Publishing and evidence
Peer review
Editorial assessment by other experts before or after publication.
What it means
Definition
Peer review. Peer review is a quality-control step, not a guarantee of truth. Reviewers may miss errors, and peer-reviewed studies can still be biased, underpowered or overstated.
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 headline should not use peer review as a substitute for explaining study design and results.