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Superlative use within news articles relating to therapies for multiple sclerosis
Matthew Ferrell1, Sydney Ferrell1, Ryan Ottwell1
1Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, OK, United States.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|January 14, 2021
Summary
News articles frequently use exaggerated language to describe multiple sclerosis treatments, especially those not approved by the FDA. This highlights the prevalence of medical misinformation online.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Medical Communications
- Health Journalism
Background:
- Superlative language in health news can misrepresent treatment efficacy and safety.
- Evaluating the use of superlatives in reporting on multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies is crucial for public understanding.
Discussion:
- News articles often employ superlative terms for unapproved MS therapies without substantiating claims with clinical evidence or proper attribution.
- A significant portion of online health information lacks credibility, as evidenced by the absence of HONcode certification in the analyzed articles.
Key Insights:
- The study identified a common trend of using exaggerated language in online news about multiple sclerosis treatments.
- Non-FDA approved therapies were frequently described using superlatives, lacking evidence and attribution.
- No analyzed articles were found on HONcode-certified websites, indicating potential credibility issues.
Outlook:
- Healthcare professionals must be vigilant about medical misinformation disseminated through news media.
- Promoting media literacy regarding health information is essential for patients.
- Future research should explore strategies to improve the accuracy and transparency of health reporting.
