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bigbio
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pubhealth

Dataset card Data Studio Files
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1903
32405
Bees are born fully grown.
The phrasing of the Snapple “real fact” and the above-displayed commercial led some viewers to believe that bees give live birth to fully grown adults. But this is not the case: Bees come from eggs and hatch as larvae, and while the majority of a bee’s growth occurs before it emerges from the pupa stage as an adult, that emergence is not commonly known as the “birth” of a bee.
false
1904
18545
Expanding Medicaid will worsen health care options for the most vulnerable among us in Texas.
"""Cruz said that """"expanding Medicaid will worsen health care options for the most vulnerable among us in Texas."""" Not only does this assertion make no logical sense -- some health coverage should always be an improvement over none -- but the evidence Cruz and others have pointed to also doesn’t back up his point. None of the studies make the argument Cruz does, and the small sample sizes of uninsured patients, combined with the challenge of defining the terms """"Medicaid"""" and """"uninsured,"""" pose serious questions about whether Cruz’s conclusion is valid. In fact, several authors of the papers we contacted disagreed with Cruz’s interpretation of their research. This sweeping generalization does not hold up."""
false
1905
26226
Right now, China controls 80% of all ingredients and raw materials going into our generic prescription drugs.
The FDA does not track the volume of drug imports from outside the U.S. About 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients come from overseas, but not just from China.
false
1906
11598
Scalpel-Free Surgery Proves Safe, Effective for Treating Essential Tremor
This release reports the results of a randomized, multicenter, sham-controlled clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of a new approach to controlling essential tremors in the elderly — magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound — to alter the thalamus in the brain and thus control tremors. The approach would be an alternative to the current procedure — deep-brain stimulation — which is more invasive. The study showed substantial improvement in a reduction of tremors for many patients at three-, six- and 12-months. But it also showed that about a third of the patients in the study experienced not insignificant adverse effects from the procedure. The release presents a glowing picture of the promise of this new approach while disregarding the caveats offered both in the journal paper and an accompanying editorial about the study. To see how a news outlet covered this new research, see our review of a STAT article. Like the news release, the STAT story didn’t provide us enough quantification of the benefits or mention a potentional conflict of interest between researchers and device manufacturers. But the STAT article picked up on some things the release missed, including more discussion of the harms observed in the study. Estimates are that essential tremors affect as many as 10 million Americans, many of whom are not helped by medications and who may not be candidates for the current surgical remedy — deep-brain stimulation. If proven safe and effective after long-term studies, this less invasive alternative would give patients and health care professionals more options for dealing with a condition that negatively affects the quality of life for many.
mixture
1907
11175
Lilly buoyed by findings on Evista
This story reports the initial results of the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene Trial (STAR) for estrogen-receptor positive women at high risk of developing breast cancer. This study was partially funded by Eli Lilly, though this is not mentioned, and the results here are presented as a financial boon for the company. There is less emphasis on the accuracy and interpretation of the trial from a women’s health perspective. There is also no attempt at corroboration with breast cancer researchers not affiliated with the trial: A lead investigator of the study (partially supported by Eli Lilly) and the president of science and technology at Eli Lilly are not unbiased sources. Costs were not mentioned. The story mentioned that 19,747 women were randomized to either raloxifene or tamoxifen and provides quantitative evidence of improved risk of blood clots or uterine cancers, however, both of those results were just shy of statistical significance, which is not mentioned in the article or in NCI press materials. (Source ACS: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Raloxifene_as_Good_as_Tamoxifen_to_Prevent_Breast_Cancer.asp) In addition, raloxifene did not appear to raise the risk of cataracts, which tamoxifen does appear to do. That difference was statistically significant. The story didn’t mention this. The story mentions equivalent comparison with tamoxifen in preventing invasive breast cancer, however, tamoxifen protected women better from non-invasive breast cancer such as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) and LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ). And these conditions are being diagnosed much more frequently these days.
true
1908
36421
Colorado introduced a free birth control program, causing unplanned births and abortions to plummet, and saving millions of dollars.
Did Free Birth Control in Colorado Drop Unplanned Pregnancies by 40 Percent?
true
1909
1687
Youth e-cigarette data prompts new calls to speed regulation.
Public health advocates are stepping up pressure on the U.S. government to quickly regulate and restrict access to e-cigarettes after new data showed use of the products tripled among high school and middle school children last year.
true
1910
37718
Rugby fans in New Zealand attended a live match on June 26 2020, because the country has successfully suppressed COVID-19.
A pair of viral Reddit posts — “New Zealand rugby game today as we have no COVID cases” and “New Zealand enjoying their rugby game with no Covid- 19 cases :)” — featured a photograph from an attendee at a June 26 2020 rugby match in Auckland, New Zealand. Overall, the claim is true with some very minor caveats — video highlights demonstrated that the match on that date involved massive crowds. Although New Zealand had at most two new cases the week of the match, the last instance of community transmission occurred in the country on or around May 1 2020. Although it was not true the image was New Zealand’s “first rugby game” (that was on the weekend of June 13 2020), the claim was accurate, and supported by myriad independent sources covering the match.
true
1911
9427
Migraines plague millions, especially women. Now there's new hope
Getty Images The news peg of this Philadelphia Inquirer story (the “new hope” mentioned in the headline) is a clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, for the monoclonal antibody drug, fremanezumab, which has shown promise in treating migraines. But, the story spends so little time discussing the new drug that it appears to write “around” the news, rather than writing “about” it. Readers, especially those dealing with this kind of pain, deserve comprehensive and quality information about anything dubbed a “new hope,” as this story does.
mixture
1912
24576
"""The health bill's plan for comparative effectiveness research """"would be used by the government to ration care."""
here may seem something of a paradox because, as we note above,
false
1913
10633
Electrical stimulation in the nose induces sense of smell in human subjects
The news release focuses on a recent paper regarding the use of electrodes in the nose to stimulate the brain and produce a sense of smell. The release is careful to highlight that this is only the earliest stage of research into developing a technology that might be able to restore a sense of smell to people with “smell loss” or anosmia — specifically for those who have lost the sense of smell due to nerve damage. The release misses the mark in describing benefits, harms and sources of funding. Proof-of-concept studies are interesting and important because they raise awareness of new possibilities. For people suffering from anosmia, the potential — however remote — for a technology that addresses their condition would be interesting indeed. But it’s important to highlight the limitations of such proof-of-concept research. This release doesn’t oversell the discovery, which is good. But if a condition is caused by nerve damage, and a prospective technological treatment involves attaching electrodes to what may be the relevant damaged nerves, one wonders just how much a study can tell you when it looks only at people whose nerves are not, in fact, damaged.
mixture
1914
5697
Northam proposes $22M to improve maternal health outcomes.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that his budget proposal will include about $22 million for efforts to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies and reduce the racial disparity in the state’s maternal mortality rate.
true
1915
27910
Several actors have kicked the bucket in front of an audience.
‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott, formerly of the metal act Pantera, was shot by a jilted fan while performing with his new group, Damageplan.
true
1916
23872
Gov. Crist's veto also clears the way for taxpayer funding of abortion in Florida.
Expectations were high last year for three new migraine drugs hitting the market from Amgen Inc, Eli Lilly and Co and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.
false
1917
9442
‘Unbelievable’: Heart Stents Fail to Ease Chest Pain
This New York Times story describes startling news that a very common procedure–inserting a stent to open a blocked blood vessel–does not add benefit over medication in patients with angina. Angina is chest pain due to blocked heart arteries, and is common among people with heart disease. Sourcing is a strong point for this story: It features perspective from many American cardiologists who were shocked to learn of the negative results from this study. However, two important potential conflicts of interest among the sources were not disclosed. In addition, the story contains lots of helpful detail on the limitations of the study, the possibility that placebo effects are at play, and how medical practice may or may not change as a result. It also discussed the costs and potential harms of stenting procedures. That said, the story could have provided more information on what the study itself measured–and what, precisely, the results were. The Wall Street Journal story, which we also reviewed, was stronger on this point. Heart disease is still the leading killer of Americans so any news about treating aspects of heart disease, such as blocked arteries, is newsworthy. In addition, this story suggests that stenting — common, but expensive — is a prime example of over-treatment. Also the procedure carries some risk and may be causing complications if overused.
true
1918
36297
Riots and war ended Japanese internment, slavery, and the Holocaust.
Did Riots and War End Japanese Internment, Slavery, and World War II?
mixture
1919
6884
Elizabeth Smart says kidnapper being released still a threat.
Elizabeth Smart says a woman who helped kidnap her when she was 14 and stood by as she was sexually assaulted should be committed to a mental-health facility after she’s released from prison next week.
true
1920
10362
Report: A bit more vitamin D is good, not too much
The story includes multiple voices that explain the rationale for the new recommendation, as well as comments from prominent experts who dissent with some of the committee’s recommendation. The story does not give readers any information about whether any of the experts quoted have potential financial or other conflicts of interest. This story does not deal with the costs of supplementation, which another story noted totals hundreds of millions of dollars a year of spending on vitamin D supplements alone. The story does a nice job of calling attention to recent examples of high hopes and later disappointment involving vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, thus helping readers put the current claims about vitamin D and calcium in perspective. People may want clear and final answers about nutrition and health, but the reality of health research is usually more complex and less conclusive. This story manages to summarize and explain the Institute of Medicine recommendations on vitamin D and calcium, while portraying some of the ongoing scientific debate.
true
1921
10260
Test evaluates pregnancy, and it can deliver calm
"""Preterm labor occurs in 8 to 10 percent of all births. Despite various strategies to reduce this percentage, it has remained relatively stable. Diagnosing preterm birth is difficult and has a high false-positive rate. As a result, many women are needlessly hospitalized, miss work or restrict their activies. The fetal fibronectin test could potentially reduce the need for hospitalizations by more accurately diagnosing preterm labor and providing peace of mind to women. The story perpetuates fear of preterm birth among asymptomatic women by focusing on only a small part of the preterm labor population and by not distinguishing the risk of preterm labor in asymptomatic versus symptomatic women. The test is really intended for and is only useful in symptomatic women, not as a screening test in women without symptoms. Furthermore, the story does not comment on the strength of the available evidence to support the use of the test. Specifically, the story does not comment on whether we know if the use of the test will result in better outcomes, such as reduced hospitalizations or prevention of preterm birth. The story does not quantify the benefits of the test. The simple question, how many hospitlizations could be prevented?, is not answered. Finally, the story does not really comment on the harms, or potential harms of the test. For example, the story could have commented on hte possible consequences of a false negative or false positive test result. Simply stating that """"no test is perfect"""" is not sufficient."""
mixture
1922
34787
"""Students have developed a nail polish called """"Undercover Colors"""" that can detect the presence of drugs linked to date rape."""
The idea for a nail polish that could help detect the presence of date-rape drugs in drinks morphed into a different form of product.
mixture
1923
29
Bayer asks U.S. appeals court to reverse $25 million Roundup verdict.
Bayer AG on Monday said it has asked a U.S. federal appeals court to throw out a $25 million judgment it was ordered to pay to a California man who blamed the company’s Roundup weed killer for his cancer.
true
1924
4967
New, old drugs may offer fresh ways to fight heart disease.
Novel drugs may offer fresh ways to reduce heart risks beyond the usual medicines to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
true
1925
3772
Officials list pot vape brands reported in US outbreak.
Health officials investigating a nationwide outbreak of vaping illnesses have listed, for the first time, the vape brands most commonly linked to hospitalizations.
true
1926
8388
France to shun strict discrimination by age in lockdown exit.
France will try to avoid setting different rules for older people and other forms of discrimination once the government starts easing its coronavirus confinement measures, the French President’s office said.
true
1927
9468
PSA screening for prostate cancer saves lives after all, study says
This story about a new analysis of data on PSA screening includes many important details about the meaning of the study results. It points out harms of prostate cancer treatment and concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. However, the cautionary statements are pushed down to the bottom half of the story. The headline and lead paragraphs include statements about screening saving lives, without telling readers about absolute risks or about limitations and uncertainties in the new analysis. By reporting a relative risk reduction of up to 32 percent–without also reporting that since fewer than 3 out of 100 men die of prostate cancer the absolute risk reduction is likely less than 1 percent–the story leaves readers with an inflated sense of how many lives might be saved by increased screening. Basically, this study adds very little to our current understanding of the benefits of prostate cancer screening–not much has changed (see our STAT News review to better understand why). Yet readers of this LA Times story are likely to come away with a different take.
mixture
1928
2294
Britain becomes first nation to legalize three-parent babies.
- Britain will become the first nation to legalize a “three-parent” IVF technique which doctors say can prevent some inherited incurable diseases but which critics fear will effectively lead to “designer babies”.
true
1929
9104
Specialists make breakthrough in the treatment of anal cancer
This news release summarizes a review of 65 randomized controlled trials and observational studies that included some 10,000 people with anal cancer. The analysis itself is important: it exposes the potential for misclassification of disease severity leading to over-treatment of many patients with radiation and chemotherapy, unnecessary side effects, and little or no improvement in outcomes for patients. But the release doesn’t include any of the weaknesses that enter in when results are based on data-mined meta-analysis of previously published studies. The headline touting a “breakthrough in the “treatment” of anal cancer and the almost complete absence of data leaves readers with misleading or confusing information about problems in diagnosing and treating a rare but deadly and difficult disease. Anal cancer, as noted above, is rare, about 8,200 new cases in the U.S. each year, compared to the 140,000 Americans diagnosed with colon cancer annually. But it can be lethal and treatments and their aftermath are often life-altering. News releases that claim that “specialists” have made a “breakthrough” in the treatment of the disease would be of high interest to those with the cancer or those at risk for it. When the claim is neither supported nor true, the public is ill-served. The study seems to imply that patients with lymph node positivity, or LNP, can be treated with less aggressive treatments, which is not shown in the data, but only implied in the results. Anal cancer that has spread to lymph nodes is associated with a lower chance of survival and is generally treated with radiotherapy.
mixture
1930
349
French court finds Bayer's Monsanto liable for farmer's sickness.
A French court has ruled that Monsanto was liable for the sickness of a farmer who inhaled one of its weedkillers, in another legal setback for the Bayer-owned business over health claims.
true
1931
29047
"""An account describes Muslims' engaging in a """"dry run"""" hijacking on AirTran Flight 297."""
(Contrary to common belief, the fact that a replacement crew was used to complete the flight is not an indicator that the original flight crew refused to continue or felt the situation to be unsafe. When flights experience substantial delays in taking off, as Flight 297 did that day, that situation sometimes requires that the original crew be replaced because otherwise they would “time out” and exceed FAA limitations on maximum hours per working period.)
mixture
1932
35379
President Trump gave a talk during the COVID-19 pandemic in which he remonstrated about showers and dishwashers not functioning properly due to low-flow standards.
Based on the way Trump talks about efficient lightbulbs, it seems his complaint is with compact fluorescent bulbs, which were the only low-energy bulbs widely available 10 years ago. But today, store shelves are full of LED bulbs with warmer-looking light and even longer life spans. Gleick suspects Trump’s toilet complaints are outdated as well, because low-flow toilet technology has come a long way in recent years.
true
1933
3196
House passes bills to expand medical marijuana.
The New Hampshire House approved a pair of bills Wednesday to make medical marijuana available to more patients, but a more expansive bill died in the Senate.
true
1934
33653
Dell Hospital will donate 15 cents towards the care of Maria, a raped child, every time a particular text message is forwarded.
If you want to make a difference in a sick child’s life, the best way is still the old-fashioned one: donate your money or your time, don’t passively share a worthless message.
false
1935
2454
Use of sleeping pills highest among older Americans: CDC.
Older U.S. adults, particularly women, are more likely to use prescription sleep medications to try to get the minimum seven hours of sleep experts generally recommend, U.S. data released on Thursday showed.
true
1936
22639
"""Twelve judges have thrown out legal challenges to the health care law because they rejected """"the notion that the health care law was unconstitutional."""
"""President Obama says 12 judges have rejected """"the notion that the health care law was unconstitutional"""""""
false
1937
8154
Canada's coronavirus death toll rises to 13 as repatriation efforts step up.
Canada’s death toll from the coronavirus rose to 13 on Saturday, and the country stepped up efforts to repatriate Canadians stranded overseas as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the situation “unprecedented, exceptional and very difficult.”
true
1938
9192
Phase III COMPASS study with Bayer’s Rivaroxaban in Patients with Coronary or Peripheral Artery Disease Shows Overwhelming Efficacy and Meets Primary Endpoint Early
This release touts the end of the biggest clinical trial to date on the drug Xarelto (rivaroxaban), used to prevent major adverse cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes in people with coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease. As we found with a recent release on the drug Repatha (which we also reviewed), this release does not provide findings from the study but instead acts more like a preview for the findings to be released at an upcoming scientific meeting. The release describes the study parameters (number enrolled, dosage, time frame, etc.) and discusses in clear detail the drug’s availability. But it left out potential harms from Xarelto and it also doesn’t cover the drug’s costs, talk about any of the specific benefits of the drug, or compare it to other treatments. In short, it’s like a Superbowl ad for the drug without the all the fast-talking caveats at the end. For a more general discussion of data-free drug announcements see Managing Editor Kevin Lomangino’s recent post on a “troubling PR trend.”   Coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease are both common and will continue to become more common as the population lives longer. Medications to prevent new heart attacks or loss of limbs due to peripheral artery disease are always welcome (though prevention would be cheaper). Even when drug makers are required to disclose when it reaches “primary endpoints,” it’s to the benefit of investors, regulators, the medical community and hopeful patients to avoid hyping the results, emphasize study limitations, and highlight the lack of vetting by peers. That context is going missing in a number of announcements from big drug companies.
mixture
1939
21169
If Rhode Island does a hybrid [retirement] plan we’ll be the first state in the nation to do this.’’
Gov. Lincoln Chafee says Rhode Island would be first state in U.S. to adopt hybrid retirement plan for public employees
false
1940
600
Twin Southern California wildfires menace Reagan Library, Getty Museum, homes.
A major wildfire threatened thousands of homes and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles on Wednesday as the fiercest Santa Ana winds yet lashed Southern California, forcing meteorologists to create new alert levels to warn of the danger.
true
1941
22460
Secretly, unbeknownst to members of Congress, over $105 billion was hidden in the Obamacare legislation.
Michele Bachmann charges health care bill spent $105 billion 'secretly'
false
1942
34091
Image shows an x-ray of a man with a fork in his urethra.
Rumor has it an image shows an x-ray of a fork stuck in a man's urethra.
true
1943
28544
"""NASA had to relabel the size chart used for a condom-like urination contraption built into the Maximum Absorbency Garment space suit system because astronauts refused to choose the """"small"""" size."""
Given the differing accounts provided by Schweickart, Collins, and Dr. Flush, it is highly unlikely this name change was made on any official level at NASA. It does appear, however, that potty humor is alive and well in outer space.
mixture
1944
9804
Tiny electrical shocks to the brain enhance memory: study
This story does a bit better job than the other one we reviewed of describing electrical brain stimulation treatment as it is used in other types of patients, and pointing out that it is “very invasive.” Still, it could have been more specific about the inherent risks. Like the other story, it misses a chance to compare the results of this experiment to the size of the temporary memory boost provided by available drugs. The terrible effects of Alzheimer’s disease and the lack of effective treatments create desperate desires for new options. Stories that report on this line of research should emphasize the caveats and cautions in order to take into account the power of wishful thinking by families and friends of people with dementia.
true
1945
34508
Donald Trump owns a stake in Energy Transfer Partners (the builders of the Dakota Access Pipeline) as well as Phillips 66, an affiliated company.
What's true: Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said that he had sold the small number of his remaining shares in Energy Transfer Partners as of mid-2016. What's undetermined: Whether Trump sold shares for both ETP and Phillips 66.
unproven
1946
5664
Ebola responders on ‘lockdown’ after Congo city’s unrest.
Ebola responders are on lockdown in the eastern Congo city of Beni after angry residents attacked a United Nations base to protest repeated rebel assaults, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. At least four protesters were killed, a local official said.
true
1947
10130
Topical Gel Catches Up With Pills for Relief
This story about topical gels that contain pain relief medication similar to ibuprofen makes a strong showing when examined point-by-point. Nevertheless, readers may end up with a skewed impression because of the personal anecdote and opinion that open and close the story. The headline and lead, as well as the last words of a story, can carry a lot of weight. The meat of the story includes a comprehensive overview of the medical evidence, but then there are phrases such as, “She raved about the stuff” and “for immediate relief of my tennis-related muscle pull, the cream was handy and helpful.” All the careful statements of fact in the body of the story may well be drowned out by the personal comments.
true
1948
3066
Search warrants target illegal Southern California pot grows.
More than 15,000 marijuana plants were eradicated and six people were arrested during raids on illegal grows in Southern California, authorities said Tuesday.
true
1949
5333
Kasich, Gee group to push opioid settlement toward hospitals.
West Virginia University President Gordon Gee and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich are creating a nonprofit that will fight to steer cash from any national opioid settlement to hospitals, rather than to local and state governments already sparring for control of the dollars.
true
1950
8566
U.S. nurses who can't get tested fear they are spreading COVID-19.
In New York City, an intensive care nurse treated patients for three days after she started displaying symptoms of COVID-19 - but couldn’t get a test from her hospital. In Georgia, a nurse was denied a test after treating an infected patient who died.
true
1951
8041
Turkey adopts 'voluntary' stay-at-home quarantine.
President Tayyip Erdogan called on Friday for a “voluntary quarantine” in which Turks stay at home except for shopping or basic needs to stem a surge of coronavirus cases, which jumped by a third in a day to 5,698 with 92 dead.
true
1952
3779
"""Bipartisan Medicare drug bill gets makeover to lower copays."""
A bipartisan Senate bill to curb prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients got a makeover Friday to lower copays and make it easier for seniors to budget for their expenses.
true
1953
8424
Africa may see millions of coronavirus cases, tentative WHO forecast shows.
Coronavirus cases in Africa could shoot up from thousands now to 10 million within three to six months according to very provisional modelling, a regional World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday.
true
1954
17892
Terry McAuliffe Says Ken Cuccinelli tried to make it more difficult for mothers to obtain divorces.
McAuliffe’s ad says Cuccinelli introduced legislation in 2008 that would have made it more difficult for mothers to obtain divorces. Cuccinelli’s unsuccessful bill would have eliminated the ability for a spouse in a couple with minor children to unilaterally file for a no-fault divorce. The legislation would have allowed the other spouse to block the process by filing a written objection. In portraying the bill as an attack on women, McAuliffe ignores that the legislation would have made it equally more difficult for dads to get divorces. So McAuliffe’s statement has accuracy, but leaves out an important detail and context.
mixture
1955
9143
Strategic brain training positively affects neural connectivity for individuals with TBI
This news release from the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas describes findings from a recent study on the effects of brain training for people with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). The release is a little fuzzy on the details. The news release should have included numbers to put the benefits in context and explained how changes in cortical thickness — the main outcome studied — translates to cognitive improvements (and what types of improvements) for a person living with long-term TBI. TBI is a serious and prevalent condition, with an estimated 2.5 million new cases in 2010. Since treatments are limited, it’s in the public interest to find treatments that might improve brain function and to find reliable ways to measure this improvement. The study concerns a unique population of TBI patients. On average, the patients recruited have suffered from TBI symptoms for eight years. The findings show that brain training can still stimulate changes in the brain (in terms of cortical thickness and neural connectivity) even after so many years. This challenges the widely held belief that recovery from TBI is limited to two years after the initial injury. The news release suggests that an MRI-based measure of brain physiology is somehow superior to a neuropsychological test-based measure (ie. asking patients to name colors or read words). But a case can also be made that neuropsychological outcomes are actually more relevant since they are closer to what the patient experiences and to the outcomes we are trying to achieve with TBI treatments.
mixture
1956
12472
NASA will pay you $18,000 to stay in bed and smoke weed for 70 straight days.
Persistent story about NASA paying people $18,000 to lie in bed and smoke ganja is fake
false
1957
2670
Vatican broadens case for condoms to fight AIDS.
Pope Benedict’s landmark acknowledgement that condoms are sometimes morally justifiable to stop AIDS can apply to anyone — gays, heterosexuals and transsexuals — if that is the only option to avoid transmitting the HIV virus to others, the Vatican said Tuesday.
true
1958
10217
Study: Lower salt intake could be riskier than thought
The difference between this story and the story we reviewed on the same topic by the New York Times can be seen even in the headlines. This one leads readers to believe that there is a risk in eating less salt. The New York Times, though, took the more cautious approach of saying, “Low-Salt Diet Ineffective, Study Finds. Disagreement Abounds.” We think that given the problems with this study, the more cautious approach was appropriate. Researching the impact of salt, or any dietary factor, on health can be tricky, as both of these stories explain, and this study attempted to provide a deeper look at the connection between salt and health. But, as the authors themselves acknowledge in the paper, there are significant limitations to this study that should have given reporters more pause when reporting the findings. The biggest one was acknowledged by the New York Times in saying, “was observational, considered at best suggestive and not conclusive.” USA Today missed this point.
mixture
1959
2807
EU regulator backs Bayer, GSK drugs, knocks back Novartis, Teva.
Europe’s drugs regulator gave its backing on Friday for marketing approval to be granted for Bayer’s pulmonary hypertension drug Adempas and for GlaxoSmithKline’s diabetes medicine Eperzan.
true
1960
16991
"""Obamacare is """"one big fat VA system."""
"""Guilfoyle said Obamacare is """"one big fat VA system."""" We found no health policy expert who agreed with that comparison. The VA is owned and operated by the federal government. Its staff are government employees. In contrast, Obamacare builds upon the existing private sector health industry. The law sets standards for insurance and health care providers and it subsidizes premiums. Washington does run the Medicaid insurance program but even under that program, it is paying private providers."""
false
1961
9218
A potential pharmaceutical intervention for co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder
This news release describes the outcomes of a small randomized placebo controlled study on the use of N-acetylcysteine, an inexpensive over-the-counter supplement, along with cognitive behavioral therapy in male veterans with PTSD and substance use disorder (SUD). Overall, the release provides a balanced report on the results and the limitations of the study. We think that with the addition of cost and a more in-depth discussion of harms it could have been even better. Post-traumatic stress is a huge problem among veterans who have seen combat, and the effects of PTSD can be lifelong and debilitating. Since PTSD is also found in police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel, a safe and effective treatment for it might have wide ranging applications. This trial on a small number of veterans who suffered both from PTSD and substance use disorders could very much add to available therapies in which there are few effective treatments but many sufferers. This could also be significant to the 7 to 8 percent of Americans who develop PTSD at some point in their life.
true
1962
5849
Maine sees increase in reported syphilis cases.
Public health officials in Maine say there has been an increase in syphilis cases, mirroring a national trend.
true
1963
8986
Blood Test Predicts Treatment Response and Survival for Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer
This news release touted a study that showed a blood test for a biomarker called AR-V7 can identify patients with aggressive prostate cancer who would benefit if they switched from hormone therapy to chemotherapy. The study, which observed 142 patients who received the test and subsequent treatment, was published in JAMA Oncology. This news release from the test’s developer gave survival data and mentioned that several of its employees were study authors. It didn’t address costs or mention important caveats — such as the lack of statistical significance of that survival data or the fact that patients were not randomized. In fact, it’s unclear whether this test actually extends patients’ lives. A blood test to inform treatment decisions for aggressive prostate cancer could save money, spare patients from ineffective and toxic treatments, and extend lives. The cost of treating prostate cancer in the U.S. has been projected to exceed $15 billion by the year 2020, up from $11.9 billion in 2010, making it one of the most expensive cancers to treat.
false
1964
10668
Cholesterol Drug Cuts Heart Risk in Healthy Patients
This story described the results of the JUPITER study which found that use of the statin medication Crestor reduced the risk of heart-related death, heart attacks and other serious cardiac problems in people who would be calculated to be at low risk of these but who had elevated levels of C-reactive protein. The story met most of our criteria, but could have emphasized that the findings are those of a single study and that results need to be replicated before they can be assumed to have widespread application. It also could have mentioned that there have been other studies with less expensive drugs with similar results. It is good that the story included skeptical comments from editorial writer Hlatky, something that a surprising number of stories ignored or failed to include. We are troubled by the high placement of the impressive-sounding 44% relative risk reduction figure, with the absolute risk reduction given later in the piece, but not juxtaposed to the more impressive-sounding statistic. We think readers need more clear help processing such stats. There was also only a brief mention of the troubling diabetes rate in the Crestor group.
true
1965
1733
DASH named best overall diet for fifth year: report.
The DASH diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, has been named the best overall diet for the fifth consecutive year, outpacing Weight Watchers and the Mediterranean diet, U.S. News & World Report said on Tuesday.
true
1966
33819
"""The numerous current sayings listed in a """"Life in the 1500s"""" article sprang from ordinary living conditions in that era. """
A later version of this piece was prefaced with a putative explanation of origins of the term “piss poor,” which we have covered in a separate article.
false
1967
12348
"""The New York State Senate """"passed legislation allowing minors to race snowmobiles, get their own hunting licenses, and not be employed gathering or picking rags, cigar stumps, or collecting bones."""
"""Comedian Samantha Bee said the New York State Senate """"passed legislation allowing minors to race snowmobiles, get their own hunting licenses, and not be employed gathering or picking rags, cigar stumps, or collecting bones."""" Each of the bills is real and passed the Senate this year. Her claim is True. """
true
1968
2089
Mental health experts ask: Will anyone be normal?.
An updated edition of a mental health bible for doctors may include diagnoses for “disorders” such as toddler tantrums and binge eating, experts say, and could mean that soon no-one will be classed as normal.
true
1969
9582
Injected Drug May Help Fight Osteoporosis in Women
The story reports on research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association studying an experimental drug known as abaloparatide and its ability to prevent a new vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. A standout positive for this story is its choice to report the absolute risk, rather than relative risk, of fracture due to low bone density (see Disease Mongering criterion below). Read more on why this matters. But, there are a few problems concerning the subtleties of the study design. Specifically, the research study was not powered to detect significant differences between abaloparatide and its currently-available competitor, Forteo (teriparatide). Thus, any juxtaposition of quantitative figures comparing the efficacy of the two drugs must be presented with important caveats, which we didn’t see emphasized enough in the news story. Instead, the story leads with a claim that abaloparatide reduces fracture risk “better” than the competing drug–something the study wasn’t designed to address and which is misleading. We’d note that a JAMA news release about the study, which we also reviewed, largely sidesteps this issue by avoiding any statements that directly compare the two drugs. But could the release have helped reporters out here by making a clear, unambiguous statement regarding the purpose of the study and its limitations? The researchers include such a statement in the text of the research article itself (see below under the “Evidence” criterion), and in hindsight it seems that the news release would have done well to emphasize this key nuance. Another way journalists can avoid this problem? Emphasize the findings related to the study’s primary endpoints, and always read the study’s discussion and limitations sections to find important caveats. Accompanying editorials also often have illuminating points to make, too. Given the prevalence of osteoporosis, paired with the few treatment options, a new safe, effective medication would be welcomed. Accurate distillation of the research is essential in news coverage.
true
1970
36006
Since 1958, a four-megaton atomic bomb has been missing off the coast of Georgia, and we don't know if it's active.
A Four-Megaton Atomic Bomb Was Lost off Georgia’s Coast in 1958 (And No One Knows If It’s Active)
true
1971
2957
The painful path to Obamacare deadline.
Tuesday is a moment of truth for Obamacare.
true
1972
37345
A preteen shot and killed two undocumented intruders in her family's Montana home.
11-Year-Old Girl With Shotgun Stops Invaders?
false
1973
2776
J&J chooses Yale to review requests for clinical drug data.
Johnson & Johnson has selected the Yale School of Medicine to review requests from investigators and physicians looking for access to clinical trial data involving the diversified healthcare company’s pharmaceuticals.
true
1974
35260
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer banned the sale or purchase of American flags during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Increasing tremors on a volcanic island in New Zealand on Wednesday heightened the risk of another massive eruption, preventing the recovery of bodies two days after an eruption engulfed dozens of tourists in steam and hot ash.
false
1975
9266
Study shows acetaminophen can be tolerated by children with mild, persistent asthma
This study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is the first randomized, double-blind, controlled trial comparing acetaminophen to ibuprofen to treat pain and fever in children with asthma. No statistically significant differences were found between the two treatment arms. Previous observational studies had suggested that acetaminophen could exacerbate asthma symptoms in young children. This University Hospitals Case Medical Center news release does a good job summing up much of the relevant information, but more elaboration with data backing up the claims would have been helpful for busy reporters covering this important topic. Compared to a news release by Boston Children’s Hospital, which we also reviewed, this release omitted quantitative data needed to back up its statements, especially those addressing benefits and harms such as no “significant differences in safety [found] between the two drugs.” As we had noted in previous news releases, the word “significant” here is supposed to mean “statistically significant” – a fact that’s often not clear. The University Hospitals news release also could have been more explicit in explaining the importance of the study, given its context. Finally, although the news release correctly points out that caregivers used either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, it suggests the brand names Tylenol and Advil/Motrin were given to participants, when researchers actually administered Little Fevers by Little Remedies and Children’s Advil. A short discussion of costs would have been beneficial in the news release, since acetaminophen (Little Remedies) generally tends to be more expensive than ibuprofen (Children’s Advil). It’s important context — but it was not discussed in this news release — that there has been concern among some pediatricians that acetaminophen should not be used in kids with asthma. This study set out to study the equivalence of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is the most commonly used pediatric medication in the United States. Previous observational studies found a correlation between acetaminophen and increased asthma symptoms, as well as decreased lung function. Other analyses found that acetaminophen use resulted in more unscheduled medical visits for asthma than ibuprofen use. These findings have even led to alarm, as some physicians called for recommendations that acetaminophen should be avoided until more safety data become available. But observational data carry limitations – namely, confounding by indication. That’s to say, people who use a drug more frequently differ in health and other features from those who use the drug less frequently or who do not take the drug at all. This was the first appropriately designed and randomized clinical trial in a well-characterized cohort to settle the debate of causation. The study’s message to parents and caregivers of young children is that acetaminophen use will not worsen asthma symptoms.
mixture
1976
27808
"""Hyland's Teething Tablets have been discontinued for causing """"adverse events"""" in children."""
Over a 10-year period, from 2006 to 2016, the FDA collected reports of “adverse events” in more than 370 children who had used Hyland’s homeopathic teething tablets or gel, a similar product that is applied directly to a baby’s gums. Agency records show eight cases in which babies were reported to have died after taking Hyland’s products, though the FDA says the question of whether those products caused the deaths is still under review.
true
1977
12088
Even with a permanent income tax increase... the budget is more than $1 billion out of balance…
"""Gov. Bruce Rauner said Illinois’ current operating budget is """"is more than $1 billion out of balance…"""" The head of the Illinois Teachers Retirement System confirms Rauner’s claim that the new pension plan expected to generate $500 million in anticipated savings won’t be enacted during the current fiscal year (or even the next one). The Civic Federation reports that the small surplus in the budget will finance only $3 billion of the $6 billion Rauner plans to borrow. But putting $3 billion toward past-due Medicaid bills would generate $3 billion in federal matching funds -- something Rauner has not discussed. Failure to sell or get the expected price for the Thompson Center are possible scenarios that could further imperil the budget. Some of the assumptions identified as sources of the trouble originated in Rauner’s own budget, a fact that Rauner does not acknowledge and that needs to be considered here. Whether or not the imbalance reaches more than $1 billion is debatable, but Rauner is correct that there remains much work to do."""
true
1978
2876
Drugmaker AstraZeneca forecasts faster return to growth.
AstraZeneca expects new drugs and a recent diabetes deal to offset a wave of patent expiries and return it to growth faster than analysts predict, with 2017 revenue likely to be broadly in line with the 2013 level.
true
1979
9060
Minimally invasive treatment provides relief from back pain
To read this release, one would come away with the impression that nearly everybody suffers from low back pain and that nearly everybody could benefit from “image-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment.” This impression is built on a faulty structure. There is not enough data provided in a clear enough way. The true context around low back pain prevalence is not presented in a realistic way. Nor are the costs and caveats around the quality of evidence included. It would have been helpful if the release had noted that the study, presented at a medical conference, has not been peer reviewed or published. A story by NBCNews.com, which we also reviewed, provides readers with a lot of the information that’s missing from the release, mainly through interviews with outside experts. There have been numerous reports on new low back pain treatments that sound amazing, but often turn out to be too good to be true. This release does a good job of hyping a new treatment for one type of low back pain. The headline and start of the release refer to low back pain in general and how common it is. The study reported here focuses on one type of back pain that is due to a herniated disc that pinches nerves coming out of the back that go to the legs. These patients have leg pain in addition to back pain. A herniated disc is probably the cause of low back pain for fewer than 10 percent of patients. Moreover, most patients with pain due to a herniated disc will improve with conservative treatment. So the patients in this study actually only represent a few percent of patients with low back pain.
false
1980
2748
Pfizer breast cancer drug succeeds in mid-stage trial.
Pfizer Inc’s experimental breast cancer drug significantly delayed progression of symptoms in a mid-stage trial, meeting the study’s primary goal and keeping Pfizer in the forefront of a race for a new standard of care for the disease.
true
1981
11246
Mammogram Rate Declining, Study Suggests
"""The story focuses on the documented decrease in use of mammography, which is portrayed here as a negative. The anchor and her guest, a breast cancer surgeon, speculate why fewer women have been getting mammograms; they attribute this trend, in part, to legal issues closing mammography centers. They also speculate that if women aren’t getting their HRT prescriptions, they aren’t getting their mammogram, for which there is little evidence. The decrease is described as """"shocking"""" and """"frightening"""" (and by implication, those who are not screened are at risk of dying), and there is no acknowledgement that not being screened may be a reasoned response by informed consumers. By using such terms, the broadcast is fear-mongering. It is not """"shocking"""" that some women, especially lower-risk women age 40-49, would forego an annual mammography in light of recent evidence that the value of mammography is questionable in this group, and for women who have other medical conditions that might shorten their lives. The story begins with the statement, """"Women over the age of 40 are supposed to have one every year."""" But a major medical group, the American College of Physicians (ACP), published new clinical guidelines on mammography in the 40s just a month before this story, and those guidelines do not agree with the story’s opening statement. The ACP guidelines were never mentioned in the story. Although most agree mammography saves lives among women aged 50 to 69, mammography also has the potential to cause these women harm. Mammograms increase the diagnosis of lesions. Left untreated, some of these will become cancers, but many will not. The discovery of lesions leads not only to fear and anxiety, but also to invasive diagnostic tests and invasive treatments (including mastectomy or lumpectomy). Finally, mammography exposes women to radiation that could itself cause breast cancer 10 or 20 years down the road. (Br J Cancer 2005;93:590-6. Lancet 2000;355:1757-70). Because medicine does not yet have perfect estimates of the harms of mammography, journalists should explain the potential benefits and harms, and thus help women to evaluate their own individual preferences so that they can choose the course of action that best suits them. A secondary focus of the story is the """"feel good"""" elements of planning a mammogram around a day of shopping or a spa date. “Pampering yourself” might help some women overcome the fear of scheduling a mammogram, but this does not factor into their decision about whether or not to be screened for breast cancer, and broadcast news organizations do a disservice to their female viewers by placing health screenings in this context."""
false
1982
3189
WHO: Death toll from measles outbreak in Congo hits 6,000.
The death toll from a measles epidemic in Congo has surpassed 6,000, the World Health Organization said Tuesday as it warned that more funds are needed to save lives during the world’s worst outbreak of the infectious disease.
true
1983
41720
Joe Biden wrote in a 1981 op-ed “that he believed that women working outside the home would, quote, ‘create the deterioration of [the] family.’”
Several of the factual distortions concerned what the candidates had to say about one another.
mixture
1984
37541
United States President Donald Trump made several statements downplaying the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Timeline of Trump’s COVID-19 Statements’ Meme
true
1985
9147
Children and adolescents who eat pasta have better overall diet quality new research shows
This news release from the National Pasta Association claims a new study shows that American children and adolescents who eat pasta consume a higher quality diet than children who don’t eat pasta. But this association is based on survey data measured against recommended dietary guidelines — which makes for a less-than-conclusive result. We can’t know from this type of study whether eating pasta led to healthier children. While nutrient intake was reported on questionnaires, health status wasn’t measured or reported, according to the brief study abstract. The release itself states that “No significant associations were seen with body weight, waist circumference and body mass index.” Further, the release doesn’t offer readers any numbers with which to assess the claims. Good nutrition advice is needed in the United States. “The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s,” according to the CDC. “Today, about one in five school-aged children (ages 6–19) has obesity,” the agency says. But this release does not help the reader understand whether there is a meaningful message in an association study between pasta eating patterns and health outcomes. A better diet may have less to do with pasta eating than with household income or cultural attitudes about home-cooked meals. These variables might have influenced dietary patterns more substantially than the noodles.
mixture
1986
4491
Child advocacy group: Kids in 173 countries better off now.
A children’s advocacy group says youngsters in all but three of the 176 countries it evaluated have a better chance of growing up healthy, educated and protected from harmful practices like child labor and child marriage than at any time in the past two decades.
true
1987
120
Sanofi pulls Zantac from U.S. and Canada after carcinogen found.
Sanofi SA said on Friday it would recall popular heartburn medicine Zantac in the United States and Canada, after the medicines were linked with a probable cancer-causing impurity.
true
1988
10930
Study: Proton treatment for prostate cancer results in few complications
This story provides a very unbalanced look at one highly-promoted treatment option for men with prostate cancer. It reported on a talk given at a meeting (meaning that the information has not undergone rigorous peer review). Journalists need to understand that talks at scientific meetings may not be ready for prime time – especially not without any independent expert analysis. The story fell short on evaluating the evidence, on quantifying harms, and on giving context and comparisons with other approaches. it was troubling to see large chunks of the story that seemed to come directly from a university news release. It’s equally disturbing that the Los Angeles Times picked up this Florida story and re-posted on their website as is. So did many TV station websites. Men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer need to understand how various treatment options compare in men like themselves in order to make a decision that is right for them. There have been many new technologies in recent years (robots, cyberknife, proton beam) that are being aggressively marketed to patients with early-stage cancer despite limited evidence for their benefits and harms.
false
1989
27712
A young woman named Elisa Lam disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Los Angeles, her body later found in a hotel's water tank.
A young woman named Elisa Lam disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Los Angeles in 2013, her body later found in a hotel's rooftop water tank.
true
1990
33277
A gun-toting Australian granny blew the testicles off the two men who raped her granddaughter.
It’s no accident that this work of fiction features two adult male rapists (which one immediately pictures as strong, overpowering creeps), a teenage girl victim, and a frail little old lady of 81 years (a retired library worker, at that). The contrast makes for a more thrilling tale, and the cheers over David’s toppling Goliath become louder and more enthusiastic.
false
1991
4156
Study: Stopping global warming only way to save coral reefs.
Reducing pollution and curbing overfishing won’t prevent the severe bleaching that is killing coral at catastrophic rates, according to a study of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. In the end, researchers say, the only way to save the world’s coral from heat-induced bleaching is with a war on global warming.
true
1992
7917
Healthcare group Novacyt wins U.S. approval for coronavirus test.
Novacyt, a healthcare company specializing in clinical diagnostics, announced on Monday approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulator for its product aimed at testing for coronavirus.
true
1993
32381
"""List of double entrendres collects """"the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators during the Summer Olympics."""
"""Dubious list of old jokes and double entrendres purportedly collects """"the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators during the Summer Olympics."""""""
false
1994
8841
Actos arrests heart disease in diabetics: study.
The popular diabetes pill Actos prevented the build-up of fatty deposits in heart arteries in a study of patients with type 2 diabetes, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
true
1995
21094
"""The United States' regulations """"are among the most difficult in the world."""
"""Scott said """"our regulations are among the most difficult in the world."""" As his evidence, he cites companies moving their oil rigs from the Gulf Coast overseas and a medical device manufacturer cutting more than 1,000 jobs """"because of new Obamacare taxes."""" Even if some companies move overseas or cut jobs and attribute those actions to overregulation, that doesn't mean that regulations in the U.S. are among the most difficult in the world. The reports we found ranked the U.S. between 4th and 10th for business climate. Scott, along with other political or business leaders, certainly can point to concerns about the number, cost or impact of regulations. But Scott hasn't proven that our country's regulations are among the most difficult in the world. In fact, the evidence we found points in the opposite direction."""
false
1996
7828
"""Psychiatrists unveil their long-awaited diagnostic """"bible""""."""
The long-awaited, controversial new edition of the bible of psychiatry can be characterized by many numbers: its 947 pages, its $199 price tag, its more than 300 maladies (from “dependent personality disorder” and “voyeuristic disorder” to “delayed ejaculation,” “kleptomania” and “intermittent explosive disorder”), each limning the potential woes of being human.
true
1997
10991
Promise Seen for Detection of Alzheimer’s
"""This is a story that celebrates the """"eureka moment,"""" so much so that it includes three eureka moments. The problem with eureka moments and with stories like this is that they don’t reflect the true nature of scientific discovery. Yes, scientists get excited about breakthroughs, as they should, but those breakthroughs are often quite a distance away from actual application in a clinical setting. This story spends too much time drum rolling for a presentation at meeting in Hawaii that is weeks away and not enough time explaining why this particular pathway for Alzheimer’s detection is worth pursuing over the many other lines of inquiry that are alluded to in the story. People who have family members with Alzheimer’s or who are suffering from early signs of dementia want desperately to feel that there is hope for them to change course. Right now, there is no such hope. It’s important for journalists to explain, as this reporter does, the history of detection and treatment of brain diseases, but that solid explanatory and even investigative reporting should not be overshadowed by the thrill of the eureka moment. Malcolm Gladwell did a much better job in his recent piece about cancer drugs. He used the Eureka moments to show how even the most celebrated scientific victories can be swept away by the rigors of scientific scrutiny. Proving that detection regimens or therapies work is tricky business, and we have to drive this home for readers."""
mixture
1998
33574
"""The lyrics of James Taylor's """"Fire and Rain"""" chronicle his reaction to the death of his girlfriend in a plane crash."""
Although James Taylor’s eponymous debut album was not a tremendous commercial success, he sufficiently overcame the personal issues with which he had been grappling to leave Apple Records, sign with Warner Bros., and record an album (Sweet Baby James) that, propelled by the success of its second single, “Fire and Rain,” reached a lofty #3 position on the Billboard charts in 1970.
false
1999
13305
Sen. (Richard) Burr voted no on the Violence Against Women Act.
"""Ross’ ad said Burr """"voted no on the Violence Against Women Act."""" Burr did vote against the 2012 version of the law’s reauthorization, which was important because it effectively meant delaying the revival of an act that had expired. However, the ad ignores that three other times over 13 years Burr voted for a reauthorization of the same law."""
mixture
2000
9375
Earlier Mammograms May Mean Less Need for Aggressive Treatments
This HealthDay news story reports on findings among women diagnosed with breast cancer: those who had longer intervals between mammograms end up getting more aggressive treatments, including chemotherapy and surgery. The story would have been stronger had it described the findings using absolute rather than relative numbers. But, we were glad to see an independent source offer some reservations about the small observational study raised. A final note — the image accompanying the story was laughably unrealistic. Mammograms are the primary screening method for detecting breast cancer. However, when to start getting mammograms and how often to get screened have been subjects of controversy for the past decade. That’s because the data on how to balance risk of developing breast cancer and the risk of harms from screening (unnecessary tests and procedures) are interpreted differently by doctors and other experts. A story that adds new data to the field and that might tip current guidelines one way or the other is newsworthy.
true
2001
5798
Oregon effort to declare health care a right falters.
An effort to insert an amendment in Oregon’s Constitution making health care a right died amid concerns by lawmakers that it would expose the state to lawsuits.
true
2002
11188
Telephone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Rural Older Adults
The news release reports on the outcome of a randomized clinical trial testing how well telephone-based therapy can be used for older rural patients experiencing general anxiety disorder. It’s an interesting and important topic. The release would have been improved significantly with just a few more details. The research paper points out that generalized anxiety disorder “is one of the most common anxiety disorders in older adults” and is “associated with poor quality of life, increased health care utilization, impaired memory, and potentially increased morbidity and mortality.”  Those issues can be amplified by life in rural communities where psychological care can be scarce. Older adults can be more prone to these issues based on their physical isolation. So if therapy could be effectively delivered via telephone, adults facing these challenges might be more readily helped.
true