Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32544701›Full record

ArticleEpilepsy & behavior : E&B2020

Epilepsy through the eyes of the media: A paradox of positive reporting and challenges of access to advanced neurotechnology.

Vrinda Munjal, Mary Arakelyan, Patrick J McDonald, Judy Illes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Vrinda MunjalDepartment of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.
Mary ArakelyanNeuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; Department of Integrated Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada.
Patrick J McDonaldNeuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Judy IllesNeuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada. Electronic address: jilles@mail.ubc.ca.

Funding

Informing Choice for Neurotechnological Innovation in Pediatric Epilepsy SurgeryRF1MH117805 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA · PI ILLES, JUDY, MCDONALD, PATRICK · 2018 to 2018
$534k
NIMH NIH HHS RF1 MH117805
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveMedia coverage of disorders and medical advancements can impact public perception regarding the riskiness, effectiveness, and accessibility of treatment options. We studied that coverage for epilepsy with a focus on surgical interventions and emerging neurotechnologies.

methodsEpilepsy-related English language articles published through 2019 were retrieved from online International news media with a circulation of 80,000 or above. We used directed content analysis of news articles to code content into a priori categories both to identify salient themes and to characterize their valence.

resultsOne hundred forty-six unique articles matched our search terms. Overall, there was a steady increase in epilepsy reporting over time, with a majority of articles published with a positive tone. Neuromodulation was the focus of over 50% of all the articles in the time points analyzed. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and deep-brain stimulation (DBS) were discussed more prominently than other types of neurotechnological interventions; VNS was the neurotechnological focus in 39% of the pediatric articles; resective surgery was the focus in 34% of adult articles. Access, support, and epilepsy literacy were the central themes in the context of ethical, legal, and social issues. SIGNIFICANCE: News media can influence the trust that the public places in science and medicine, and by extension, influences health policy. As innovations in neurotechnology for epilepsy emerge, understanding of individual and societal values is essential to their beneficial evolution and translation to care.

Indexed as

AdultChildChild, PreschoolDeep Brain StimulationEpilepsyFemaleHealth LiteracyHealth PolicyHumansMaleMass MediaVagus Nerve StimulationAblationContent analysisDrug-resistant epilepsyMediaNeuromodulationNeurotechnology

Identifiers

PMID32544701
PMCPMC7541585

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.