Communication issues in nutritional observational research.

Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Usama Bilal, Mahmoud Al Rifai, John W McEvoy, Roger S Blumenthal, Karan Kapoor, Jose Maria Martinez-Sanchez, Josep Comin-Colet, Manel Pladevall-Vila, Michael J Blaha

Journal: Preventive medicine 2019;115():76-82

PMID: 30145349

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Observational epidemiological studies involving foods and nutrients often attract great attention from both the press and the public as they involve substances that are part of the daily lives of millions of individuals. In the digital era, findings of this research can be disseminated to very large audiences almost instantaneously, informing health beliefs and potentially triggering lifestyle changes. In this context, communication of results from observational nutritional epidemiology often involves specific issues that may limit the accuracy of the information ultimately being delivered to the public. In this narrative review we discuss some of these issues, with a special attention to the selective reporting of research studies by the media, the presentation of study findings as if they were free of bias, the reporting of inconsistent study results, and the issues related to the real-life uptake of research findings presented in the press. Collaborative efforts by all stakeholders involved in the dissemination process may help ameliorate this situation, and with this purpose we discuss some innovative approaches that may help reduce these issues.

Address: Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; RTI Health Solutions, Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management, Barcelona, Spain.; Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, School of Medicine, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.; Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Department of Basic Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.; Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.; RTI Health Solutions, Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management, Barcelona, Spain; The Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.; Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.08.024

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MeSH Terms: Bias, Communications Media, Epidemiologic Research Design, Health Communication, Humans, Nutritional Sciences