Evaluating understanding of popular press reports of health research

Testicular Cancer: Medicine and Machismo in the Media (1980–94)

Testicular cancer is the most common cause of death for men aged 19–35 in North America. The mass print and other media are important sources of ‘information’ about a variety of treatment and health-related matters. This article explores the portrayal of testicular cancer in the mass print media from 1980–94. The analysis is both manifest and latent. The manifest analysis indicates the emphasis on early detection. The latent analysis indicates that the disease is described primarily through three different discourses: medical, machismo and social support. Stories of men with testicular cancer emphasize early detection and medical treatment; sports and competitiveness, sexuality, financial acumen, sexual and physical attractiveness and desirability, as well as war and battles; and the importance of social support.

Tracking beverage nutrition information in the news: an evaluation of beverage-related health reports on television news

News media are a primary source of nutrition information for the general public. Beverages are a key product category implicated in the obesity epidemic, but it is unclear how recommendations for healthy beverage consumption patterns are communicated by the news media. This study evaluated the health content of beverage-related news reports on national television newscasts from 2000 to 2008. News reports were coded to assess topic, source attribution, and confusion. Analysis revealed that beverage nutrition messages focused primarily on educating consumers or reports of prevalence. Conflicting or confusing nutrition recommendations were discussed in nearly one in three reports (29%). News reports most often discussed beverage consumption in terms of individual health decision-making, indicating a significant lack of emphasis on public health policy. The findings provide important insights into health-related beverage messages being disseminated by television news outlets and suggest avenues for nutrition researchers and practitioners to engage the media regarding nutrition policy issues.

Effects of newspaper coverage on public knowledge about modifiable cancer risks

This study explores the relationship between cancer newspaper coverage and public knowledge about cancer prevention, confirming self-reported associations between news exposure and cancer prevention knowledge with descriptions of newspaper coverage of modifiable cancer risks. Content analyses (N = 954) revealed that newspapers pay relatively little attention to cancer prevention. However, there is greater newspaper attention to tobacco and diet than to exercise, sun, and alcohol. Survey analysis (the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey) revealed that after controlling for differences based on gender, race, age, income, and education, attention to health news was significantly associated with knowledge about cancer risks associated with food and smoking but not for knowledge about exercise, sun, or alcohol. These findings conform to the findings of the content analysis data and provide a validation of a self-reported measure of media exposure, as well as evidence suggesting a threshold below which news coverage may not generate public knowledge about cancer prevention.

Cancer news coverage and information seeking

The shift toward viewing patients as active consumers of health information raises questions about whether individuals respond to health news by seeking additional information. This study examines the relationship between cancer news coverage and information seeking using a national survey of adults aged 18 years and older. A Lexis-Nexis database search term was used to identify Associated Press (AP) news articles about cancer released between October 21, 2002, and April 13, 2003. We merged these data to the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a telephone survey of 6,369 adults, by date of interview. Logistic regression models assessed the relationship between cancer news coverage and information seeking. Overall, we observed a marginally significant positive relationship between cancer news coverage and information seeking (p < 0.07). Interaction terms revealed that the relationship was apparent only among respondents who paid close attention to health news (p < 0.01) and among those with a family history of cancer (p < 0.05). Results suggest that a notable segment of the population actively responds to periods of elevated cancer news coverage by seeking additional information, but they raise concerns about the potential for widened gaps in cancer knowledge and behavior between large segments of the population in the future.

Prostate and colon cancer screening messages in popular magazines

OBJECTIVES

To 1) compare the number of articles published about prostate, colon, and breast cancer in popular magazines during the past 2 decades, and 2) evaluate the content of in-depth prostate and colon cancer screening articles identified from 1996 to 2001.

DESIGN

We used a searchable database to identify the number of prostate, colon, and breast cancer articles published in three magazines with the highest circulation from six categories. In addition, we performed a systematic review on the in-depth (> or = 2 pages) articles on prostate and colon cancer screening that appeared from 1996 through 2001.

RESULTS

Although the number of magazine articles on prostate and colon cancer published in the 1990s increased compared to the 1980s, the number of articles is approximately one third of breast cancer articles. There were 36 in-depth articles from 1996 to 2001 in which prostate or colon cancer screening were mentioned. Over 90% of the articles recommended screening. However, of those articles, only 76% (25/33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 58% to 89%) cited screening guidelines. The benefits of screening were mentioned in 89% (32/36; 95% CI, 74% to 97%) but the harms were only found in 58% (21/36; 95% CI, 41% to 75%). Only 28% (10/36; 95% CI, 14% to 45%) of the articles provided all the necessary information needed for the reader to make an informed decision.

CONCLUSIONS

In-depth articles about prostate and colon cancer in popular magazines do not appear as frequently as articles about breast cancer. The available articles on prostate and colon cancer screening often do not provide the information necessary for the reader to make an informed decision about screening.

A comparison of breast, testicular and prostate cancer in mass print media (1996–2001)

This paper compares the portrayal of breast, testicular and prostate cancer in mass print English language magazines in the United States and Canada from 1996 to 2001. It is a follow-up of three papers that examined each of these three diseases separately in high circulating magazines up to 1995. It includes both quantitative and qualitative analyses of magazine stories and notes the continuing dominance of a medical perspective regarding disease as well as the association of each type of cancer examined with stereotypically individualized yet feminine and masculine characteristics and pursuits. It notes the conflation of breast cancer, since the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2, with the family. To be a 'feminine' woman is to be vulnerable to breast cancer and to be a 'masculine' man is to be vulnerable to testicular cancer when young and prostate cancer when older. The association of disease not just with personhood but also with the specifics of stereotyped masculinity and femininity may construct a more intimate, more personal link between disease and identity. This close attachment of gender and disease may shore up and exacerbate a fear reaction. It may also serve to diminish the awareness of other, more prevalent, causes of death for men and women. The social control consequences of potentially exacerbated disease-specific fear are discussed.

Cancer coverage in North American publications targeting seniors

BACKGROUND

Print media are widely used for disseminating cancer information to seniors. It is important that older adults receive accurate and understandable cancer information since age is the major risk factor for most common cancers.

METHODS

This study evaluated the volume and scope of cancer coverage in mass circulating print media that specifically target seniors. Eight English-language seniors' publications (551 issues) were assessed for cancer coverage.

RESULTS

Between 1990 and 2000, 226 cancer articles were identified. Significant differences in the inclusion of mobilizing information by cancer site were found, with the highest percentage found in articles about breast cancer (67%). The SMOG test indicated a mean readability score of grade 12.47. CONCLUSIONS. The findings suggest the need for lower article readability levels and inclusion of more mobilizing information in cancer articles targeting seniors.

A retrospective study of the accuracy of cancer information in Ontario daily newspapers

CONTEXT

Studies suggest that the mass media is a common source of cancer information for the public. However, the quality of cancer information through various print outlets has not been extensively investigated.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the accuracy of cancer information in a retrospective sample of Ontario daily newspapers as well as to determine the amount of mobilizing (enabling) information about community resources for cancer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Of 1,027 articles on cancer for 1991, drawn from the 5 highest and 5 lowest circulating newspapers, a random 30% sample (306 articles) was obtained. Only 40 articles had traceable citations (journal name, name of researcher, name of educational institution, or direct quotes from identifiable sources). Of these, 47.5% had misleading titles and 55% included erroneous information or omitted important study results. Only 13 (6.9%) included mobilizing information regarding prevention, diagnosis, treatment or support.

INTERPRETATION

Cancer information in newspapers contain frequent inaccuracies and fail to provide mobilizing information. Inaccurate newspaper information about cancer is of concern if the public relies on this channel for at least part of their health knowledge.

Cancer coverage in mass-circulating Canadian women's magazines

Mass media can inform health beliefs and shape cancer control behaviours. This study surveyed cancer coverage in 309 issues of Canadian women's magazines for the period 1991-1997. Magazines were selected if 1996 revenue > $10 million and circulation > 500,000; Canadian Living, Chatelaine, Flare and Homemaker's met these criteria. The volume of cancer coverage varied significantly by year and by magazine. However, coverage of specific cancers did not reflect their contribution as a cause of cancer death in Canadian women. The percentage of articles on lung cancer was lower and on breast cancer was higher than the percentage of deaths due to these cancers. All magazines had decreased coverage of lung cancer in 1997 compared to 1991. National cancer resource agencies and research initiatives on breast cancer were infrequently mentioned. These results argue for greater partnerships between the media and health educators to enhance balanced dissemination of cancer control information to Canadian women.

Prostate cancer's hegemonic masculinity in select print mass media depictions (1974-1995)

The meanings associated with prostate cancer were studied in contemporary mass print media. The study includes both manifest and latent content analysis of a period of approximately 2 decades, from 1974 to 1995. The manifest analysis revealed a primary emphasis on the importance of early detection. The latent analysis found that prostate cancer's presentation is gendered. Its description is embedded in themes related to masculinity, sexuality, competition, brotherhood, and machismo. This small, qualitative, and inductive study raises questions about the socially significant portrayal of the meanings of disease in the media, about the men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, have symptoms of prostate cancer, or about all men, because any man might at some time be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Stereotypical imaging could alienate men who either do not or do not want to fit into the stereotypical ideal as it is protrayed in the media. Such a portrayal also may have inplications for the potential willingness of men to engage in early detection, avail themselves of treatment, act preventatively, or become involved in lobbying for monies for research into the early prevention, detection, and treatment of prostate cancer.

Lay evaluation of symptoms by older people: an assessment of potential risk

This paper examines the appropriateness of lay evaluations of potential risk of symptoms among a sample of 667 elderly people living in community settings. Data were gathered through personal interviews and 3 weeks of structured health diaries in which older respondents recorded the symptoms they experienced. Potential medical risk was determined on a symptom by symptom basis based on clinical information gathered during the interviews. Almost three fourths of the respondents exhibited potential clinical risk for at least one symptom they experienced during the 3-week diary period. One in eight respondents was judged at risk yet gave no evidence of physician consultation, either during or prior to the diary period. Implications of these results for health education designed to improve consultation decisions among elderly people are discussed.

Health behavior: issues, contradictions and dilemmas

American medicine faces many contradictions and dilemmas. This is especially the case with regard to preventive health behavior. This paper explores the effects of several issues, contradictions and dilemmas on the American experience with primary preventive health behavior. These issues include: individualism, victim blaming, therapeutic nihilism, the over abundance of health information, America as a culture of risk takers, and the dilemma of the jungle vs the zoo. Four types of health behavior are defined. The first type of health behavior is the primary prevention of disease, defect, injury or disability. The second type is detection of asymptomatic disease, injury and defect. Third, is the promotion of enhanced levels of health, wellness and quality of life. And the fourth, at a more societal level, protective behaviors to make environmental transactions safe from disease, injury, defect and disability. These four types of health behavior are each explored in relation to societal values, technology and economics to determine which of these facilitate or impede health behavior at both the individual and societal levels.

Women's perceptions of early detection in breast cancer: how are we doing?

Breast cancer is a significant risk to many women in the United States. It is also a major cause of death among American women. The National Cancer Institute's Year 2000 breast screening goal is to increase the percentage of women aged 50 to 70 years who have physical examination and mammography to 80%. However, many barriers to screening remain. Providing correct information and education regarding risk and mammography may help to overcome these barriers and achieve this goal.