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Reporting bias inflates the reputation of medical treatments: A comparison of outcomes in clinical trials and online product reviews

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  • de Barra, Mícheál

Abstract

People often hold unduly positive expectations about the outcomes of medicines and other healthcare products. Here the following explanation is tested: people who have a positive outcome tend to tell more people about their disease/treatment than people with poor or average outcomes. Akin to the file drawer problem in science, this systematically and positively distorts the information available to others.

Suggested Citation

  • de Barra, Mícheál, 2017. "Reporting bias inflates the reputation of medical treatments: A comparison of outcomes in clinical trials and online product reviews," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 248-255.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:177:y:2017:i:c:p:248-255
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. King, Robert Allen & Racherla, Pradeep & Bush, Victoria D., 2014. "What We Know and Don't Know About Online Word-of-Mouth: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 167-183.
    2. Winterbottom, Anna & Bekker, Hilary L. & Conner, Mark & Mooney, Andrew, 2008. "Does narrative information bias individual's decision making? A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2079-2088, December.
    3. Busfield, Joan, 2015. "Assessing the overuse of medicines," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 199-206.
    4. Thomas, Felicity & Depledge, Michael, 2015. "Medicine ‘misuse’: Implications for health and environmental sustainability," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 81-87.
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    Cited by:

    1. MacFarlane, Douglas & Hurlstone, Mark J. & Ecker, Ullrich K.H., 2020. "Protecting consumers from fraudulent health claims: A taxonomy of psychological drivers, interventions, barriers, and treatments," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    2. Lakomaa, Erik & Sanandaji, Tino, 2017. "Integrating community driven care service in European welfare states – nonprofit institutional entrepreneurship as driver for expanding access," SSE Working Paper Series in Economic History 2017:5, Stockholm School of Economics.
    3. Johnson, Blair T. & Acabchuk, Rebecca L., 2018. "What are the keys to a longer, happier life? Answers from five decades of health psychology research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 218-226.
    4. Blanco, Fernando & Matute, Helena, 2020. "Diseases that resolve spontaneously can increase the belief that ineffective treatments work," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    5. Richet, Jean-Loup & Currás-Móstoles, Rosa & Martín, José María Martín, 2024. "Complexity in online collective assessments: Implications for the wisdom of the crowd," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).

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