The Research Effect

The topic of research as it applies to the healthcare field has been on my mind a lot lately. I often hear statements, such as "bread is bad for you," "WebMD says I have 'XYZ'...," and/or "My friend tried this diet, and they were cured within a couple of weeks, so I am going to try it." Now, to be completely honest, I have been guilty of some of these things in the past (particularly the WebMD comment..). But now that I've entered the healthcare field, it's clear to me that much of the research we do on an academic level rarely trickles down to the consumer level. In other words, academic articles, with all of the useful information they provide us with, are rarely read by the general population. 

Because of this, the newest medical trends occur, including the idea that carbs are bad for you, that essential oils can cure every ailment, and that vaccinations cause autism. 

Interesting enough, all of these have been disproved by the scientific community, but as non-academics come up with their own research, these trends seem to carry on. With this in mind, I would like to discuss the importance of not only finding sound scientific research, but also how to distinguish sound research from faulty research. 

First and foremost, anecdotal stories do not provide accurate evidence. Without the controls of a laboratory setting, it is impossible to prove whether improvements were seen because of the claims the person is making, or for an entirely different reason. Not to mention some improvements can be seen via the placebo effect, which means a beneficial effect was seen because the person thought it was going to help, not because it necessarily did help. Psychology is a funny thing. Therefore, if somebody claims to have improved with no evidence besides their own word, no matter how trustworthy that person is, it shouldn't be taken as evidence for everybody else. 

You will also find that research, just like anybody else's words, can be twisted to say whatever someone wants it to say. Cutting snippets out of articles to make lies seem like the truth and to make the truth seem like a lie is a common practice, particularly among websites that promote fad diets, medical miracle cures, or any other health claim you can think of. It may be left out that the diet is only helpful for specific medical conditions, or that the "cure" is simply a removal of symptoms, but not a removal of the actual problem. It all comes down to this: know where the information is coming from.

And once you find the actual source, read the article (not just the abstract, I might add)! If it is not published in an academic journal, it is less likely to be accurate. If it is not a peer-reviewed publication, it is less likely to be accurate. If it doesn't reference other academic and peer-reviewed publications, it is less likely to be accurate. This is perhaps one of the more important barriers to receiving accurate information. 

The next hurdle to jump is what researchers call 'extraneous variables' and 'biases'. These are simply things that can get in the way of accurate results. An extraneous variable is something that the researcher was not testing, but can still get in the way of accurate results. For example, if you are doing a study on weight gain in adults, but look at the weight gain of adults across a wide age range, your results will be skewed. This is because metabolism slows down as you get older, which is one reason why it is easier to gain weight as you age. 

Biases occur when the researcher, whether intentionally or not, influences the results in order to portray a specific outcome. For example, if you were handing out a survey to 20 random high school students, but only gave the survey to the first 20 people who walked in the door, this would be bias. It is possible that the first 20 students who walk in the door are much different from the next 20, who are different from the next 20, etc. 

The differences between extraneous variables and bias can be hard to distinguish at times, but as long as you are able to recognize when they are occurring, whether you know which one it is or not, you know there is a flaw in the study--these results should not be as heavily considered as the results of a study with less bias and variables. However, it is important to note that all studies will have some form of bias and/or variables in them. No study is 'perfect', but some are definitely more trustworthy than others. 

What makes all of this particularly challenging is that not all academic and peer-reviewed journals are available to the public free of charge. But thankfully, 'open access' journals are available. They are still peer-reviewed, and their are just as accurate as closed-access journals, but they are a 'pay to publish' sort of situation. Manuscripts are sent to the journal, they decide whether it is fit to publish, then the writer pays a fee. This ensures that the journal and its articles are available to the public free of charge. That way the general population has access to accurate and science-based information without having to pay for a subscription. 

The final aspect of research I want to mention is the subject of credentials. Pay very close attention to the authors of the articles you are reading and whether they have the credentials, degree, and educational background to be an expert on a topic. Even if someone is very educated, that does not mean they are an expert in the field you are studying. For example, doctors are not experts in nutrition. This doesn't mean they know nothing, but dietitians are the ones who go to school for nutrition, not doctors. This also goes the other way around: dietitians are not experts in the medical field; doctors are the ones who study medicine, not dietitians. This principle can be applied to any degree or educational background you can think of, whether in the healthcare field or not. If an author isn't named, then the article is probably not accurate and science-based. And just because a person has a lot of letters after their name they are not automatically an expert in that subject.

I don't tell you all of this information to scare you--in fact, I want to give you more confidence! Hopefully it is now much easier to wade through the muck and the quackery that is out there on the internet. When it comes to the health of our bodies, I believe it is important to have the most recent, science-based, and accurate information available before making a decision. That way both you and your loved ones can stay safe. 

I hope y'all have a good week, and enjoy your research!