A medical headline can make a study sound more conclusive than it really is. The useful questions usually begin after the headline: what was studied, who participated, what outcome was measured and how large was the observed effect?
Study design matters. Randomised trials, observational studies, systematic reviews and laboratory research answer different kinds of questions and carry different limitations.
Readers should also distinguish statistical significance from practical importance. A measurable difference may still be small, uncertain or difficult to apply beyond the population that was studied.
Nemo Europe approaches research coverage by separating what a study found from what researchers, clinicians or commentators believe those findings might eventually mean.