Lista de comprobación para mejorar la información sobre fármacos en la prensa: la importancia de informar sobre las fases y la incertidumbre de la investigación

Bosch Llonch, Fèlix; Escalas Trias, Clàudia; Forteza, Ainoa; Serés Escot, Elisabet, 1984-; Casino, Gonzalo, 1961-

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.20318/recs.2018.4498

Lista de comprobación para mejorar la información sobre fármacos en la prensa: la importancia de informar sobre las fases y la incertidumbre de la investigación

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Bosch F, Escalas C, Forteza A, Serés E, Casino G. Lista de comprobación para mejorar la información sobre fármacos en la prensa: la importancia de informar sobre las fases y la incertidumbre de la investigación. Revista Española de Comunicación en Salud. 2018;9(2):203-14. DOI: 10.20318/recs.2018.4498

Abstract

Given the public’s interest in science, it is logical that the mass media disseminate information about drugs. However, few quantitative or qualitative studies have analyzed the way this type of information is presented in the lay press. This article reviews the studies that have analyzed news reports about drugs and discusses the tools that are available to evaluate the quality of such reports. It also examines qualitative aspects when reporting on drugs in research or when have already been marketed: the need to check the sources, to cite the original reports, and to use language that is easy to understand. To avoid creating false expectations, news reports should inform readers about risks as well as benefits in both relative and absolute terms and put financial aspects in context. Moreover, it is important to specify the drug’s current phase of development to inform if and when it is likely to be commercialized. Finally, news reports about drugs should point readers to the most appropriate sources to obtain further information. This article aims to promote general reflection and ultimately to improve the quality of reporting about drugs in the general press and to provide a checklist for science communicators and journalists.