Toolkit for detecting misused epidemiological methods.
Toolkit for detecting misused epidemiological methods.
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DOI：
10.1186/s12940-021-00771-6
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发表时间：
2021-08-19
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Bero LA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Soskolne CL;Kramer S;Ramos-Bonilla JP;Mandrioli D;Sass J;Gochfeld M;Cranor CF;Advani S;Bero LA
Critical knowledge of what we know about health and disease, risk factors, causation, prevention, and treatment, derives from epidemiology. Unfortunately, its methods and language can be misused and improperly applied. A repertoire of methods, techniques, arguments, and tactics are used by some people to manipulate science, usually in the service of powerful interests, and particularly those with a financial stake related to toxic agents. Such interests work to foment uncertainty, cast doubt, and mislead decision makers by seeding confusion about cause-and-effect relating to population health. We have compiled a toolkit of the methods used by those whose interests are not aligned with the public health sciences. Professional epidemiologists, as well as those who rely on their work, will thereby be more readily equipped to detect bias and flaws resulting from financial conflict-of-interest, improper study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation, bringing greater clarity—not only to the advancement of knowledge, but, more immediately, to policy debates. The summary of techniques used to manipulate epidemiological findings, compiled as part of the 2020 Position Statement of the International Network for Epidemiology in Policy (INEP) entitled Conflict-of-Interest and Disclosure in Epidemiology, has been expanded and further elucidated in this commentary. Some level of uncertainty is inherent in science. However, corrupted and incomplete literature contributes to confuse, foment further uncertainty, and cast doubt about the evidence under consideration. Confusion delays scientific advancement and leads to the inability of policymakers to make changes that, if enacted, would—supported by the body of valid evidence—protect, maintain, and improve public health. An accessible toolkit is provided that brings attention to the misuse of the methods of epidemiology. Its usefulness is as a compendium of what those trained in epidemiology, as well as those reviewing epidemiological studies, should identify methodologically when assessing the transparency and validity of any epidemiological inquiry, evaluation, or argument. The problems resulting from financial conflicting interests and the misuse of scientific methods, in conjunction with the strategies that can be used to safeguard public health against them, apply not only to epidemiologists, but also to other public health professionals. This novel toolkit is for use in protecting the public. It is provided to assist public health professionals as gatekeepers of their respective specialty and subspecialty disciplines whose mission includes protecting, maintaining, and improving the public’s health. It is intended to serve our roles as educators, reviewers, and researchers.
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影响因子：
3.7
作者：
Eick SM;Goin DE;Chartres N;Lam J;Woodruff TJ
通讯作者：
Woodruff TJ
DOI：
10.1097/jom.0b013e3181ad49b2
发表时间：
2009-11-01
影响因子：
3.2
作者：
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通讯作者：
Mandel, Jack S.
DOI：
10.23749/mdl.v112i1.10099
发表时间：
2021-02-23
期刊：
La Medicina del lavoro
影响因子：
--
作者：
Ciocan C;Franco N;Pira E;Mansour I;Godono A;Boffetta P
通讯作者：
Boffetta P
影响因子：
9.8
作者：
Bero, Lisa A.;Grundy, Quinn
通讯作者：
Grundy, Quinn
影响因子：
10.4
作者：
Elliott, Kevin C.;Resnik, David B.
通讯作者：
Resnik, David B.