Beyond the Captivating Headlines: How to Make Sense of a Health News Story

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Is the health news story accurate? Did a recent study prove that coffee may lower the risk of stroke?  How was it reported? Writing magnetic headlines are required for any writer. After all, headlines capture your attention and at that moment you will decide whether to read the piece or not. According to Copyblogger, “On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out…

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How to Filter Cancer Prevention Headlines

Guest post submitted by MD Anderson Cancer Center Most of us can’t keep up with all the new ways to avoid cancer. Thanks to the Internet, we now have an unlimited supply of cancer knowledge at our fingertips.  But, how can we filter out the good, the bad and the questionable? Below are steps to help you tease out the facts when reading that next big news story on preventing cancer. Says who? Don’t just…

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Empowered Patient: Bring a Family Member or Friend with you to Your Doctor’s Appointment

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Should you bring a family member or friend with you when a patient has a doctor’s appointment? That is a question explored on a recent post on KevinMD by guest blogger, Diana E. Lee, a chronic migraine patient who blogs at Somebody Heal Me. “Most of the resources I’ve read about how to prepare for a doctor’s appointment recommend bringing a loved one with you so that person can…

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Digging Deep: The 411 Behind Medical News Headlines

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Let’s face it, health and medical news reported by mainstream media can be misleading. In attempts to capture the attention of the public with alluring headlines, the substance of a news story may be imbalanced and inaccurate. Consumers ought to be skeptical when reading a health story or listening to a segment on their favorite morning show or nightly news program. How do consumers know what questions to ask…

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