The potential danger of journal summary services

Abstract

On 29 April, NEJM Journal Watch published a summary of a recent trial of single-dose dexamethasone for acute asthma compared with the current standard of 5-day prednisone. Unfortunately the one-line opening paragraph of the summary (which was the only line in the email alert) stated the opposite of the actual outcome of the trial. It is conceivable that practitioners around the world might change their practice on the basis of this one-line summary, with grave consequences.