title: Media Coverage, Journal Press Releases and Editorials Associated with Randomized and Observational Studies in High-Impact Medical Journals: A Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Publication of clinical research findings in prominent journals influences health beliefs and medical practice, in part by engendering news coverage. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) should be most influential in guiding clinical practice. We determined whether study design of clinical research published in high-impact journals influences media coverage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared the incidence and amount of media coverage of RCTs with that of observational studies published in the top 7 medical journals between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2013. We specifically assessed media coverage of the most rigorous RCTs, those with >1000 participants that reported 'hard' outcomes. There was no difference between RCTs and observational studies in coverage by major newspapers or news agencies, or in total number of news stories generated (all P>0.63). Large RCTs reporting 'hard' outcomes did not generate more news coverage than small RCTs that reported surrogate outcomes and observational studies (all P>0.32). RCTs were more likely than observational studies to attract a journal editorial (70% vs 46%, P = 0.003), but less likely to be the subject of a journal press release (17% vs 50%, P<0.001). Large RCTs that reported 'hard' outcomes did not attract an editorial more frequently than other studies (61% vs 58%, P>0.99), nor were they more likely to be the subject of a journal press release (14% vs 38%, P = 0.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The design of clinical studies whose results are published in high-impact medical journals is not associated with the likelihood or amount of ensuing news coverage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael T M
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bolland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grey
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D008402:Mass Media; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design