Health education in the media
Section: Ethics and Society
How to quote
Pérez López F. La educación para la salud en los medios de comunicación. Metas de Enferm nov 2007; 10(9): 67-72
Authors
Flora Pérez López
Position
Diplomada en Enfermería. Estudiante de 5º de Periodismo
Contact address
C/ Cantón, 68. 30440 Moratalla (Murcia)
Contact email: flor_kay@hotmail.com
Abstract
Objective: to clarify the current situation of Health Education in the different means of communication (media, radio, TV, press) in Spain.
Methodology: descriptive, cross-sectional study focusing on 5 different media means edited in Spain, including: television, supplements, specialised magazines, inserts, printed newspapers, and digital or e- newspapers. The study variables included: subject and relationship with respect to others, and the way to avoid inclusion of those contents in their editions (own or third-party production).
Results: 0,5% of the total programming of the surveyed TV stations dedicated some time to Health Education. Of the 256 surveyed specialised magazines, 68 were targeted to relatives, life styles, gastronomy, women issues and health. The difference in the number of pages dedicated to Health Education between “El País Semanal” and “El Semanal” are minimal, however, strikingly, when these were compared with MF, it was observed that even though the publication contained half the number of pages than the others, it covered more than double the space related to health issues. In printed newspapers, only 7% covered health education as an additional section to their contents. 68% of national papers in digital format did not cover health education at all.
Conclusions: the main conclusion from these findings is that health education is a necessary goal that nurses need to accomplish and a good way to do it is through the media.
Methodology: descriptive, cross-sectional study focusing on 5 different media means edited in Spain, including: television, supplements, specialised magazines, inserts, printed newspapers, and digital or e- newspapers. The study variables included: subject and relationship with respect to others, and the way to avoid inclusion of those contents in their editions (own or third-party production).
Results: 0,5% of the total programming of the surveyed TV stations dedicated some time to Health Education. Of the 256 surveyed specialised magazines, 68 were targeted to relatives, life styles, gastronomy, women issues and health. The difference in the number of pages dedicated to Health Education between “El País Semanal” and “El Semanal” are minimal, however, strikingly, when these were compared with MF, it was observed that even though the publication contained half the number of pages than the others, it covered more than double the space related to health issues. In printed newspapers, only 7% covered health education as an additional section to their contents. 68% of national papers in digital format did not cover health education at all.
Conclusions: the main conclusion from these findings is that health education is a necessary goal that nurses need to accomplish and a good way to do it is through the media.
Keywords:
health education; means of communication (media); journalists
Versión en Español
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