The next step is to assess the credibility of the media organization that published or broadcast the news report you're investigating. If you consider the media outlet to be respected and credible, then the original study's results will probably be worth investigating, too.
If the news report is found in large city newspapers or on nationally recognized websites, TV or radio networks, then its source is very likely a peer-reviewed journal or a large professional medical conference, which lends credibility. If you find the news report in less respected media outlets, then it may not be worth your effort to investigate further.
Examples of peer-reviewed journals include the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Examples of medical organizations that hold respected conferences include the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association.
Once you are confident about the credibility of the media report, it will be worth your effort to find the original study results.
