When faced with a dataset from a scientific study, assessing what conclusions can legitimately be drawn is a challenging task. For a busy journalist, performing such an analysis is a tall order. One of the services the Science Media Centre provides for journalists is brief, independent statistical analyses of scientific papers with accompanying critiques of the authors’ own conclusions at a glance.
‘Before the headlines’ analyses are structured in a simple format, with clear summaries of what the paper in question claims, and a concise assessment of the strengths and limitations. This service is provided to the SMC by members of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI) and experienced statisticians in academia and research.
Research, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, reports a link between risk of depression and suicide with air pollution levels. A … read more
Research, published in PNAS, reports that e-cigarette vapour may be carcinogenic in the lungs of mice. A Roundup of comments … read more
Research, published in The Lancet, reports an association between Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopause and risk … read more
Research published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine reported that maternal occupational exposure to solvents may increase the risk for autism … read more
Reactions to a study published in the BMC Public Health which estimates the risk of cancer when drinking alcohol as … read more
A review and meta-analysis published in JAMA demonstrates that the use of aspirin in individuals without cardiovascular disease was associated with … read more
Research published Preventative Medicine suggests that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) could be a significant public health concern in the UK. read more
Research published in JAMA Paediatrics shows that in a population based birth cohort there was an association between exposure to nitric … read more
Research published in JAMA Paediatrics demonstrates that prenatal exposure to to phthalates was associated with language delay in children. A Roundup accompanied … read more
Research published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that a higher frequency of organic food consumption was associated with a reduced … read more
Researchers, publishing in PNAS, looked at global estimates of mortality associated with longterm exposure air pollution. A roundup accompanied this Before the … read more
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Environment and Public Health investigate the association between risk of brain tumour and lifestyle … read more
A reanalysis of the PACE trial is published in BMC Psychology. A roundup accompanied this analysis. This review was … read more
A new study, published in Journal of Endocrinology, examines vitamin D consumption during pregnancy and breast feeding and potential development … read more
Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults is examined in a population-based cohort study, published in The Lancet Public … read more
A new study, in The BMJ, examines the association between exposure to air pollution from road traffic in London during pregnancy and an increased risk of low birth weight babies born at full term. read more
A new study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, reports that computerised brain training may reduce the risk of dementia by 29%. read more
In a new study, and despite their strong initial scepticism, researchers publishing in the Journal of Archives of Disease in Childhood report that a training course alongside specialist care appears to be effective treatment for children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encdephalomyelitis (ME). read more
In a new study, published in JAMA, scientists report that among postmenopausal women, hormone therapy was not associated with risk of … read more
Publishing in Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers looked at sedentary behaviour and reported that increased sedentary behaviour, both in total volume and prolonged uninterrupted … read more
