Are We Getting the Health Information We Need from the Mass Media? An Assessment of Consumers' Perceptions of Health and Medical News

Abstract

This study examined consumers' perceptions about health information in the mass media, specifically local television news and news web sites. Seventeen women and fifteen men participated in interviews or focus groups. Recurrent themes within and across groups were examined. Consumers' understanding of online health news was assessed using modified Cloze tests and the Shortened Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). Findings revealed that participants perceived that the media sensationalized traditional and online health news, although they often relied on the news media for information. Participants demonstrated adequate comprehension of health news as evidenced by Cloze and S-TOFHLA scores.

KEYWORDS:

• Health literacy
• local television news
• news
• websites

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the University of South Carolina Magellan Scholar Program (PI: Van Slooten). We acknowledge all study participants.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eleasa Van Slooten

Eleasa Van Slooten ([email protected]) is a Magellan scholar and public health student, University of South Carolina, South Carolina Honors College and Arnold School of Public Health, 800 Sumter Street

Daniela B. Friedman

Daniela B. Friedman, PhD ([email protected]) is Associate Professor, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, 800 Sumter Street

Andrea Tanner

Andrea Tanner, PhD ([email protected]) is Associate Professor, University of South Carolina, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Coliseum 4011C; all in Columbia, SC 29208.