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The portrayal of health problems in entertainment television: Implications for risk perception and health promotion
Abstract
The objective of this content analysis was to assess the depiction of health content in Flemish entertainment television programs. The quantity and context of health content messages was investigated in a sample of 266 program episodes which were recorded during one month. Based on theories and research, a number of context variables were assessed which may increase or inhibit risk perception and positive health behaviour. The results indicated that entertainment shows offered a steady diet of health content. Further, health messages were depicted in such a way that viewers are likely to learn that they are susceptible to the depicted health problems. In contrast, substantially less attention was devoted to depicting treatment and prevention options, which may inhibit viewers from taking positive health actions.
... In the European Eurobarometer survey, 20 % of European citizens indicated that television was their main source for information about health, and almost 40 % indicated that it was their second most important source for health information [7]. Health information is often a theme in informative television programs (such as documentaries about cancer and its cures and personal stories about this), but content analyses have indicated that it is also frequently portrayed in entertainment television programs [10,11]. Soap operas and medical drama, for instance, regularly feature story lines about fictional characters being confronted with cancer. ...
... The literature to date seems to have focused mostly on the emotions associated with exposure to non-fictional online peer stories [1,2,4,5]. Yet, given that individuals also use television for health information seeking [7][8][9] and that entertainment television contains a lot of cancer-related information [10,11], also fictional peer stories on television might be followed, and this might also have an impact on individuals' emotions. Entertainment television is widely acknowledged to arouse viewers on an emotional level [12]. ...
... On the other hand, past research has indicated that exposure to cancer on television was related to both higher levels of fear [14,15] of cancer and more fatalistic beliefs about cancer [16]. Research has indicated that fictional cancer stories in entertainment television emphasize symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, but are low on information about prevention [10]. It has been argued that this makes sense from a dramaturgical point of view [11]. ...
When people are confronted with a potentially life-threatening disease such as cancer, they are likely to feel an urgent need for information about the disease and support from peers. Studies have shown that the mass media contain a lot of experiential information (i.e., peer stories) about cancer, either from real individuals or from fictional characters. To date, most studies have focused on using the Internet for peer support. This study aimed to extend this line of research by investigating (1) whether cancer-diagnosed individuals use both television and the Internet to access peer stories, (2) whether exposure to these stories results in different emotional outcomes, and (3) whether this differs depending on gender. A cross-sectional survey among 621 cancer-diagnosed individuals in Flanders (Belgium) showed that both television and the Internet were used as a source for following peer stories. Respondents indicated feeling fearful and concerned when following peer stories on entertainment television, but following peer stories on online forums was associated with feeling supported. These different emotional responses could be the result of the differences between these two content categories (i.e., fictional versus non-fictional peer stories). Future research should further examine these relationships by investigating the role of mass media content and how different psychological coping styles and personality traits moderate these associations.
... However, contrary to our findings, they found that representations of rare diseases increased as the series progressed, while in our study, rare neurological diseases were steadily portrayed throughout the seasons. Moreover, another analysis of portrayal of health problems in entertainment television found that 29.7% of illnesses were of rare diseases [42]. Although rare diseases are mainly portrayed for a dramatic purpose, it also serves an important role in raising awareness of such conditions, where patients usually face diagnostic delays and uncertainties. ...
Background:
Television medical dramas enjoy great popularity among the general public, and can be a source of information and misinformation about medical disorders. Nervous system disorders have always received attention in popular media, yet no studies have been performed to analyze their depiction and accuracy, to our knowledge.
Objective:
To investigate the representation of neurological and neurosurgical diseases in Grey's Anatomy, one of most popular and longest running primetime medical melodramas in American television.
Methods:
We performed a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of depictions of nervous system disorders in all 18 seasons of Grey's Anatomy, in addition to investigating the medical accuracy and the global quality of the portrayed medical content.
Results:
A total of 285 depictions were identified in 314 out of 400 episodes (78.5%) of Grey's Anatomy. Most of portrayed characters were males (59.2%), Caucasians (72.6%), and adults (76.4%), with a mean age of 32.6 ± 19.7 years for those mentioned. Most of the portrayals were of acute nature (65.5%), with neurosurgical diseases constituting the majority; 85.6%, while 31.6% depicted neurological diseases, and 19.3% had both. The most common clinical presentations were altered level of consciousness (16.5%) and seizures (14.4%). Traumatic brain injury was the most common portrayed diagnosis (39.3%), followed by brain tumors (13.7%), stroke (8.4%), and spinal injury (8.1%). Management was surgical for the majority of cases (79.6%), while only 17.9% received pharmacotherapy. The prognosis of portrayed cases was generally favorable, as 79.5% showed good/full recovery, while mortality rate was 18.6%. Forty cases (14.0%) were depictions of rare to very rare diseases. As regards to medical accuracy, 74.3% of depictions were deemed accurate within reason, with a mean GQS score of 4.38 ± 1.4. Four clinical trials involving the nervous system have been depicted throughout the show.
Conclusions:
Neurosurgical and neurological diseases were portrayed in most episodes of Grey's Anatomy, with a good quality of its scientific content within reason. This study demonstrated that Grey's Anatomy had a good amount of medical information that could be able to improve the public perception of the specialty. However, there is still a room for significant improvement to acknowledge certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations in future episodes.
... Studies on the subject of health coverage in the media have shown that, often, the media is focused on secondary and tertiary health while leaving primary prevention coverage wanting (Metcalfe et al., 2011). Current studies and observations suggest that the media is more dominated by medical topics (disease, symptoms, epidemiology, treatment and medicines) than general public health issues (risk prevention, health protection, health education and health promotion); (Tong et al., 2008;Lemal et al., 2013;Heng and Vasu, 2010). In other words, medical journalism, which is disease-oriented, wins over health journalism, which is healthoriented/well-being-oriented. ...
Purpose
Health-related issues are widely covered in news agencies by medical and health journalists. The quantity, format and quality of their coverage influence the general public as well as policymakers and professions. Current studies and observations suggest that news agencies are more dominated by medical topics (disease, symptoms, epidemiology, treatment and medicines) than general public health issues (risk prevention, health protection, education and promotion). This study explores the causes of the current situation in Iran and generates solutions for supporting health-promoting media that may also prove beneficial for other countries.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study was conducted to explore the coverage of health-related topics in selected news agencies. Stakeholders, including health journalists, health professionals and public relations staff at the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education were interviewed. Data were collected until data saturation was reached. The transcripts of all the 17 interviews conducted were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Findings
Four groups of causes were identified, including individual factors, organizational factors, socioeconomic factors and the different nature of medicine and public health. The participants proposed several solutions that were classified into three categories, including the empowerment of stakeholders through capacity development, organizational change and mutual communication and culture change.
Originality/value
Creating health-promoting media is a complex but urgent task, and providing a comprehensive and deep understanding of the dynamic interdependencies of the multiple factors at play in it and developing and implementing the most effective interventions for it requires a systematic approach.
... Addressing epidemics and health outbreaks requires the active participation of the media since how journalists report issues can affect public perception of risks and influence behavior (Kitzinger & Reilly, 1997;Roche & Muskavitch, 2003). Yet studies on the content of health risk and crisis news show that the media tend to be inaccurate, contradictory, a poor reflection of disease incidence in real life, and sometimes incomplete (Bomlitz & Brezis, 2008;Frost, Frank, & Maibach, 1997;Lemal, Custers, & Van den Bulck, 2013;Rubin & Hendy, 1977). ...
Media are an indispensable partner in health communication, but there is often concern about how the media cover health and science issues. These critiques tend to be based on analyses of news content that don’t consider the production process of the content. Using a media sociology framework, the article examines the news production process of the Ebola outbreak from the perspective of Ghanaian journalists. The study finds that existing and new routines influenced what the media produced. This study reiterates the call for public health to work closely with the media and to provide translated health information in multilingual low-literate societies.
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