Join Dr. Roy Benaroch to get the facts behind the headlines in today's media coverage of health and medicine.
The Skeptic's Guide to Health, Medicine, and the Media
Tune up your B.S. detector and start sniffing out the facts behind potentially misleading headlines in health and medicine.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bernie K from
A Solid Reinforcement
Professor Benaroch does a good job, of restating and reinforcing our need to use the public media very carefully. Most of us believe the media is biased. This course puts some flesh on those bones.
Date published: 2024-11-06
Rated 3 out of
5
by
gfaust5 from
Not very skeptical
Some of this medical information is helpful, but the lecturer's Democratic Party authoritarian bias almost becomes a joke of self-parody. Lecture 22 touts Google as unbiased and 'pretty good", because it provides the sources "you" want to see. Like CNN and the N Y Times?
Same lecture touts "government sources" as the most reliable, mentioning the Centers for Disease Control! After all the lying done by the CDC during the Covid lockdown, I just had to laugh. Was I listening to Dr. Benaroch, or was it really Dr. Fauci?
Date published: 2023-10-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
kalb from
useful & informative
excellent presentation; Prof Benaroch has a smooth & clear presentation style that gets the message across clearly & succinctly. He gave a balanced view, with emphasizing the need to take a jaundiced eye & use common sense.
Date published: 2023-03-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Vz12 from
Absolutely brilliant!
Truly a well thought out course by a true expert. In the modern climate of misinformation, everyone should read this.
Date published: 2022-10-19
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Tige from
interesting informatioin
The only question I have is why he put so much stock in polls and surveys when research has shown most of them to be very unscientific. I felt that he was using them to prove a point when it was in his favor.
Date published: 2022-08-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Stanford64 from
Inspirational and educational!
I bought Dr. Benaroch's Grand Rounds dvd and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a physician and I know well that there's always something we can learn. This series, "Skeptic's Guide..." did not disappoint. I wish the emphasis had been a little more on medical facts than on the media, but I have to admit I learned something about discrimination in this area. All in all, an excellent course that everybody should take!
Date published: 2022-01-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
The General from
Timely Topicp
At a time in history when trust in your news source and "official" organizations has never been lower; understanding your responsibilities in making sound medical decisions concerning your health has never been more important. Tis course gives you the necessary tools.
Date published: 2021-09-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
donaldarteaga119 from
A Reminder
A very timely course that reminds me how much the news media (to put it bluntly) sucks at science reporting. But to be fair, when your business model depends on grabbing people's attention and emotionally charged clickbait is one of the best ways to do so, there's very little incentive for journalists to be more precise in their words. No, I'm not claiming "fake news", but there does seem to be a huge lack of accountability when the media has consistently been guilty of contributing to these unsubstantiated fears. Sadly a fantastic course like this will only be addressing the symptom (to be skeptical of news reporting) and not the roots (news business model).
In same vein, I recommend the book "The Bad Food Diet" by Aaron Caroll where he addresses the unnecessary demonization of food ingredients and the scientific studies which sparked their fears. As this course demonstrated, most of the time these fears started because of a singly, faulty study. But the fears became more real than the truth itself.
In this case, knowledge is power, and I will be recommending to course to many other people!
Date published: 2021-09-06
Overview
About
Dr. Roy Benaroch is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. He earned his B.S. in Engineering at Tulane University, followed by his M.D. at Emory University. He completed his residency through Emory University's affiliated hospitals in 1997, serving as chief resident and instructor of pediatrics in 1998. Board certified in general pediatrics in 1997, Dr. Benaroch practices full time at Pediatric Physicians, PC, located near Atlanta, Georgia. In his dual roles, he teaches medical students and residents at his practice and gives regular lectures to physician's assistants at Emory University.
Dr. Benaroch has published two books on parenting and pediatric health topics: Solving Health and Behavioral Problems from Birth through Preschool: A Parent's Guide and A Guide to Getting the Best Health Care for Your Child. He also has a blog for parents and health professionals at pediatricinsider.com, and he has served as a featured expert on WebMD.com. Dr. Benaroch also serves on the board of directors of the Cobb Health Futures Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit group dedicated to public health for people of all backgrounds.
Trailer
01: Hormone Replacement Therapy
For decades, the pharmaceutical industry and the press praised hormone replacement therapy as a panacea for menopausal symptoms and women’s long-term health. But that all came to a screeching halt in 2002. Discover what the scientific studies that caused this sudden turnaround really said. And are men falling prey today to the same marketing tactics regarding testosterone?
32 min
02: Concussions and the Future of Football
What happens to billions of neurons when the gelatinous brain slams into the side of the hard skull? While the media has focused some attention on high-profile cases of concussion and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, learn how selective reporting can lull us into believing an issue has been adequately addressed when that is far from the truth—and lives are at stake.
33 min
03: New Drugs on the Block
Is prescription drug “X” a wonder drug or a disastrous failure? It can be almost impossible to answer that question based on what’s presented in the press. Using two drugs as case studies, you’ll learn how to better understand and evaluate the media description of prescription drugs, and why institutional changes regarding data availability can make all the difference.
32 min
04: Is It Time for Medical Marijuana?
By examining the story of marijuana and our changing perceptions of its safety and usefulness, you’ll learn how different stakeholders can affect media coverage, drive social change, and influence legislation. Given that the medical use of cannabis in the United States has not been driven by well-designed scientific studies, how can we best interpret the news reports addressing its efficacy and safety?
33 min
05: The Media and Weight Loss
The media focus on weight loss comes as no surprise. With two of every three Americans being overweight, we certainly need sound nutrition and weight-loss advice based on solid science. But is that what we’re getting? Learn how to read beneath the hyperbole-filled headlines—“Fats are Bad!”; “Fats are Good!”—to determine if an article’s content is really salient to your own health.
30 min
06: Alternative Medicine in the News
Millions of Americans every year turn to alternative-medicine approaches that have never been rigorously studied or have even been disproven. Learn why fish oil supplements are a $1.2-billion industry, despite research that shows no health benefit from their use, and why individuals continue to turn to stem cell “infusions” despite sometimes dire consequences.
31 min
07: The Media’s Take on Mental Health
While mentally ill individuals are more likely to become victims of crime than to be violent perpetrators, their depiction in TV and film has skewed our perceptions of the risk they pose to society. The Associated Press has recently encouraged journalists to cover these issues more fairly and accurately. But as you’ll discover by looking at related news articles, we still have a long way to go.
31 min
08: The Media and the Internet
You’d never believe people who told you they lived off air only, never eating. Yet one “Breatharian” couple received widespread media coverage on the internet, broadcast sites, and in print. Why are we so gullible? Learn how to think like a skeptic when reading news in any medium, remembering that while internet “clickbait” races continue to be faster and faster, real science is slow and steady.
32 min
09: We Share Our World with Toxins
While toxins are around us all the time and require a nuanced, sophisticated approach to understand, short and memorable headlines sell. Follow the fascinating media coverage of baby-food toxins and the new water system in Flint, MI, to discover the reasons for conflicting headlines and stories. Who got it right? And who got it so very wrong?
30 min
10: Are Coffee and Wine Good for Your Heart?
Learn why accurate reporting on the relationships between coffee, wine, and cardiovascular health—the number one cause of death in the United States—requires an understanding of real clinical endpoints as well as a desire to clearly explain the complicated answer to a seemingly simple question: Is this good for me or bad for me? With its ups and downs and missteps, the history of reporting on these topics is fascinating.
30 min
11: Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality
Why is life expectancy in the United States decreasing and infant mortality so high compared to other industrialized nations? Take a captivating look behind the scenes at the debate between scientists fighting for their individual points of view. Does the media explain the statistics behind their competing theories? If not, who suffers from the oversimplification of a “clickbait” headline?
30 min
12: Is It Really OK to Stop Flossing?
You might have seen a headline recently stating that flossing your teeth is a complete waste of time, or might have read that new guidelines mean your blood pressure might be high. But did you also read that many doctors do not agree with those changes? Probably not. Learn why health recommendations can suddenly change and how to determine if those changes apply to you.
31 min
13: Does Cancer Screening Work?
We’ve all seen the stories about a cancer survivor whose life was saved by early screening—heart-warming stories that can make us want to run out and take every early-warning test in sight. But cancer screening is full of complexities that rarely make the news. Learn about the very real dangers of overdiagnosing, and how to determine which screenings are important for you.
30 min
14: Drug Prices in the News
In an ideal world, all medications would be available and affordable to those who need them. But the minutiae of prescription drug pricing can create a significant barrier. Learn about the unique role of the pharmacy benefit manager, how pharmaceutical companies work to keep generics out of the marketplace, and the ways in which gifts given by drug reps still influence doctors’ prescribing habits.
31 min
15: Selling Disease
Discover how drug companies sometimes develop a drug first, and only then identify a disease the drug can address—think restless legs syndrome or chronic dry eye. Is the media helping us focus on our biggest health challenges, or pulling our attention over to the newest problems, problems potentially driven by pharmaceutical marketing?
32 min
16: The Opioid Crisis
Opioids had been around for a century before exploding into the crisis we have today. But the cause of the current crisis is not as simple as the story we often hear—greedy drug companies pushing greedy doctors to overprescribe. Learn what the most common cause of opioid death is today, and the role the news media can play with respect to educating families and creating pressure for policy change.
33 min
17: Infections in the Headlines
While the media has played an important role in educating the public about hygiene and the avoidance of disease, it has also been known to spread false rumors resulting in very real health consequences. Learn what the media got right and wrong in covering the recent outbreaks of Ebola and influenza. And our own take away? If we don’t have time to read the full article, we shouldn’t be skimming the headlines.
31 min
18: Health Risks in Our Environment
Does your cell phone increase your risk for cancer? Does it really matter whether or not you use your seatbelt? Using your “Skeptic’s Toolkit,” learn how to examine the research that supports or (or doesn’t) the “risk” headlines to then make appropriate choices for you and your family. Exaggerating a risk might make for good “clickbait,” but it can lead to unnecessary fears and poor decision-making.
30 min
19: Bad Science
When doctors tragically rely on fraudulent or shoddy science published in reputable medical journals, patients can suffer. Even worse, explore the dark side of medical publishing, in which for-profit “journals” with worthy sounding titles publish trash articles reviewed by no one. When researchers’ work can be published for a fee, who really pays the price?
31 min
20: Diet, Health, and the Power of Words
From “superfood” to “pink slime” to acai, the media exerts a powerful effect on our concepts of food, diet, and health. Learn how to differentiate between nutrition-related scientific statements and marketing statements. When does the desire to eat whole, healthy foods become an unhealthy obsession? What role does the media play in influencing those choices?
30 min
21: Genetics and the Media
New information about the influence of our genes is released every day—but how does the press respond? With the example of genetic effects on obesity, you’ll discover how two antithetical headlines can result from the same scientific report. These overblown and overly simplistic headlines might attract readers, but they can muddy the waters of these complicated issues and even make readers skeptical of science itself.
32 min
22: How to Stay Young
Professor Benaroch will lead you through the exercise of finding solid, credible answers to a question on all of our minds: What’s the best way to stay young and healthy? He’ll illustrate how the skeptic’s tools you’ve learned to use when reading or viewing media reports will help you answer this or any other health question. You’ll be surprised where the research takes you!
30 min
23: Cures for the Common Cold
Use your “Skeptic’s Toolkit” to discover how to best address the common cold. What’s your best choice: Echinacea, good old chicken soup, vitamin C, vitamin D, or zinc? Will any of these options cure the cold or get rid of it faster than a placebo? You’ll find your answer by remembering that good journalism provides an honest headline followed immediately by solid facts and an accurate summary of the appropriate studies.
30 min
24: The Media’s Role in Improving Health
Discover the positive role the popular media played in encouraging us to put our cigarettes down, our seatbelts on, and not mix drinking and driving. This is media at its best, working creatively and effectively in the interest of public health. What issues could the media address today to positively impact our public health?
36 min
