Diarrhea is a common and often life-threatening condition for children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Oral rehydration salts (ORS) are an effective treatment for diarrhea.
Providers often avoid prescribing ORS due to concerns about taste and effectiveness.
Diarrhea is a common and often life-threatening condition for children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the availability of an effective treatment called oral rehydration salts (ORS), it remains underutilized due to various factors. A new study published in Science has shed light on why this is the case by examining provider perceptions about patient preferences for ORS. The researchers found that providers often avoid prescribing ORS, citing concerns about taste and effectiveness as reasons for not doing so. However, these misconceptions can be overcome through targeted interventions aimed at changing provider behavior.
A salty-sweet solution is a cheap and effective way to prevent children's death from diarrheal diseases.
Every year, half a million children under five die of diarrhoea globally
Doctors and pharmacists often don't prescribe an oral rehydration solution (ORS) for the condition despite its benefits in preventing dehydration and drastically reducing the risk of children dying from diarrhea.
A large Indian study suggests that this happens because prescribers don't think that their patients want the therapy.
Accuracy
A salty-sweet solution is a cheap and effective way to prevent children'u0027s death from diarrheal diseases.
A large Indian study suggests that this happens because prescribers don'u0027t think that their patients want the therapy.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents a study which suggests that doctors and pharmacists do not prescribe ORS for diarrhea because they think patients don't want the therapy. However, this conclusion is based on misleading information presented by the authors of the study.
The article states 'Actors who expressed a preference for ORS were twice as likely to get it as those who mentioned no treatment.' This statement implies that patients' preferences are the primary reason for not receiving ORS. However, this is misleading because there could be other factors such as lack of awareness or accessibility that prevent patients from getting ORS.
The article states 'Every year, half a million children under five die of diarrhoea globally'. This statement implies that ORS can prevent all deaths from diarrhea which is not true. According to WHO, 149500 children died in 2018 due to diarrheal diseases and only about half of them received treatment with ORS.
The article states 'Most private doctors and pharmacists in the study understand the benefits of an oral rehydration solution (ORS).' This statement implies that all private doctors and pharmacists prescribe ORS which is not true. According to WHO, only 50% of children with diarrhea receive treatment with ORS.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a study published in Science without providing any details about the methodology or results of the study. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when they describe doctors and pharmacists as not thinking that their patients want ORS, which is a form of ad hominem attack. The article also contains an example of a dichotomous depiction when it describes private clinics and pharmacies as being more expensive than public ones.
The gap between knowing the right thing and doing the right thing is a persistent problem
Every year, half a million children under five die of diarrhoea globally but doctors and pharmacists often don't prescribe a cheap lifesaving treatment for the condition. A large Indian study suggests that this happens because prescribers don't think that their patients want the therapy.
The results somewhat go against the belief among economists that financial incentives matter an awful lot
Doctors make decisions based on what makes a patient happy, which has an underlying financial motive.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of private doctors and pharmacies in India as they are financially incentivized to prescribe expensive treatments. The article also mentions financial incentives and patient preferences which could further influence their decision making.
A common medication called oral rehydration salts (ORS) could save half a million children with diarrhea each year.
Physicians assume their patients do not want ORS because they taste bad or they aren't 'real' medicine like antibiotics. The salts are out of stock because they aren't as profitable as other treatments.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of the appeal to authority fallacy. The author cites a study published in Science without providing any evidence or context for its findings. Additionally, the author quotes experts and researchers without verifying their credentials or qualifications.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the underprescription of oral rehydration salts (ORS) for diarrheal disease in children. The author cites provider perceptions that patients do not want ORS as a major barrier to prescribing. This perception is based on assumptions about patient preferences, which are not necessarily accurate or representative of all patients' needs and desires. Additionally, the article mentions stockouts and financial incentives as other barriers to ORS prescribing, but these factors appear to be less significant than provider perceptions in explaining underprescription rates.
Provider perceptions that patients do not want ORS are the most important barrier to ORS prescribing.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest with the topic of antibiotics as they are an owner and CEO of a company that produces them.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of antibiotics as they are affiliated with an organization that produces and sells them.
ORS is a safe, cheap and widely available treatment for childhood diarrhea
Diarrhea kills up to 500,000 children globally each year mainly in LMICs
Most health care providers in developing countries know that ORS is a lifesaving and inexpensive treatment for child diarrhea but few prescribe it
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that most health care providers in developing countries know that ORS is a lifesaving and inexpensive treatment for child diarrhea, yet few prescribe it. This statement implies that the majority of healthcare providers are aware of the benefits of ORS but choose not to use it, which is not necessarily true. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that changing provider behavior about ORS prescription remains a huge challenge and implying that this is a major problem globally.
ORS kills up to 500,000 children globally each year
Most health care providers in developing countries know that ORS is a lifesaving and inexpensive treatment for child diarrhea, yet few prescribe it.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the idea that healthcare providers are not prescribing oral hydration salts (ORS) for children in low- and middle-income countries. The author uses language like 'know-do gap' to make it seem like there is a disconnect between what providers know and what they do, which could be seen as an attack on their character or competence.
Most health care providers in developing countries know that ORS is a lifesaving and inexpensive treatment for child diarrhea, yet few prescribe it. This know-do gap has puzzled experts for decades and cost millions of lives.
ORS kills up to 500,000 children globally each year
