Matthew Ferrell1, Sydney Ferrell2, Ryan Ottwell2, Jay Johnson3, Matt Vassar2. 1. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, OK, United States. Electronic address: matt.ferrell@okstate.edu. 2. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, OK, United States. 3. Oklahoma State University Medical Center, Tulsa, OK, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Superlatives are exaggerative terms that may not accurately portray a treatment's effectiveness, safety, or availability. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of superlatives in news articles describing multiple sclerosis treatments. METHODS: We searched Google News for 11 prespecified superlative terms describing multiple sclerosis therapies in online news articles. RESULTS: We found that news articles commonly describe non-FDA approved multiple sclerosis therapies with superlative terms without providing clinical evidence or attribution. Additionally, no articles were published on a HONcode certified webpage. CONCLUSION: It is important that healthcare professionals are aware of medical misinformation presented to the public.
BACKGROUND: Superlatives are exaggerative terms that may not accurately portray a treatment's effectiveness, safety, or availability. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of superlatives in news articles describing multiple sclerosis treatments. METHODS: We searched Google News for 11 prespecified superlative terms describing multiple sclerosis therapies in online news articles. RESULTS: We found that news articles commonly describe non-FDA approved multiple sclerosis therapies with superlative terms without providing clinical evidence or attribution. Additionally, no articles were published on a HONcode certified webpage. CONCLUSION: It is important that healthcare professionals are aware of medical misinformation presented to the public.