Objective:

To perform a systematic content analysis of spin and misinformation in glioma-based press releases

Background:

Academic medical centers utilize press releases to disseminate research findings to the academic community and general public. However, press releases, written by public relations or development personnel, often serve as advertisements rather than objective reports of research findings. Data indicates that more than one third of U.S. health news stories appear to rely solely or largely on press releases, emphasizing the potential for widespread misinformation. 

Design/Methods:

We searched EurekAlert!, a press release database, for “glioma” press releases from June 2020 to September 2024. We included only press releases greater than 200 words that reported original research with quantifiable outcomes. Each author independently assessed each release for predetermined categories of spin including misleading title or quotes, misleading reporting, misleading claims, overdramatization, and inappropriate extrapolation to unstudied populations, interventions or outcomes.

Results:

The search yielded 76 releases, 60 of which met inclusion criteria. Overall, 52 out of 60 (87%) releases exhibited at least one manifestation of spin. We identified 31 (52%) with a misleading title, 33 (55%) with misleading reporting, 39 (65%) with misleading claims, 18 (30%) with overdramatization, and 24 (40%) with inappropriate extrapolation. Reports of animal or lab studies often lacked cautions about applying results to humans. Press releases rarely exhibited restraint in their claims, with only 6 (10%) releases mentioning limitations or weaknesses of their studies.

Conclusions:

We identified a high burden of spin among press releases related to glioma research. Reports often exaggerated the importance and clinical relevance of findings. Glioma-related press releases too frequently are a form of advertising with the potential to mislead patients, other scholars, potential donors, and the public. Due to the wide-reaching nature of press releases, inaccurate and overoptimistic reporting can negatively impact subsequent studies, clinical practice, and health policies.