A popular article cites a journal but incorrectly reports the study conclusion. Which critical appraisal action best addresses this discrepancy?

• A. Locate and read the original peer-reviewed paper to verify the actual results and conclusions, then check funding disclosures and subsequent replication attempts before trusting the article's interpretation.
• B. Assume the journalist summarized correctly because journalists always interpret peer-reviewed findings accurately for lay audiences.
• C. Dismiss the peer-reviewed paper entirely because journalist summaries are more accessible and therefore more valid for practice decisions.
• D. Rely on social media commentary to correct the record rather than consulting the original source, because crowd interpretation is faster.

Answer: (A)