Television Doctors: An Analysis of Physicians in Fictional and Non-Fictional Television Programs

The Effects of Viewing Grey's Anatomy on Perceptions of Doctors and Patient Satisfaction

“…A research line that emerged more than four decades ago sought to understand media portrayals of doctors (Chory-Assad, & Tamborini, 2001;Pfau et al, 1995;Turow, 1989Turow, , 1996Turow & Coe, 1985;Volgy & Schwarz, 1980). From this research, readers learn that doctors historically have been portrayed on television as omnipotent healers who overcome adverse conditions to triumph in the face of adversity (O'Connor, 1998).…”

“…Extant research successfully traced historic portrayals of television doctors (Turow, 1989;Turow & Coe, 1985), while others performed systematic content analyses to examine doctor portrayals on television (Chory-Assad & Tamborini, 2001;Pfau et al, 1995); however, less is known about the influence of television in shaping patient perceptions of doctors (Chory-Assad & Tamborini, 2003;Pfau et al;Volgy & Schwarz, 1980), particularly within the context of a single medical drama.…”

“…The portrayal of doctors on television has shifted significantly during the past 60 years (Chory-Assad & Tamborini, 2001;Turow, 1989Turow, , 1996Turow & Coe, 1985;Volgy & Schwarz, 1980). City Hospital, the initial doctor show launched in 1952, portrayed doctors as omnipotent healers who represented the authority within the hospital.…”

The influence of television on willingness to seek therapy

“…Accessibility is the ease with which information is recalled from memory (Higgins & King, 1981), and is a function, in part, of the frequency and recentness with which the information is activated in one's mind, and of the vividness and distinctiveness of the information. Because heavy viewers are exposed to more relevant television images, the given information should be activated more frequently and recently in their minds than in those light television viewers, thereby increasing accessibility (Chory-Assad & Tamborini, 2001). Accessibility is also higher among heavy viewers because the activated information tends to be vivid and distinct, due to dramatic, fast-paced, and exciting formats presented on television (Shrum, 1995(Shrum, , 2001).…”

“…For example, researchers have shown that viewing medical professionals on television influences attitudes towards physicians. Viewing positive depictions of physicians' on a prime time fictional series was associated with positive overall perceptions of doctors (Pfau, Mullen, & Garrow, 1995); viewing negative depictions was associated with negative overall perceptions of doctors (Chory-Assad & Tamborini, 2001). However, although researchers have examined the relationship between television viewing and perceptions of certain health attitudes, they have not empirically examined the relationship of television viewing and expectations and attitudes towards seeking mental health services.…”