Deb Cohen

9:30am on Thursday 5 March, the Nuffield Trust Summit will feature a panel discussion: Is polarisation bad for our health? The panel will explore how growing political and social polarisation affects health outcomes, public debate and the ability to build consensus around evidence-based policy. Follow the link to register for the livestream.

In a world of short attention spans, strong views and increasingly varied sources of information, should we be concerned about how we care for the nation’s health?

Our #ntsummit panel will dive headfirst into the debate.

Register to watch on Thursday: buff.ly/RSiCok6

For what promises to be a fascinating discussion about polarisation, health policy and science, we’ll hear from @debscohen.bsky.social, Samira Ben Omar and Mark Henderson.

Chaired by our Director of Communications and External Affairs, @leonoramerry.bsky.social.

#ntsummit buff.ly/RSiCok6

This recent RCT of an "AI stethoscope" claims the technology "shows promise" for diagnosing cardiovascular conditions.

It does not.

It is a textbook example of the risks of conducting unprincipled 'per protocol analyses'. Once again, peer review at a major medical journal has failed.

🧵 1/

Galleri cancer tests: Controversial NHS trial fails to meet key goal A controversial blood test that promises to detect multiple cancers in their early stages failed to meet a key trial endpoint of a significant reduction in stage III-IV cases. Investors in the US com...

www.bmj.com/content/392/...

@debscohen.bsky.social in the BMJ on multicancer detection tests.

Tl;dr Still doesn't work.

Galleri cancer tests: Controversial NHS trial fails to meet key goal A controversial blood test that promises to detect multiple cancers in their early stages failed to meet a key trial endpoint of a significant reduction in stage III-IV cases. Investors in the US com...

Before made FDA head, Marty Makary told me of “fierce lobbying effort” behind “early cancer detection”.

“But is there net public health benefit or harm?”

At time, he'd seen “no substantial evidence” Galleri improved this. Will the NHS trial change that?

www.bmj.com/content/392/...

Galleri cancer tests: Controversial NHS trial fails to meet key goal A controversial blood test that promises to detect multiple cancers in their early stages failed to meet a key trial endpoint of a significant reduction in stage III-IV cases. Investors in the US com...

Before made FDA head, Marty Makary told me of “fierce lobbying effort” behind “early cancer detection”.

“But is there net public health benefit or harm?”

At the time, he'd seen “no substantial evidence” Galleri improved public health. Will NHS trial change that?

www.bmj.com/content/392/...

A few years ago, Grail launched NHS trial of Galleri 50 cancer test, despite concerns from experts about its sensitivity as @mgtmccartney.bsky.social & I reported for @bmj.com & the BBC.

Today investors were told main endpoint- a statistically significant drop in Stage III–IV cancers was not met

This is my friend! You should read this book, it’s really good AND as an added topical bonus, I make a cameo to criticise Peter Attia! Haha, excellent timing 😂 Honestly it really is a corker, if you are interested in the whole murky world of online medical influencers, it’s a great overview

Want to know what’s wrong with you? “Bad Influence” argues that separating medical fact from fiction is becoming harder online

The benefits of using the internet to ask medical questions are clear. Yet Deborah Cohen, author of “Bad Influence”, is not convinced technological progress is making people healthier

How the internet hijacked our health

Recommended listening from @kamranabbasi.bsky.social and @debscohen.bsky.social about Deb's book Bad Influence on how social media is affecting health and driving unnecessary and potentially harmful testing and treatment.

open.spotify.com/episode/6EiB...

Can’t wait to read Bad Influence by Deb, meanwhile I recommend listening to @bmj.com podcast. Where commercial meets social determinants of health, it doesn’t go well. We see this play out each day in practice, undermining #NHS & its practitioners. No easy answers, recognition 1st step.

In this conversation with @bmj.com Editor, @kamranabbasi.bsky.social , we discuss the ways in which online information can both empower and mislead, the role of big tech in shaping our wellbeing and the complex and disturbing ways wellness influencers are becoming more trusted than the NHS.

Are health influencers making us sick? Social media can help to raise awareness of health conditions — but the wealth of dubious information online might do more harm than good.

I've finally been published in Nature...sort of! Amazing review of my book "Bad Influence".

"Her deeply reported, compelling analysis lays bare how social-media influencers, apps, algorithms and the rest of the digital ecosystem are transforming our health"

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Thanks Ben. It went in ways I didn't expect...but I guess health has always been shaped by culture, society and £££££

Bad Influence is a brilliant new book by @debscohen.bsky.social - I’m learning so much about the impact of the internet on people’s perceptions of their health - disturbing and eye opening

The rise of the commodified self...my op ed in @newscientist.com

Health tech, apps, diagnostics, online clinics, influencers- all competing for authority, and figuring out how to monetise it.

There is a whole parallel system powered by consumer health

www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

Well I wasn’t expecting that… went out for a few bevvies and ended up signing a book I didn’t even know had been published...

Thrilled my book Bad Influence featured by Stylist.

This "fascinating" & "terrifying dive into 21st century healthcare should be mandatory reading".

Showing how social media leads to "dark corners"

"Read this book & become instantly better informed, self-aware & outraged"

“This is why the trial is necessary”: experts behind the puberty blockers study respond to mounting opposition As the NHS launches its most contested clinical trial in decades, Deborah Cohen speaks to Emily Simonoff, Pathways lead investigator, and Hilary Cass, the author of the review that led to the study T...

Amid fierce criticism, I spoke to critics & triallists about the puberty blocker trial, putting methodological & ethical concerns to researchers & Hilary Cass for @bmj.com. They describe clinical context, challenge criticism & say studies are necessary. (open access)

www.bmj.com/content/391/...

In 2019 I got leaked US UK trade deal docs that suggested there would be drug price rises. I reported on the docs for BBC Newsnight. There was outcry from certain sectors & a certain ex leader of the opposition took up the case. Interesting to see this has actually come to pass

The government told us it would be pivotal in their 10 year plan and they will look to roll out asap when the trial reports. Hopefully it was clear that it's not going to be that straightforward. There was a big gap between what NHSE told us and the DHSC. We will know more when trial reports

I'm not sure I said the trial will answer the hope or hype question. I was laying out why it wouldn't answer that throughout the programme. It was more government said they would make their position clearer. And yes Harpal Kumar did get time on air

Thank you!

File on 4 Investigates - Multi-Cancer Testing - Hype or Hope? - BBC Sounds Could multi-cancer detection tests help improve earlier diagnosis for NHS patients?

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Multi cancer detection tests

Till we've better evidence definitely more hype than hope in my view

Good show @debscohen.bsky.social

I'm never quite sure how much of the nice stuff people say about my book, Bad Influence, I should share. But these are the first two reviews in and they're from people I really admire. So I thought I'd indulge myself a bit...

I am thrilled to share that Bad Influence has been selected by @waterstones.bsky.social for an exclusive pre-order promotion 
Get 25% off when you order this week using code OCTOBER25. waterstones.com/book/bad-influ…
#WPreorder

(Apols for music...couldn't resist)

In the words of one prof of evidence synthesis: "This is going to be great - exposing the snake oil pushers of the modern age. With modern technology and a global market at their fingertips, they have never been more dangerous to our health."

You can tell I'm not in sales and marketing...my mate just DM'd me "where's the preorder link you, nobhead?"

So here is it: amzn.eu/d/hRYd9fI

Summat tells me you might not be....

New book klaxon: I finally piss EVERYONE off!

What happens when you put health on platforms geared for shopping, PR & entertainment?

What's medicine and what's marketing? And what impact is it having on health?

(In public health lingo -it's commercial meets digital determinants of health)