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Jan 30 - 'Folic acid may cut premature births by 70%'

Folic acid taken for at least a year before pregnancy can cut the risks of premature birth by 50 to 70 per cent, reported three newspapers (31 January 2008). The reports were based on a press release that summarised the findings of an unpublished observational study.

Jan 23 - Non-prescription cough medicines 'could be a waste of money'

Non-prescription cough medicines 'could be a waste of money', reported the Daily Telegraph (23 January 2008). The newspaper was accurate in its reporting of a well-conducted review that appropriately concluded that there was no evidence for or against the effectiveness of over-the-counter medicines due to the lack of good quality trials.

Jan 17 - Etanercept for psoriasis in children and adolescents

A drug originally developed for arthritis can reduce symptoms of psoriasis in children, reported the Daily Telegraph (17 January 2008). The newspaper briefly but accurately reported the main result of a well-conducted randomised controlled trial.

Jan 09 - Screening for breast cancer

Breast cancer deaths have been nearly halved by NHS breast cancer screening, reported four newspapers (9 January 2008). The newspaper reports were based on a case-control study. The newspaper reports were generally accurate but only one raised the possibility that the study could have over-estimated the benefit of screening.

Jan 06 - 'Vaccine to fight all flu 'on the way''

A vaccine that could protect against all forms of flu has been developed by British scientists, reported five newspapers (4 January 2008). The reports are based on limited information about early-stage research distributed in a press release, so the reliability of the evidence cannot be assessed.

Jan 03 - 'Hormone help for prostate cancer'

An early short course of hormone treatment can slow the spread of prostate cancer by up to eight years, reported two newspapers (3 January 2008). The newspapers briefly summarised the findings of a well conducted randomised trial, which found adding four months' hormone therapy to radiotherapy improved disease-specific outcomes in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Dec 18 - MRSA test 'cuts infections by 40%'

Rapid testing of patients for MRSA reduced infection rates by nearly 40%, reported the Times (19 December 2007). The newspaper accurately reported the results of a study comparing infections before and after the introduction of the test. The causal relationship between testing and the reduction in infections is uncertain.

Dec 12 - 'Planned caesareans linked to breathing difficulties'

Babies born by planned caesarean section are up to four times more likely to suffer from breathing problems in the first days of life reported four newspapers (12th December 2007). These provided generally accurate summaries of a well-conducted cohort study that looked at the relationship between method of delivery and breathing difficulties in newborns.

Dec 11 - 'How the Mediterranean diet could help you live longer'

Consuming a Mediterranean diet can help people live longer, reported six newspapers (11th December 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reports of a large cohort study, which looked at the relationship between diet and mortality in older people.

Dec 06 - 'Tomato ketchup 'can cut cholesterol''

Eating tomato ketchup daily reduces cholesterol levels reported five newspapers (6 December 2007). The reports were based on a small unrandomised trial which measured cholesterol levels of participants with normal cholesterol before and after a high tomato product diet, including ketchup. The reports were generally accurate, but the reliability of the study conclusions is unclear.

Dec 04 - Honey 'better than cough medicine'

Honey is better than dextromorphan for treating children's coughs, reported seven newspapers (4 December 2007). The newspaper articles described a small trial in which buckwheat honey was found to give effective relief to night time cough symptoms. However, the trial only demonstrated honey to be superior to no treatment and not to dextromorphan.

Nov 29 - Magnetic stimulation for treatment of major depression

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an effective treatment for depression, reported the Financial Times (30 November 2007). The newspaper accurately reported the results of a well conducted randomised controlled trial. The results appear reliable for the short-term treatment of major depression not alleviated by drug treatment.

Nov 18 - 'Weight loss drug increases chance of depression'

The weight-loss drug rimonabant increases the risk of anxiety and depression, reported four newspapers (16 November 2007). The reports were based on the findings of an analysis of four clinical trials that found rimonabant led to greater weight-loss than placebo, but was associated with a greater number of adverse events.

Nov 12 - 'Drugs 'of no benefit' to hyperactive children'

Drugs given to hyperactive children offer no long-term benefit reported three newspapers (12 November 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reporting of findings from a three year follow-up study following a randomised clinical trial. The studies conclusions appear reliable.

Nov 11 - Spinal manipulation and or diclofenac for acute low back pain

Spinal manipulation (and/ or use of diclofenac) does not speed up recovery from back pain reported five newspapers (9 November 2007). The newspaper reports of a well-conducted trial of people with acute back pain were generally accurate. The study's results appear reliable, and are applicable to people with acute lower back pain.