Medical Studies – What’s a Person to Believe?

Confused by flip-flopping media reports on different medical studies? It’s no wonder. News about contradictory studies has become a common occurrence.

"In recent news alone, there have been reports of conflicting studies about calcium supplements and their impact on bones, the effectiveness of antioxidants, the advisability of PSA testing, and the safety of a common diabetic medication," reports Betsy Strong, M.D., internal medicine physician with Camino Medical Group (CMG). "Patients need to sit down with their health provider and discuss questions important to them. The provider can give the best advice, based on available scientific data and tailored to the circumstances of the individual patient."

Understanding how science works can also help sort out what’s best for you, advises the Harvard School of Public Health. For example:

• Are results based on a single study? How does that study fit with other studies on the same subject? In general you shouldn’t change your behavior based on only one study.


• How big was the study? The results of large studies are more reliable.


• Were humans or animals used in the study? Studies on humans are more applicable.


• Was an actual disease (such as heart disease) studied, or was research done on a marker for the disease (such as narrowing of the arteries). Focusing on the real disease is more reliable.


• Find out how the study was done. Good methodology is important.

Another important point to check is who funded the medical study.

The Health Resource Center, located on the third floor of CMG’s Mountain View Center, offers free assistance in researching health-related topics. Staff can help you find handouts, articles, books, classes and more from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. View their collection online at www.caminomedical.org/hrc or call 650-934-7380 for more information.