French researchers, publishing in PLoS Medicine, find that the mismatch between perceived and real beneficial effects of new treatments is related to the presence of “spin” in the abstracts and conclusions of randomized controlled trials and their resultant press releases. Peer reviewers and journal editors, the study concludes, have a responsibility to ensure that conclusions reported in the abstracts of RCTs are consistent with the results of the research.
Of further interest:
“Spin” in media coverage of research can be traced to abstracts (Article on PLoS Medicine article in the British Medical Journal)
