An analysis of news media coverage of complementary and alternative medicine.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To examine the accuracy and adequacy of lay media news stories about complementary and alternative medicines and therapies.

Methodology/principal findings

A descriptive analysis of news stories about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the Australian media using a national medical news monitoring website, mediadoctor.org.au. Each story was rated against 10 criteria by two individuals. Consensus scores of 222 news articles reporting therapeutic claims about complementary medicines posted on mediadoctor.org.au between 1 January 2004 and 1 September 2007 were calculated. The overall rating score for 222 CAM articles was 50% (95% CI 47% to 53%). There was a statistically significant (F = 3.68, p = 0.006) difference in cumulative mean scores according to ty

SUBMITTER: Bonevski B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2405931 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature