HIFA colleagues
Totally agree with Joseph on the need for clarity here. [ https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/who-report-says-eating-processed-meat-c... ] As well as not being headlined as being an opinion article it is unfortunate that two key points it refers to - the small size of the cancer risk from eating processed meat relative to the risk from tobacco smoking (around 20 times greater) and the fairly small additional risk to an individual from quite high levels of such consumption (lifetime risk of colorectal cancer rising from 5 percent to 6 percent from consumption of the equivalent of 50g of bacon every single day ) - were not remotely indicated by its title.
I am NOT recommending eating processed, or indeed any, meat; eating less meat is clearly good for people and for the planet, but the article provides an example of how important it is that communicators present health risk issues as clearly as possible.
Geoff Royston
HIFA profile: Geoff Royston is an Independent Health Analyst and Researcher, former Head of Strategic Analysis and Operational Research in the Department of Health for England, and Past President of the UK Operational Research Society. His work has focused on informing the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes in health and social care, and on fostering the capabilities of others to work in these areas. Associated activities have included modelling for understanding the performance of complex systems, analysis and communication of risk, and horizon scanning and futures thinking. He has also worked on information and communication technology in the health sector, notably in leading the design and national launch of the telephone and online health information and advice service NHS Direct. He has served on both scientific and medical UK Research Council panels, and as an impact assessor for the UK higher education Research Excellence Framework. He is a member of the editorial board for the journal Health Care Management Science and in 2012 was Guest Editor for its special issue on Global Health. He has been a consultant for the World Health Organisation, is a long standing member of the EURO Working Group on Operational Research Applied to Health Services, and is an expert adviser to the mHIFA (mobile Healthcare Information for All) programme. http://www.hifa.org/projects/mobile-hifa-mhifa He is also a member of the main HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Evaluating the Impact of Healthcare Information.
http://www.hifa.org/support/members/geoff
geoff.royston AT gmail.com
