A Retrospective Study of the Accuracy of Cancer Information in Ontario Daily Newspapers

Abstract

Context: Studies suggest that the mass media is a common source of cancer information for the public. However, the quality of cancer information through various print outlets has not been extensively investigated.Objectives: To assess the accuracy of cancer information in a retrospective sample of Ontario daily newspapers as well as to determine the amount of mobilizing (enabling) information about community resources for cancer. Methods and Results:Of 1,027 articles on cancer for 1991, drawn from the 5 highest and 5 lowest circulating newspapers, a random 30% sample (306 articles) was obtained. Only 40 articles had traceable citations (journal name, name of researcher, name of educational institution, or direct quotes from identifiable sources). Of these, 47.5% had misleading titles and 55% included erroneous information or omitted important study results. Only 13 (6.9%) included mobilizing information regarding prevention, diagnosis, treatment or support.Interpretation: Cancer information in newspapers contain frequent inaccuracies and fail to provide mobilizing information. Inaccurate newspaper information about cancer is of concern if the public relies on this channel for at least part of their health knowledge.

Distorting Genetic Research About Cancer: From Bench Science to Press Release to Published News

“…Highly complex material and technical language make it nearly impossible for individuals without science training to do so. In contrast to previous studies which rely on scientists' assessments of their own work (e.g., McCall, 1988; McCall & Stocking, 1982; Tankard & Ryan, 1974) or researchers' own evaluations (e.g., MacDonald & Hoffman‐Goetz, 2002; Singer, 1990), the research presented here relies on judgments made by third‐party, expert raters. This approach illustrates that expert raters, despite background differences and having conducted assessments on their own time and in uncontrolled environments, exhibit substantial degrees of agreement with one another about what constitutes a fair inference.…”

Lost in Translation?

“…Also, of these 60 stories they identified 42 inaccuracies based on their comparison with the original science articles. Likewise, MacDonald and Hoffman-Goetz (2002) conducted the same kind of study with regard to Ontario daily newspaper articles regarding cancer in Canada. They also reached the conclusion that cancer information in newspapers is sometimes inaccurate and fails to mobilize people to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors and screening behaviors.…”

News stories as evidence for research? BBC citations from articles, Books, and Wikipedia

“…Nevertheless, even news stories about important topics, such as health, may contain errors, omissions, or misinterpretations (MacDonald & Hoffman-Goetz, 2002;Chang, 2015), and so citations to news stories risk tainting research with false information or partial information that omits critical aspects, such as the study limitations (Brechman, Lee, & Cappella, 2009). Nevertheless, even news stories about important topics, such as health, may contain errors, omissions, or misinterpretations (MacDonald & Hoffman-Goetz, 2002;Chang, 2015), and so citations to news stories risk tainting research with false information or partial information that omits critical aspects, such as the study limitations (Brechman, Lee, & Cappella, 2009).…”