Ioannidis appears with his criticism of the contemporary medical testing at Chalmers, that we have discussed on this website, as a result of his new book Testing Treatments.

We share his vision here integral weather:

There is increasing concern that most current published research findings are false.

The probability that a research claim is true may depend on study power and bias, the number of other studies on the same question, and, importantly, the ratio of true to no relationships among the relationships probed in each scientific field.

In this framework, a research finding is less likely to be true when the studies conducted in a field are smaller; when effect sizes are smaller, when there is a greater number and lesser preselection or tested relationships, where there is greater flexibility in designs, definitions, outcomes, and analytical modes; when there is greater financial and other interest and prejudice, and when more teams are involved in a scientific field in chase of statistical significance.

Simulations show that for most study designs and settings, it is more likely for a research claim to be false than true. Moreover, for many current scientific fields, claimed research findings may often be simply accurate measures of the prevailing bias.

Based on the insights of Ioannidis and Chalmers, we can say that there is no difference between mainstream and complementary medicine behandelvormen. In both sports are good (low) and less good (more) articles. The classification may actually complementary versus regular on the basis of research no longer made, but only on the basis of the fact that the complementary behandelvormen not taught at university. And even that is in the USA no longer true. Only in the Netherlands but still ....

We end with a quote of particular Ioannidis:

The truth is filed away somewhere. Meanwhile, most published research findings are false.

Ioannidis, a professor who dares!  And let his message and those of Chalmers used to come to better understanding of what facts are, and what truth is. The myth of the value science and medicine was already doorgeprikt, but Ioannidis Chalmers and give again a very nice contemporary image.

Literature

• E. Pronk. Science and truth are not one. MC July 29, 2007, 1128-1130
• Ioannidis JPA Why most published research findings are false. 2005 PLoS Med 2: e124.
• SCIENCE IS MOST PUBLISHED FALSE?
• Ioannidis JPA. Contradicted and initially stronger effects in highly cited clinical research. JAMA 2005:218-228
• Ioannidis JP, Trikalinos TA. Early extreme contradictory estimates may appear in published research: The Proteus phenomenon in molecular genetics research and randomized trials. J Clin Epidemiol. 2005; 58:543-549.
• Krimsky S, Rothenberg LS, Stott P, Kyle G. Scientific journals and their authors' financial interests: A pilot study. Psychother Psychosom. 1998:194-201