Newspaper Coverage Of Neurologic Conditions Incorrect 20 Percent Of The Time, St

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Newspaper Coverage Of Neurologic Conditions Incorrect 20 Percent Of

The Time, Study Shows

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=39812

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Twenty percent of all examined newspaper articles

about common neurologic conditions had medical errors or

exaggerations, according to a study partnering Mayo Clinic physicians

and school of journalism experts from Arizona State University.

Researchers say the findings could help improve: communication

between physicians and patients, patient attitudes toward various

conditions, newspaper coverage of neurologic conditions, and general

health care coverage.

The study involved a content analysis of 1,203 newspaper articles

published during 2003, with researchers analyzing whether

stigmatizing language was used in U.S. newspaper coverage of

neurologic diseases. Also performed was fact checking of sources and

stories for medical errors.

Newspaper stories were culled from The New York Times, as well as

eight regional newspapers with circulation of more than 200,000.

Eleven neurologic diseases were the focus, with a total of 21 percent

(excluding wire stories) containing language deemed stigmatizing.

Sources of stigma within an article included reporters (55 percent),

patients (26 percent), family (17 percent) and physicians (16

percent).

Findings show that 20 percent of analyzed articles had medical errors

or exaggerations. Overstating treatment effectiveness was the most

common exaggeration.

Researchers also discovered that neurologic conditions with the

highest prevalence were among the least covered topics, while less-

common diseases such as Alzheimer's were topics in 33 percent of the

articles.

Newspapers are among the public's most trusted media for health care

coverage and could have a disproportionate influence on reader

beliefs about neurologic disorders, the study's authors say.

" Health coverage has a big impact on how people view things, " says

ph Sirven, M.D., a neurologist from Mayo Clinic in sdale,

Ariz. " Sometimes if there's a negative perception, a patient might

give up before they start. "

An editorial in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings calls the

study's findings important and concerning. Editorial authors

Fishman, Ph.D., and Casarett, M.D., say further research could

help decrease forms of stigma and ultimately improve public health.

Dr. Sirven says newspapers cover neurologic diseases correctly most

of the time, but the articles with stigmatizing language, errors or

exaggerations can have far-reaching effects. Patients might

experience inflated hopes based on a misleading article about a new

treatment or have a negative self-image when diagnosed with a disease

deemed debilitating.

" We ask that as reporters are writing, they stop and think about the

choice of their words, " Dr. Sirven says. " Not to censor or edit, but

to be mindful that sometimes you're creating or adding to the burden

of disease. "

Common consequences for victims of stigmatization could include

social exclusion, financial hardship and forms of discrimination.

Such attitudes may prevent people from seeking diagnosis or may

impair their willingness to access health care, thus contributing to

the morbidity and mortality of disease.

The study paired unlikely partners -- physicians and journalism

school experts -- and was the first to examine stigma and accuracy

within newspaper coverage of neurologic diseases.

Other researchers included ph Caspermeyer, Sylvester, and

, Ph.D., all from the Walter Cronkite School of

Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University; and

ph Drazkowski, M.D., from Mayo Clinic in Arizona.