Revision as of 01:30, 13 August 2015 editWhatamIdoing (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers121,669 edits →If a treatment hasn't been shown to work, can we say it doesn't work?: When the evidence is contradictory← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:44, 30 August 2015 edit undoSeppi333 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Template editors35,345 edits unborking FAQ formatting on the talk pageNext edit → | ||
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These are some '''Frequently Asked Questions''' about Misplaced Pages's ], ], and how the ] apply to biomedical content. | These are some '''Frequently Asked Questions''' about Misplaced Pages's ], ], and how the ] apply to biomedical content. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|General}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Why do you have special rules for medical information?}} | ||
:Different types of sources have different strengths and weaknesses. A type of source that is good for scientific information is not usually as reliable for political information, and vice versa. Since Misplaced Pages's readers may make medical decisions based on information found in our articles,<ref>{{cite journal| journal = J Am Med Inform Assoc | last1 = Laurent|first1=MR|last2= Vickers|first2=TJ |authorlink2=User:TimVickers| title = Seeking health information online: does Misplaced Pages matter? | year = 2009 | volume = 16 | issue = 4 | page = 471–9 |doi = 10.1197/jamia.M3059 | pmid = 19390105 | pmc=2705249}}</ref> we want to use high-quality sources when writing about biomedical information. Many sources that are acceptable for other types of information under Misplaced Pages's ], such as the popular press, are not suitable sources for reliable medical information.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Schwitzer G |title= How do US journalists cover treatments, tests, products, and procedures? an evaluation of 500 stories |journal= PLoS Med |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=e95 |year=2008 |pmid=18507496 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050095 |url=http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050095 |laysummary=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/21/2 |laysource=Guardian |laydate=2008-06-21 |pmc=2689661}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author= Dentzer S |title= Communicating medical news—pitfalls of health care journalism |journal= N Engl J Med |volume=360 |issue=1 |pages=1–3 |year=2009 |pmid=19118299 |doi=10.1056/NEJMp0805753 |url=http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/1/1}}</ref> (See also: ] and ]) | :Different types of sources have different strengths and weaknesses. A type of source that is good for scientific information is not usually as reliable for political information, and vice versa. Since Misplaced Pages's readers may make medical decisions based on information found in our articles,<ref>{{cite journal| journal = J Am Med Inform Assoc | last1 = Laurent|first1=MR|last2= Vickers|first2=TJ |authorlink2=User:TimVickers| title = Seeking health information online: does Misplaced Pages matter? | year = 2009 | volume = 16 | issue = 4 | page = 471–9 |doi = 10.1197/jamia.M3059 | pmid = 19390105 | pmc=2705249}}</ref> we want to use high-quality sources when writing about biomedical information. Many sources that are acceptable for other types of information under Misplaced Pages's ], such as the popular press, are not suitable sources for reliable medical information.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Schwitzer G |title= How do US journalists cover treatments, tests, products, and procedures? an evaluation of 500 stories |journal= PLoS Med |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=e95 |year=2008 |pmid=18507496 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050095 |url=http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050095 |laysummary=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/21/2 |laysource=Guardian |laydate=2008-06-21 |pmc=2689661}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author= Dentzer S |title= Communicating medical news—pitfalls of health care journalism |journal= N Engl J Med |volume=360 |issue=1 |pages=1–3 |year=2009 |pmid=19118299 |doi=10.1056/NEJMp0805753 |url=http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/1/1}}</ref> (See also: ] and ]) | ||
<!--References are from MEDPOP. Could be expanded on further.--> | <!--References are from MEDPOP. Could be expanded on further.--> | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|When do I need to follow MEDRS?}} | ||
:MEDRS-compliant sources are required for biomedical information. Like the ] ("BLP"), MEDRS applies to ''statements'' and not to articles: biomedical statements in non-medical articles need to comply with MEDRS, while non-medical statements in medical articles (such as in a History section) do not need to follow MEDRS. Also like BLP, the spirit of MEDRS is to err on the side of caution when making biomedical statements. Content about human biochemistry or about medical research in animals is also subject to MEDRS if it is relevant to human health. | :MEDRS-compliant sources are required for biomedical information. Like the ] ("BLP"), MEDRS applies to ''statements'' and not to articles: biomedical statements in non-medical articles need to comply with MEDRS, while non-medical statements in medical articles (such as in a History section) do not need to follow MEDRS. Also like BLP, the spirit of MEDRS is to err on the side of caution when making biomedical statements. Content about human biochemistry or about medical research in animals is also subject to MEDRS if it is relevant to human health. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|Sourcing}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|I used a peer-reviewed source, but it was reverted, and the editor said I needed to use a review. I did, didn't I?}} | ||
:Probably not. Most ]ed articles are not ]. The very similar names are easily confused. For most (not all) purposes, the ideal source is a peer-reviewed review article. | :Probably not. Most ]ed articles are not ]. The very similar names are easily confused. For most (not all) purposes, the ideal source is a peer-reviewed review article. | ||
<!--Add information on distinguishing review articles from regular journal papers - e.g. a paper which presents original data is not a review--> | <!--Add information on distinguishing review articles from regular journal papers - e.g. a paper which presents original data is not a review--> | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|What type of source passes MEDRS?}} | ||
:Include answer here. Quoting MEDRS: Ideal sources for biomedical content includes ]s or ]s published in reputable ]s, academic and professional books written by experts in the relevant field and from a respected publisher, and ]s or position statements from nationally or internationally recognised expert bodies. ''']s should generally not be used for medical content.''' Many such sources represent unreliable information that has not been vetted in ], or present preliminary information that may not bear out when tested in ]s. | :Include answer here. Quoting MEDRS: Ideal sources for biomedical content includes ]s or ]s published in reputable ]s, academic and professional books written by experts in the relevant field and from a respected publisher, and ]s or position statements from nationally or internationally recognised expert bodies. ''']s should generally not be used for medical content.''' Many such sources represent unreliable information that has not been vetted in ], or present preliminary information that may not bear out when tested in ]s. | ||
This should probably incorporate information from MEDASSESS and/or MEDRS#Searching_for_sources, either here or as a separate question.--><!-- | This should probably incorporate information from MEDASSESS and/or MEDRS#Searching_for_sources, either here or as a separate question.--><!-- | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|What factors can be considered in evaluating a source?}} | ||
:A non-exhaustive list, in addition to those factors described in MEDRS, includes... | :A non-exhaustive list, in addition to those factors described in MEDRS, includes... | ||
:This can also describe and expand on the factors already in MEDRS.--><!-- | :This can also describe and expand on the factors already in MEDRS.--><!-- | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|What information about the publisher can we consider?}} | ||
:Include answer here. Useful citations may include Beall's list and the Science sting. | :Include answer here. Useful citations may include Beall's list and the Science sting. | ||
--><!-- | --><!-- | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Can we consider the ] of a journal?}} | ||
Include answer here. --> | Include answer here. --> | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Why can't I use primary sources?}} | ||
Primary sources aren't completely banned, but they should only be used in rare situations. Whenever possible, you should cite a secondary source such as: | Primary sources aren't completely banned, but they should only be used in rare situations. Whenever possible, you should cite a secondary source such as: | ||
* a ] | * a ] | ||
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* a high-quality textbook | * a high-quality textbook | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|So if primary sources can be used in rare cases, what are those rare cases?}} | ||
Primary sources ''might'' be useful in these common situations: | Primary sources ''might'' be useful in these common situations: | ||
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* when describing major research that has made a significant impact (i.e., continued and substantial coverage). While recent research results are normally omitted, it is sometimes necessary to include it for ] weight. In this case, it is usually preferable to read and cite the primary scientific literature in preference to ] sources. Later, these primary sources can be replaced or supplemented with citations to high-quality secondary sources. | * when describing major research that has made a significant impact (i.e., continued and substantial coverage). While recent research results are normally omitted, it is sometimes necessary to include it for ] weight. In this case, it is usually preferable to read and cite the primary scientific literature in preference to ] sources. Later, these primary sources can be replaced or supplemented with citations to high-quality secondary sources. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Can I use websites like Quackwatch?}} | ||
:Quackwatch is a ] website by an author who is an expert in problems with complementary and alternative medicine. Whenever possible, you should use a scholarly source instead of Quackwatch. However, if no scholarly sources are available, and the subject is still notable, then it might be reasonable to cite Quackwatch with ] attribution to the POV. | :Quackwatch is a ] website by an author who is an expert in problems with complementary and alternative medicine. Whenever possible, you should use a scholarly source instead of Quackwatch. However, if no scholarly sources are available, and the subject is still notable, then it might be reasonable to cite Quackwatch with ] attribution to the POV. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Can I cite Chinese studies about Traditional Chinese Medicine?}} | ||
:Yes, but be careful that you give them only ] weight. As of 2014, there are concerns regarding positive bias in publications from China on ].<ref>Li J, et al The quality of reports of randomized clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine treatments: a systematic review of articles indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database from 2005 to 2012. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Sep 26;14:362. PMID 25256890</ref><ref name=Vickers>Further information: | :Yes, but be careful that you give them only ] weight. As of 2014, there are concerns regarding positive bias in publications from China on ].<ref>Li J, et al The quality of reports of randomized clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine treatments: a systematic review of articles indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database from 2005 to 2012. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Sep 26;14:362. PMID 25256890</ref><ref name=Vickers>Further information: | ||
*"Some countries publish unusually high proportions of positive results. Publication bias is a possible explanation. Researchers undertaking systematic reviews should consider carefully how to manage data from these countries." {{Citation |last=Vickers |first=Andrew |date=April 1, 1998 |title=Do certain countries produce only positive results? A systematic review of controlled trials. |publisher=''Control Clin Trials'' |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9551280}} | *"Some countries publish unusually high proportions of positive results. Publication bias is a possible explanation. Researchers undertaking systematic reviews should consider carefully how to manage data from these countries." {{Citation |last=Vickers |first=Andrew |date=April 1, 1998 |title=Do certain countries produce only positive results? A systematic review of controlled trials. |publisher=''Control Clin Trials'' |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9551280}} | ||
*{{cite journal|last1=Ernst|first1=Edzard|title=Acupuncture: What Does the Most Reliable Evidence Tell Us? An Update|journal=Journal of Pain and Symptom Management|volume=43|issue=2|year=2012|pages=e11–e13|issn=08853924|doi=10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.11.001|pmid=22248792}}</ref> Such sources should be used with caution. The problem also includes issues with the academic system in China.<ref name=Qiu >{{Citation |last=Qiu |first=Jane |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Publish or perish in China |publisher='']'' |url=http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100112/full/463142a.html}}</ref> | *{{cite journal|last1=Ernst|first1=Edzard|title=Acupuncture: What Does the Most Reliable Evidence Tell Us? An Update|journal=Journal of Pain and Symptom Management|volume=43|issue=2|year=2012|pages=e11–e13|issn=08853924|doi=10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.11.001|pmid=22248792}}</ref> Such sources should be used with caution. The problem also includes issues with the academic system in China.<ref name=Qiu >{{Citation |last=Qiu |first=Jane |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Publish or perish in China |publisher='']'' |url=http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100112/full/463142a.html}}</ref> | ||
{{fake heading|sub=3|Can I cite ] (now NCCIH)?}} | |||
:Yes, but again only with ] weight. Unlike other branches of the ], which are generally accepted as authoritative in their fields, NCCAM has been the focus of significant criticism from within the scientific community.<ref>Some examples: | :Yes, but again only with ] weight. Unlike other branches of the ], which are generally accepted as authoritative in their fields, NCCAM has been the focus of significant criticism from within the scientific community.<ref>Some examples: | ||
*: ''"the subject of rancorous scientific and political debate over its mission and even continued existence"'' | *: ''"the subject of rancorous scientific and political debate over its mission and even continued existence"'' | ||
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*: ''" was created by pressure from a few advocates in Congress"''; ''"NCCAM funds proposals of dubious merit; its research agenda is shaped more by politics than by science; and it is structured by its charter in a manner that precludes an independent review of its performance"''; ''"NCCAM is unable to implement a research agenda that addresses legitimate scientific opportunities or health-care needs"''</ref> Whenever possible, you should cite the established literature directly. | *: ''" was created by pressure from a few advocates in Congress"''; ''"NCCAM funds proposals of dubious merit; its research agenda is shaped more by politics than by science; and it is structured by its charter in a manner that precludes an independent review of its performance"''; ''"NCCAM is unable to implement a research agenda that addresses legitimate scientific opportunities or health-care needs"''</ref> Whenever possible, you should cite the established literature directly. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|What if I can’t find any MEDRS-compliant sources on a subject?}} | ||
:MEDRS contains a ] which may be helpful. Alternatively, a more experienced editor may be able to help you find them (or to confirm that they do not exist). | :MEDRS contains a ] which may be helpful. Alternatively, a more experienced editor may be able to help you find them (or to confirm that they do not exist). | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|Neutrality}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|What is a fringe medical claim?}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|How should fringe medical claims be described?}} | ||
:When fringe claims have been widely reported in the press, have a large popular following, and/or have a long history, it may be appropriate to describe them in terms of that reporting, popularity, or history. However, weight should be determined by MEDRS-compliant sources, and the context (or lack thereof) should not make implications about medical statements that are not supported by such sources. Guidance on the additional considerations relevant to fringe subjects can be found at ], as well as at other places such as ] and ]. | :When fringe claims have been widely reported in the press, have a large popular following, and/or have a long history, it may be appropriate to describe them in terms of that reporting, popularity, or history. However, weight should be determined by MEDRS-compliant sources, and the context (or lack thereof) should not make implications about medical statements that are not supported by such sources. Guidance on the additional considerations relevant to fringe subjects can be found at ], as well as at other places such as ] and ]. | ||
:In the case of ], medical statements are often derived from an underlying belief system, which will include many propositions that are not subject to MEDRS. These propositions are subject to the usual sourcing requirements and the usual requirements for determining fringe status. | :In the case of ], medical statements are often derived from an underlying belief system, which will include many propositions that are not subject to MEDRS. These propositions are subject to the usual sourcing requirements and the usual requirements for determining fringe status. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|If a treatment hasn't been shown to work, can we say it doesn't work?}} | ||
There are three possible situations: | There are three possible situations: | ||
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Reports may conflict with each other. For example, a clinical trial may produce no evidence of an effect, but the treatment's manufacturer might produce testimonials claiming a positive effect. You should follow the lead of review articles and other secondary sources for determining how to balance these claims. | Reports may conflict with each other. For example, a clinical trial may produce no evidence of an effect, but the treatment's manufacturer might produce testimonials claiming a positive effect. You should follow the lead of review articles and other secondary sources for determining how to balance these claims. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Should medical content be attributed?}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Why not say there is a call for more research?}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|How can Quackwatch be considered a reliable source?}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|Finding and using sources}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|How can I find good sources using PubMed?}} | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
*Filter for review | *Filter for review | ||
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--> | --> | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Are there ways to find good sources other than PubMed?}} | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
*Web of Science, Google Scholar, etc | *Web of Science, Google Scholar, etc | ||
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--> | --> | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Besides being a secondary source, what else indicates a source is of high quality?}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|I found what looks like a good source, but can't access the full text – what next?}} | ||
Most scholarly journals are behind paywalls. Some options to access these articles include visiting a local university library, visiting ], and ]. | Most scholarly journals are behind paywalls. Some options to access these articles include visiting a local university library, visiting ], and ]. | ||
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Note that paywalled articles are frequently pirated and made available on the open web. When linking to a journal article, care must be taken not to link to such a pirate copy, as such a link would be a ] in contravention of Misplaced Pages's policy. In general if you find such a copy and it is not accompanied by text explicitly stating that it is made available with the permission of the copyright holder, assume that it is potentially infringing, and do not link to it. This holds for all edits in Misplaced Pages, not just in article space. | Note that paywalled articles are frequently pirated and made available on the open web. When linking to a journal article, care must be taken not to link to such a pirate copy, as such a link would be a ] in contravention of Misplaced Pages's policy. In general if you find such a copy and it is not accompanied by text explicitly stating that it is made available with the permission of the copyright holder, assume that it is potentially infringing, and do not link to it. This holds for all edits in Misplaced Pages, not just in article space. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|How do I reference a medical article?}} | ||
Almost all medical articles medical articles are indexed by the ] search engine and have a ] (DOI) assigned to them. All articles included in PubMed are assigned an eight-digit PubMed identifier (PMID). These identifiers can be used to refer to articles, which is preferred to URLs as it makes a reliable link which is resilient to changes beyond our control – i.e. the publisher being acquired by another publisher and it's "normal" web URLs changing as a consequence. | Almost all medical articles medical articles are indexed by the ] search engine and have a ] (DOI) assigned to them. All articles included in PubMed are assigned an eight-digit PubMed identifier (PMID). These identifiers can be used to refer to articles, which is preferred to URLs as it makes a reliable link which is resilient to changes beyond our control – i.e. the publisher being acquired by another publisher and it's "normal" web URLs changing as a consequence. | ||
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* Any DOI can be turned into a resolvable web address by prepending "<nowiki>http://dx.doi.org/</nowiki>" to it (e.g. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c6801). | * Any DOI can be turned into a resolvable web address by prepending "<nowiki>http://dx.doi.org/</nowiki>" to it (e.g. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c6801). | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|Conflict of interest}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Are there special rules on conflicts of interest for health content?}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|What if I am being paid to edit medical content?}} | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|Objections to MEDRS}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|MEDRS is only a guideline}} | ||
Possibly useful humor essay: ] | Possibly useful humor essay: ] | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|MEDRS excludes good content}} | ||
Any sourcing standard that is not indiscriminate will exclude ''some'' good content; this is true for RS as well. The more important question is how much poor content is excluded. For example, since we can't tell in advance whether a typical primary source is correct, and since we want to be cautious with health-related information, primary sources are typically excluded. The types of sources which would allow us to draw conclusions roughly correspond to those which are permitted by MEDRS. | Any sourcing standard that is not indiscriminate will exclude ''some'' good content; this is true for RS as well. The more important question is how much poor content is excluded. For example, since we can't tell in advance whether a typical primary source is correct, and since we want to be cautious with health-related information, primary sources are typically excluded. The types of sources which would allow us to draw conclusions roughly correspond to those which are permitted by MEDRS. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|MEDRS excludes perspectives found in other sources}} | ||
Just as RS excludes sources which are not reliable for non-medical claims, MEDRS excludes sources which are not reliable for medical claims. Almost by definition, medical claims which are not discussed in MEDRS-compliant sources are either preliminary, speculative, or too new for the scientific community to have evaluated yet. It is consistent with the NPOV policy to exclude this content. | Just as RS excludes sources which are not reliable for non-medical claims, MEDRS excludes sources which are not reliable for medical claims. Almost by definition, medical claims which are not discussed in MEDRS-compliant sources are either preliminary, speculative, or too new for the scientific community to have evaluated yet. It is consistent with the NPOV policy to exclude this content. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|The scope of MEDRS should be narrower}} | ||
While MEDRS may or may not apply in any given situation, it's hard to see how it could be narrower ''in principle'', while still serving its core function of protecting readers. That’s the purpose of requiring a higher standard of sourcing for medical information. Many editors choose to adhere to analogous standards for non-medical information as well, even though it isn't expected. | While MEDRS may or may not apply in any given situation, it's hard to see how it could be narrower ''in principle'', while still serving its core function of protecting readers. That’s the purpose of requiring a higher standard of sourcing for medical information. Many editors choose to adhere to analogous standards for non-medical information as well, even though it isn't expected. | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=3|Other objections}} | ||
Many issues surrounding MEDRS have been covered extensively before. However, if you have a new contribution to the discussion, you could try ]. | Many issues surrounding MEDRS have been covered extensively before. However, if you have a new contribution to the discussion, you could try ]. | ||
--> | --> | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|References}} | ||
{{reflist-talk}} | {{reflist-talk|closed=1}} | ||
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{{fake heading|sub=2|Other helpful resources}} | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | *] |
Revision as of 18:44, 30 August 2015
ShortcutThis article is missing information about page. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. |
This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Misplaced Pages contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Misplaced Pages's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
These are some Frequently Asked Questions about Misplaced Pages's guidelines on sourcing for medical content, manual of style for medicine-related articles, and how the guidelines and policies apply to biomedical content.
General Why do you have special rules for medical information?- Different types of sources have different strengths and weaknesses. A type of source that is good for scientific information is not usually as reliable for political information, and vice versa. Since Misplaced Pages's readers may make medical decisions based on information found in our articles, we want to use high-quality sources when writing about biomedical information. Many sources that are acceptable for other types of information under Misplaced Pages's general sourcing guideline, such as the popular press, are not suitable sources for reliable medical information. (See also: WP:MEDPOP and User:Jytdog/Why MEDRS?)
- MEDRS-compliant sources are required for biomedical information. Like the policy on the biographies of living people ("BLP"), MEDRS applies to statements and not to articles: biomedical statements in non-medical articles need to comply with MEDRS, while non-medical statements in medical articles (such as in a History section) do not need to follow MEDRS. Also like BLP, the spirit of MEDRS is to err on the side of caution when making biomedical statements. Content about human biochemistry or about medical research in animals is also subject to MEDRS if it is relevant to human health.
- Probably not. Most peer-reviewed articles are not review articles. The very similar names are easily confused. For most (not all) purposes, the ideal source is a peer-reviewed review article.
Primary sources aren't completely banned, but they should only be used in rare situations. Whenever possible, you should cite a secondary source such as:
- a review article
- a meta-analysis
- a high-quality textbook
Primary sources might be useful in these common situations:
- when writing about a rare disease, uncommon procedure, etc., for which no high-quality secondary literature is available, or for which the available secondary sources do not cover all of the information normally included in an encyclopedia article.
- when mentioning a famous paper or clinical trial that made a recognized substantial impact, as part of a purely historical treatment of a topic.
- when describing major research that has made a significant impact (i.e., continued and substantial coverage). While recent research results are normally omitted, it is sometimes necessary to include it for WP:DUE weight. In this case, it is usually preferable to read and cite the primary scientific literature in preference to WP:PRIMARYNEWS sources. Later, these primary sources can be replaced or supplemented with citations to high-quality secondary sources.
- Quackwatch is a self-published website by an author who is an expert in problems with complementary and alternative medicine. Whenever possible, you should use a scholarly source instead of Quackwatch. However, if no scholarly sources are available, and the subject is still notable, then it might be reasonable to cite Quackwatch with WP:INTEXT attribution to the POV.
- Yes, but be careful that you give them only WP:DUE weight. As of 2014, there are concerns regarding positive bias in publications from China on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Such sources should be used with caution. The problem also includes issues with the academic system in China.
- Yes, but again only with WP:DUE weight. Unlike other branches of the National Institutes of Health, which are generally accepted as authoritative in their fields, NCCAM has been the focus of significant criticism from within the scientific community. Whenever possible, you should cite the established literature directly.
- MEDRS contains a section about finding sources which may be helpful. Alternatively, a more experienced editor may be able to help you find them (or to confirm that they do not exist).
- When fringe claims have been widely reported in the press, have a large popular following, and/or have a long history, it may be appropriate to describe them in terms of that reporting, popularity, or history. However, weight should be determined by MEDRS-compliant sources, and the context (or lack thereof) should not make implications about medical statements that are not supported by such sources. Guidance on the additional considerations relevant to fringe subjects can be found at WP:FRINGE, as well as at other places such as WP:WEIGHT and WP:EXCEPTIONAL.
- In the case of alternative medicine, medical statements are often derived from an underlying belief system, which will include many propositions that are not subject to MEDRS. These propositions are subject to the usual sourcing requirements and the usual requirements for determining fringe status.
There are three possible situations:
- no evidence exists (i.e., studies for the treatment have not been published, or the evidence base is too small or weak to draw any conclusions);
- evidence exists, and it shows no effect;
- evidence exists, and it shows an effect.
In the first case, we cannot say that it does not work, but we can say that there is no evidence to determine whether it works. In the second, we can say that there is no evidence that it works. In the last, we should say that there is evidence that it has an effect.
After multiple, high-quality independent studies have been published, it is reasonable to understand "no evidence that it works" as "some evidence that it does not work". You should follow the lead of review articles and other secondary sources for determining when this threshold has been crossed.
Reports may conflict with each other. For example, a clinical trial may produce no evidence of an effect, but the treatment's manufacturer might produce testimonials claiming a positive effect. You should follow the lead of review articles and other secondary sources for determining how to balance these claims.
Should medical content be attributed? Why not say there is a call for more research? How can Quackwatch be considered a reliable source? Finding and using sources How can I find good sources using PubMed? Are there ways to find good sources other than PubMed? Besides being a secondary source, what else indicates a source is of high quality? I found what looks like a good source, but can't access the full text – what next?Most scholarly journals are behind paywalls. Some options to access these articles include visiting a local university library, visiting The Misplaced Pages Library, and WikiProject Resource Requests.
Note that paywalled articles are frequently pirated and made available on the open web. When linking to a journal article, care must be taken not to link to such a pirate copy, as such a link would be a copyright violating link in contravention of Misplaced Pages's policy. In general if you find such a copy and it is not accompanied by text explicitly stating that it is made available with the permission of the copyright holder, assume that it is potentially infringing, and do not link to it. This holds for all edits in Misplaced Pages, not just in article space.
How do I reference a medical article?Almost all medical articles medical articles are indexed by the PubMed search engine and have a Digital object identifier (DOI) assigned to them. All articles included in PubMed are assigned an eight-digit PubMed identifier (PMID). These identifiers can be used to refer to articles, which is preferred to URLs as it makes a reliable link which is resilient to changes beyond our control – i.e. the publisher being acquired by another publisher and it's "normal" web URLs changing as a consequence.
Once you have the PMID, there are a number of tools such as this one which you can use to generate a full citation automatically.
In article references, the "doi" and "pmid" parameters are preferred to the "url" parameter for such reasons.
On Talk pages, when referring to journal articles, is it good practice to make any link using these types of identifer also:
- Typing "PMID", a space, and the 8-digit PubMed identifier will be automagically turned into a link by the Misplaced Pages software (e.g. PMID 21148220).
- Any DOI can be turned into a resolvable web address by prepending "http://dx.doi.org/" to it (e.g. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c6801).
References
- Laurent, MR; Vickers, TJ (2009). "Seeking health information online: does Misplaced Pages matter?". J Am Med Inform Assoc. 16 (4): 471–9. doi:10.1197/jamia.M3059. PMC 2705249. PMID 19390105.
- Schwitzer G (2008). "How do US journalists cover treatments, tests, products, and procedures? an evaluation of 500 stories". PLoS Med. 5 (5): e95. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050095. PMC 2689661. PMID 18507496.
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- Li J, et al The quality of reports of randomized clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine treatments: a systematic review of articles indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database from 2005 to 2012. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Sep 26;14:362. PMID 25256890
- Further information:
- "Some countries publish unusually high proportions of positive results. Publication bias is a possible explanation. Researchers undertaking systematic reviews should consider carefully how to manage data from these countries." Vickers, Andrew (April 1, 1998), Do certain countries produce only positive results? A systematic review of controlled trials., Control Clin Trials
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(help) - Ernst, Edzard (2012). "Acupuncture: What Does the Most Reliable Evidence Tell Us? An Update". Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 43 (2): e11–e13. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.11.001. ISSN 0885-3924. PMID 22248792.
- "Some countries publish unusually high proportions of positive results. Publication bias is a possible explanation. Researchers undertaking systematic reviews should consider carefully how to manage data from these countries." Vickers, Andrew (April 1, 1998), Do certain countries produce only positive results? A systematic review of controlled trials., Control Clin Trials
- Qiu, Jane (January 12, 2010), Publish or perish in China, Nature
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(help) - Some examples:
- Nature Reviews Cancer: "the subject of rancorous scientific and political debate over its mission and even continued existence"
- Clinical Rheumatology: "The criticism repeatedly aimed at NCCAM seems justified, as far as their RCTs of chiropractic is concerned. It seems questionable whether such research is worthwhile."
- Nature News: "still draws fire from traditional scientists", "Many US researchers still say such funding is a waste of time and money."
- Science News: " is a political creation"; "This kind of science isn't worth any time or money" (quoting Wallace Sampson)
- Science Policy Forum: " was created by pressure from a few advocates in Congress"; "NCCAM funds proposals of dubious merit; its research agenda is shaped more by politics than by science; and it is structured by its charter in a manner that precludes an independent review of its performance"; "NCCAM is unable to implement a research agenda that addresses legitimate scientific opportunities or health-care needs"