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Editorials

The scandal of poor epidemiological research

BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7471.868 (Published 14 October 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:868
  1. Erik von Elm, research fellow (vonelm@ispm.unibe.ch),
  2. Matthias Egger, professor (egger@ispm.unibe.ch)
  1. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Berne, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland
  2. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Berne, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland

    Reporting guidelines are needed for observational epidemiology

    Something surely must be wrong with epidemiology when the new editors of a leading journal in the field entitle their inaugural offering, “Epidemiology—is it time to call it a day?”1 Observational epidemiology has not had a good press in recent years. Conflicting results from epidemiological studies of the risks of daily life, such as coffee, hair dye, or hormones, are frequently and eagerly reported in the popular press, providing a constant source of anxiety for the public.2 3 In many cases deeply held beliefs, given credibility by numerous observational studies over long periods of time, are challenged only when contradicted by randomised trials. In the most recent example, a Cochrane review of randomised trials shows that antioxidant vitamins do not prevent gastrointestinal cancer and may even increase all cause mortality.4 5

    Now Pocock et al describe the quality and the litany of problems of 73 epidemiological studies published in January 2001 in general medical and specialist journals (p 883). …

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