Recent Trends in Research on Health Portrayals in the Media

Abstract

Health information may be obtained in a variety of ways, but the data indicate that the media are a key source for most people. Key topics related to health information in the media include those focusing on various addictions (drugs, alcohol, tobacco), cancer information (focusing on screening, treatment, and coping), direct‐to‐consumer ads, coronary heart disease, weight concerns, misdiagnosis, mental health portrayals, seizures, steroids, asthma, and genetic issues. Much work examines the accuracy of health information reporting as well as the usability/accessibility/readability of health information. Risk issues are an important component of work in this area. Additionally, nutrition and food safety information is frequently featured. More recent research is most likely to be theoretically based, to focus on unusual health concerns or unusual media, and to provide an international focus. This essay addresses these issues as well as differences amongst various media in the presentation of health information. It concludes with innovative directions for research on health portrayals in the media.

An exploration of how online media portrays asthma and its treatment in New Zealand

“…Studies have shown that the general public relies heavily on mass media for health information (10,11), and the way health issues are presented in the media can in uence the perceptions of health conditions by the public (12)(13)(14). Media representations of asthma and asthma treatments, therefore, have the potential to in uence people's beliefs about their illness and medications (12), and in uence adherence (15).…”