We're always concerned when we hear news that the FDA may not have done trials extensive enough to really determine whether a drug is safe or not. But as if that weren't enough, there's something else to be worried about: Are doctors actually getting the whole story when they read about drug trials in a medical journal?
A new study has raised just this question. The study, which looked at 164 drug trials over the course of two years, found that the results of many important drug trials were never published in medical journals. Further, the ones that were published often showed discrepancies between the data published and the data that was sent to the FDA for approval.
Since doctors generally look to medical journals for their information about new drugs, this is particularly disturbing news. How can they hope to make informed decisions about what drug to prescribe when they are not being given all the information they need?
To learn more about the study:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report piece