Evidence quality
Funding source
The organisation or body that paid for, sponsored or supported a study.
What it means
Definition
Funding source. Funding source helps readers judge potential influence on study design, data access and publication. Public, charity and industry funding can all be legitimate, but transparency matters.
What it can tell you
It can help clarify what sort of evidence or claim is being discussed.
What it cannot tell you
It cannot, by itself, prove that the headline is accurate or clinically important.
Headline trap
Why this matters in headlines
A company-funded trial of its own product should be read with attention to design and reporting.