Medizin transparent

Medizin transparent is a non-commercial Austrian online fact-checking service that examines medical and health claims from advertising, print and online media, and popular health myths for their scientific validity. It publishes its findings in plain-language articles aimed at lay readers. The website is operated by Cochrane Österreich at the University for Continuing Education Krems (Donau-Universität Krems). The project was launched in June 2011, originally conceived as a media watch blog for health content in Austrian media. Since October 2014 it has also reviewed health claims from non-Austrian media, advertising, other internet sources, and popular health myths. A large share of its articles is based on reader requests: readers can submit topics and claims free of charge to the scientific editorial team, and the results are then made public. Medizin transparent follows the principles of evidence-based medicine. All published health information is based solely on the current state of scientific studies. The editorial process involves a comprehensive search in scientific literature databases such as PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Embase, an assessment of study quality, and a rating of the overall evidence on a four-level scale from unclear (0 of 3 points) to high (3 of 3 points). To ensure objectivity, each assessment is cross-checked by another scientific editor and a trained physician. The service adheres to the HONcode standard of the Health On the Net Foundation and has been certified by the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN). Since 2021 it has participated in the Verlässliches Gesundheitswissen (Reliable Health Knowledge) programme of the German Network for Health Literacy. The service is free of advertising and commercial conflicts of interest. It is financed by grants from the Austrian Federal Health Agency (Bundesgesundheitsagentur) and the Health and Social Fund of Lower Austria (NÖGUS). Additional partners include the public health portal Gesundheit.gv.at, the patient advocacy offices of Vienna, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg, the Cochrane blog Wissen Was Wirkt, and the Association for Consumer Information (VKI). Donations are possible and are fully tax-deductible in Austria; they flow 100% into the project and do not influence its independent work. Medizin transparent has been mentioned in Austrian media more than one hundred times up to May 2015. Since September 2013, the VKI has reprinted selected Medizin transparent articles in its monthly magazine Konsument. In October 2014, Medizin transparent published the book 100 Medizin-Mythen in cooperation with the VKI. Since May 2015, selected articles have been published on Kurier.at.

The original idea for Medizin transparent goes back to the project Behind the Headlines of the British National Health Service, which has been examining the scientific studies behind medical news reports since 2001. At the beginning, Medizin transparent was conceived as a media watch blog for health content in Austrian media. It launched in June 2011. Since October 2014, the site has also reviewed health claims from non-Austrian media, advertising, other internet sources, and popular health myths. Since September 2013, the Association for Consumer Information (VKI) has reprinted selected Medizin transparent articles in its monthly magazine Konsument. In October 2014, Medizin transparent published the book 100 Medizin-Mythen in cooperation with the VKI. Since May 2015, selected articles have been published on Kurier.at. Up to May 2015, the project was mentioned more than one hundred times in Austrian daily newspapers, weekly magazines, online media, TV and radio, as well as in specialist journals. The service is operated by Cochrane Österreich at the University for Continuing Education Krems (Donau-Universität Krems). It is a non-commercial project free of advertising or commercial conflicts of interest. Financing comes from grants from the Austrian Federal Health Agency (Bundesgesundheitsagentur) and the Health and Social Fund of Lower Austria (NÖGUS). Additional partners include the public health portal Gesundheit.gv.at, the patient advocacy offices of Vienna, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg, the Cochrane blog Wissen Was Wirkt, and the VKI. Medizin transparent is certified by the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) and follows the HONcode standard. Since 2021 it has participated in the Verlässliches Gesundheitswissen programme of the German Network for Health Literacy.

• 2021

  Since 2021, Medizin transparent has participated in the Verlässliches Gesundheitswissen programme of the German Network for Health Literacy.

• 2015

  Since May 2015, selected articles have been published on Kurier.at.

• 2014

  Since October 2014, the site has also reviewed health claims from non-Austrian media, advertising, other internet sources, and popular health myths.

• 2014

  In October 2014, Medizin transparent published the book 100 Medizin-Mythen in cooperation with the VKI.

• 2013

  Since September 2013, the VKI has reprinted selected Medizin transparent articles in its monthly magazine Konsument.

• 2011

  Medizin transparent launched in June 2011 as a media watch blog for health content in Austrian media.

Independent, advertising-free, evidence-based health fact-checking service for the public.

• Health fact-checks

  Articles reviewing medical claims from advertising, media and the internet.

• Reader inquiry service

  Free service allowing readers to submit health myths and claims for review.

• Book: 100 Medizin-Mythen

  Published in October 2014 in cooperation with the VKI.

1. 1Medizin transparent | Gesundheit im Faktencheckmedizin-transparent.at
2. 2Über uns | Medizin transparentmedizin-transparent.at
3. 3Sie wollen uns mit einer Spende unterstützen? | Medizin transparentmedizin-transparent.at
4. 4Medizin transparentwikidata.org
5. 5Medizin transparentde.wikipedia.org