Poor coverage of new medical tests can be harmful, research finds

A new study shows people are being needlessly worried or being given false hope by media coverage that fails to give the full picture about new types of medical tests.

Researchers from Bond University and the University of Sydney analysed more than 1100 English-language articles from around the world that covered new types of diagnostic medical testing.

The tests included a range of new technologies, from liquid blood biopsies to detect cancers to using the Apple Watch to detect atrial fibrillation.

The study’s senior author, Dr Ray Moynihan from Bond University, said they were particularly concerned that while the…