McMaster scientists are helping keep tabs on the factuality of public dialogue about
health research through a new online publication hosted by Maclean's magazine.

“Science-ish“, written by Julia Belluz, associate editor at The Medical Post, fact-checks
claims made in the media and other areas of public discourse by weighing them against
research-based evidence. The site aims to correct misleading headlines and
inflammatory statements by journalists, politicians and other opinion leaders.

“Health research is only as important as its use,” said Steven Hoffman, the adjunct
faculty member at the McMaster Health Forum who initiated the project. “Information
needs context, and that's what this partnership provides. It's a very McMaster project,
given our history with and strengths in evidence-based medicine and knowledge translation.”

As part of the initiative, Belluz learned to use of databases of systematic reviews –
summaries of individual studies on particular topics – considered to be the most
credible forms of evidence. She also draws on the collective knowledge of an advisory
committee of McMaster faculty with expertise in the health system, public health and
clinical issues.

“Our media partners are very open to new ways of thinking about how they do their
journalistic work,” said Hoffman. “Julia is an extremely talented journalist and has been
doing a great job of tackling some very difficult topics.”

Hoffman said the site is meant not only to correct inaccurate statements, but also to act
as a resource for public figures so that research is used appropriately in the future.

“We're in a good position to challenge those who are abusing health knowledge, correct
inaccuracies and provide resources so that it doesn't happen again,” he said. “By doing
that we hope to make the quality of health reporting that much better.”

Since launching in June, the weekly blog has examined a range of topics including
breast cancer screening, the safety of asbestos and genetically modified foods.