Most Americans get the the majority of their news information from local news, a new study highlights many problems and much room for improvement in the health information and medical stories provided during these newscasts.
On the average medical/health stories accounted for about 11 percent of the time devoted to news during late evening newscasts (this excluded time devoted to sports and weather).
The study found that of the sample of 122 stations in the 50 top media markets, there were 1,799 health stories reported during 2,795 news broadcasts. The average medical story was 33 seconds long, and the majority did not give specifics about sources of information (i.e. medical journal source etc.). When reporting on specific diseases information on how common the disease was was generally not included and most did not include recommendations for viewers. There were also a small, but disturbing number of stories that contained serious errors that could have caused hard if followed. One story the study authors cite was a report about the effect of lemon juice on sperm. Several stations hinted that lemon juice was an effective contraceptive, and its potential effect on preventing the transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Another area of concern was the emphasis placed on reporting some health issues over others. During the study the two most commonly reported stories were about breast cancer and West Nile Virus. Parts of the study were conducted during October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and many areas of the country were still reporting West Nile infections. The issue reported by the researchers on many of those stories was conflicting and alarmist messages. While those diseases are a problem, more women die of lung cancer every year than of breast cancer. More people will contract, and become very ill from the flu than will be affected by West Nile Virus. The reports did not put these diseases into the proper perspective.
The study authors point not only to the producers and reports as the problems but to the medical authorities - public health, clinical experts and researchers. They need to supply information that can be reported quickly, accurately and in a language that lay people can understand. They also need to help reporters put this information into perspective - and help them to help the public understand which health issues are most important to the publics well-being.
Seniors especially need to have accurate health information, they are the biggest consumers of health care resources. If you see a health story on your local news that concerns you please be sure to discuss it with your doctor. You may alert him to a new treatment or you may be able to ease your fears. Either way your doctor can help you sift through the tons of health information being reported.
03/08/2006
SOURCES: American Journal of Managed Care, March 2006
