Rhetorical techniques used in the reporting of cardiac resynchronization trials.

摘要

New cardiac procedures are often used excessively, suggesting that physicians tend to overestimate the benefits of new procedures. Randomized trial reports may contribute to this problem by exaggerating procedural benefits. I have previously noted that a variety of rhetorical strategies that emphasize device benefits were used in reporting implantable cardio-verter defibrillator (ICD) primary prevention trials, including message framing, underreporting of complications, and interpretation bias. Other investigators have also noted widespread use of such techniques in randomized trial reports. The purpose of this report was to determine the extent to which rhetorical strategies were used to emphasize device benefits in cardiac resynchro-nization therapy (CRT) trial reports.