Universities told to stop hyping research findings

Exaggerated claims risk ruining public trust in medical research

Falling public trust in medical research may be attributable partly to university press offices exaggerating scientific findings, the authors of an Academy of Medical Sciences report have said.

Enhancing the Use of Scientific Evidence to Judge the Potential Benefits and Harms of Medicines, published in June, found that 65 per cent of 2,000 respondents to a survey said they trusted medical advice from friends and family, while 37 per cent said they trusted evidence derived from medical research.