Medical advice doled out on popular talk shows "The Doctors" and "The Dr Oz Show" should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt, a research study published Wednesday suggests.
Research presented in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that half of the advice given on the two talk shows either contradicted scientific evidence or had no scientific basis at all.
"The Doctors" consist of ER physician Travis Stork, family medicine physician and sexologist Rachael Ross, OB/GYN Jennifer Ashton, pediatrician Jim Sears, plastic surgeon Andrew Ordon, and urologist Jennifer Berman. Dr Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Researchers selected 40 random episodes from last season's "The Doctors" and "The Dr Oz Show" for evaluation. They found that on average, "The Doctors" gave 11 recommendations per episode, and Dr Oz gave 12. "The Doctors" most frequently recommended that viewers consult a physician, and Dr Oz most frequently gave out dietary advice.
In total, the evidence reviewers researched 80 recommendations from each show.
Scientific evidence to support the advice given out was found 54 per cent of the time. For "The Dr Oz Show," research supported 46 per cent, contradicted 15 per cent, and was not found for 39 per cent of the star's recommendations, according to the researchers.
For "The Doctors", evidence supported 63 per cent, contradicted 14 per cent, and was not found for 24 per cent of recommendations from the panel.
The study's researchers concluded: "Recommendations made on medical talk shows often lack adequate information on specific benefits or the magnitude of the effects of these benefits.
"Approximately half of the recommendations have either no evidence or are contradicted by the best available evidence.
"Potential conflicts of interest are rarely addressed. The public should be skeptical about recommendations made on medical talk shows.
"The Dr Oz Show" is co-produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, and is in syndication through Sony Pictures Television Distribution. "The Doctors" was created by talk show host Phil McGraw, and is syndicated through CBS Television Distribution. Neither the television stars nor the production companies have responded to the BMJ study.
