Provide names of other journalists involved.
None
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Sept 4, 2011 and Nov 16, 2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
The stories explore procedures that are commonly used to diagnose and treat sports injuries. They report that there is little good evidence that they are effective, yet they are widely promoted and sold, often harming patients and costing the health care system– and individuals– millions of dollars.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Internet was used to check credentials of people who sometimes exaggerated them, to search for peer reviewed articles on the subject, and to find data on numbers of procedures.
Explain types of human sources used.
Interviews with orthopedists in academia and in private practice, interviews with patients
Results:
An outpouring of responses from doctors and patients, many of whom had no idea that these methods had never been found to work.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No challenges to accuracy. A minor correction of one private practice orthopedist’s location
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
This sort of project only is possible if you are very familiar with scientific evidence and data and can distinguish a credible study from one that is done mainly for promotion. You must also gain the confidence of orthopedists who tend to have little time to explain the basics. And you must have the courage of your convictions to write a story that lays out the facts, even though most stories about these methods have been largely uncritical.