temporarily reducing male sperm count to prevent pregnancy was shut down early, based on concerns about adverse effects raised by an outside medical board associated with the World Health Organization. What's false: The research has not been “abandoned” and, indeed, has been hailed as an important step in producing a reversible hormonal contraceptive method for men. The men who quit the study did not shut the study down (an outside panel of observers made that call), and the results of this study (a Phase II Trial) were never intended to produce a final marketable product.
mixture
1099
35241
A video clip shows former President Barack Obama stressing the need for U.S. pandemic preparedness in 2014.
Obama stressed the importance of investing in research for the long term. “If and when a new strain of flu, like the Spanish flu, crops up five years from now or a decade from now, we’ve made the investment and we’re further along to be able to catch it,” he said. “It is a smart investment for us to make. It’s not just insurance; it is knowing that down the road we’re going to continue to have problems like this — particularly in a globalized world where you move from one side of the world to the other in a day.”
true