The core findings of the Brandon, Isaac and LaVeist article made believing their case difficult. It was not true that “approximately two-fifths of both black and white participants” indicated that they had heard of the TSUS, but it was 25% and 74%, respectively—results markedly different than what others have reported. Miscalculations similar to the ones [...]

Continue reading " Misinformation and Misbeliefs in the Tuskegee Study: DISCUSSION "

There were cultural sensitivity challenges with regard to methodology and the use of a single-word sound bite for the TSUS. The authors made the points that “blacks were more likely to believe that a similar study could happen again regardless of their awareness of the Tuskegee study” and “we cannot be sure how knowledge of [...]

Continue reading " Misinformation and Misbeliefs in the Tuskegee Study: CULTURAL SENSITIVITY "

There was knowledge about the TSUS challenges with regard to the respondents and the sources for TSUS information. The authors asked the respondents who were aware of the TSUS (70 blacks, 75 whites) survey items to assess specific factual information about the TSUS. The source of the factual information was not referenced nor was there [...]

Continue reading " Misinformation and Misbeliefs in the Tuskegee Study: KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE TSUS "

There were several calculation challenges. In their 2003 study, the authors surveyed a sample of 401 respondents >18 years of age in Baltimore City (277 blacks, 101 whites, 23 other). They wrote that “Approximately two-fifths of the total sample (41.9%, n=168) had heard of the Tuskegee study.” They further wrote that “there were no significant [...]

Continue reading " Misinformation and Misbeliefs in the Tuskegee Study: CALCULATIONS "

The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis (TSUS) is an important platform to examine issues of race in medicine and research. The TSUS was the 1932-1972 U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) study in rural Alabama. Two groups of black men were followed to autopsy—approximately 400 syphilitics found untreated and a comparable group of approximately 200 presumably [...]

Continue reading " Misinformation and Misbeliefs in the Tuskegee Study "