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Basch CH, Hillyer GC, Jacques ET. News Coverage of Colorectal Cancer on Google News: Descriptive Study. JMIR Cancer 2022; 8:e39180. [PMID: 35704377 PMCID: PMC9244658 DOI: 10.2196/39180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States. The incidence and prevalence of CRC have historically increased with age. Although rates of CRC in the United States have been decreasing over the past decades among those aged ≥65 years, there has been an uptick among those in younger age brackets. Google News is one of the biggest traffic drivers to top news sites. It aggregates and shares news highlights from multiple sources worldwide and organizes them by content type. Despite the widespread use of Google News, research is lacking on the type of CRC content represented in this news source. Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze content related to CRC screening and prevention in Google News articles published during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (March 2022). Methods Data collection for this cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2022—National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Using the term colorectal cancer, 100 English-language Google News articles were extracted and coded for content. A combined approach—deductive and inductive coding—was utilized. Descriptive analyses were conducted, and frequency distributions were reported. Univariable analyses were performed to assess differences between articles that mentioned CRC screening and those that did not via chi-square tests. Results Of the 100 articles reviewed, nearly half (n=49, 49%) were created by health news organizations, and another 27% (n=27) were created by television news services. The predominant themes in the content included age at the onset of disease (n=59, 59%), mortality related to CRC (n=57, 57%), and the severity of disease (n=50, 50%). Only 18% (n=18) of articles discussed CRC disparities, 23% (n=23) mentioned that there are hereditary forms of the disease, 36% (n=36) spoke of colonoscopy to screen for the disease, and 37% (n=37) mentioned how the disease is treated. Although most articles mentioned CRC screening (n=61, 61%), it was striking that sex was only mentioned in 34% (21/61) of these articles, colonoscopy was mentioned in 46% (28/61), and diet was mentioned in 30% (18/61). Conclusions Heightening the public’s awareness of this disease is important, but it is critical that messages related to how preventable this cancer is, who is the most likely to develop CRC, and what can be done to detect it in the early stages when the disease is the most curable be the critical elements of dialogue, particularly during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. There is a need to disseminate information about early-onset CRC and the importance of screening, especially among populations with low rates of uptake. Web-based news is potentially an underutilized communication mechanism for promoting CRC screenings as secondary prevention measures for high-risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey H Basch
- Department of Public Health, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, United States
| | - Grace C Hillyer
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Erin T Jacques
- Department of Health & Human Performance, York College, City University of New York, Queens, NY, United States
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Shi W, Nagler RH, Fowler EF, Gollust SE. Predictors of Women's Awareness of the Benefits and Harms of Mammography Screening and Associations with Confusion, Ambivalence, and Information Seeking. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 36:303-314. [PMID: 31690128 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2019.1687129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a shift toward promoting informed decision making for mammography screening for average-risk women in their 40s. Professional organizations such as the American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that women weigh the potential benefits and harms of mammography prior to initiating screening. This decision-making process assumes that women are aware of both the benefits and harms of screening, yet little is known about the prevalence and antecedents of such awareness. Moreover, it is conceivable that women who are aware of both the benefits and harms may interpret this information as conflicting - which could be concerning, as researchers have documented adverse effects of exposure to conflicting health information in prior research. Using data from a population-based survey of U.S. women aged 30-59 (N = 557), the current study found that awareness of mammography's harms is relatively low compared to awareness of benefits. Health news exposure and interpersonal communication about health were associated with greater awareness of harms. In addition, women's awareness of both the benefits and harms was positively associated with confusion about breast cancer screening recommendations, ambivalence about getting a mammogram, and mammogram-related information seeking from online sources. Implications for cancer screening communication are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Shi
- Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota
| | - Rebekah H Nagler
- Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota
| | | | - Sarah E Gollust
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
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Rowbotham S, Astell-Burt T, Barakat T, Hawe P. 30+ years of media analysis of relevance to chronic disease: a scoping review. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:364. [PMID: 32192448 PMCID: PMC7083065 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-8365-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic, non-communicable diseases are a significant public health priority, requiring action at individual, community and population levels, and public and political will for such action. Exposure to media, including news, entertainment, and advertising media, is likely to influence both individual behaviours, and attitudes towards preventive actions at the population level. In recent years there has been a proliferation of research exploring how chronic diseases and their risk factors are portrayed across various forms of media. This scoping review aims to map the literature in this area to identify key themes, gaps, and opportunities for future research in this area. METHODS We searched three databases (Medline, PsycINFO and Global Health) in July 2016 and identified 499 original research articles meeting inclusion criteria: original research article, published in English, focusing on media representations of chronic disease (including how issues are framed in media, impact or effect of media representations, and factors that influence media representations). We extracted key data from included articles and examined the health topics, media channels and methods of included studies, and synthesised key themes across studies. RESULTS Our findings show that research on media portrayals of chronic disease increased substantially between 1985 and 2016. Smoking and nutrition were the most frequent health topics, and television and print were the most common forms of media examined, although, as expected, research on online and social media channels has increased in recent years. The majority of studies focused on the amount and type of media coverage, including how issues are framed, typically using content analysis approaches. In comparison, there was much less research on the influences on and consequences of media coverage related to chronic disease, suggesting an important direction for future work. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight key themes across media research of relevance to chronic disease. More in-depth syntheses of studies within the identified themes will allow us to draw out the key patterns and learnings across the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Rowbotham
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. .,The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Thomas Astell-Burt
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,School of Public Health, Peking Union Medical College and The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing, China
| | - Tala Barakat
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Penelope Hawe
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia.,O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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Nagler RH, Fowler EF, Marino NM, Mentzer KM, Gollust SE. The Evolution of Mammography Controversy in the News Media: A Content Analysis of Four Publicized Screening Recommendations, 2009 to 2016. Womens Health Issues 2018; 29:87-95. [PMID: 30409689 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is longstanding expert disagreement about the age at and frequency with which women should be screened for breast cancer. These debates are reflected in the conflicting recommendations about mammography issued by major professional organizations, such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society. Previous research has shown that these recommendations garner substantial media attention-and therefore might affect women's screening perceptions and behaviors-but to date analyses of such media coverage have focused on single publicized announcements. METHODS To assess whether media coverage of mammography screening recommendations has evolved, we conducted a content analysis of televised news from four discrete media events from 2009 to 2016, all of which focused on publicized screening recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American Cancer Society (N = 364 stories). RESULTS Media coverage of mammography screening recommendations has featured persistent messages of conflict and/or controversy over time. The evolution of controversy was also reflected in shifts in the relative attention given to mammography screening's risks and benefits, with consistent and, in some cases, heightened attention to screening's risks during more recent media events. Overall, the accuracy of media coverage improved over time. CONCLUSIONS Results underscore the continued prevalence of conflicting and/or controversial information about mammography screening in the public information environment. Cumulative exposure to such messages could influence women's decision making around screening and trust in cancer prevention recommendations. Strategies are needed to better equip all women (and particularly underserved women) to negotiate mammography controversy and weigh the benefits and risks of screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah H Nagler
- Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | | | - Nora M Marino
- Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Kari McClure Mentzer
- Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Sarah E Gollust
- Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Seniority of primary care physicians is associated with a decrease in PSA ordering habits in the years surrounding the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommendation against PSA screening. Urol Oncol 2018; 36:500.e21-500.e27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Walsh-Childers K, Braddock J, Rabaza C, Schwitzer G. One Step Forward, One Step Back: Changes in News Coverage of Medical Interventions. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2018; 33:174-187. [PMID: 27983868 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2016.1250706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
During 2005-2013, the award-winning website HealthNewsReview.org offered reviews of major media outlets' news stories related to health interventions, including tests, treatments, dietary changes, and prescription drugs. The reviews offered a measure by which the public and journalists themselves could assess the completeness and usefulness of health coverage across 10 criteria for quality reporting. This study produced an analysis of those reviews from 2005 to 2013, indicating significant changes in key areas. Analysis of 1,889 health news story reviews published by HealthNewsReview.org (HNR) between 2005 and 2013 showed that, on average, the stories reviewed during 2005-2010 successfully met just less than half of the criteria, but by 2010-2013, that average had improved to almost 70%. There were significant improvements over time in news organizations' success in meeting six of HNR's 10 criteria for a successful health news story related to drugs, devices, surgery and other medical procedures, and diet; however, when data for television stories were excluded, only the improvement in avoiding disease-mongering remained significant. In addition, there was a statistically significant decline in the percentage of stories rated satisfactory on establishing the true novelty of the intervention discussed in the story. There was no improvement in quantification of possible harms from medical interventions. Changes over time in meeting the criteria were related to outlet type and story topic.
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Nagler RH, Franklin Fowler E, Gollust SE. Women's Awareness of and Responses to Messages About Breast Cancer Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment: Results From a 2016 National Survey. Med Care 2017; 55:879-885. [PMID: 28857962 PMCID: PMC5657609 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scientists, clinicians, and other experts aim to maximize the benefits of cancer screening while minimizing its harms. Chief among these harms are overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Although available data suggest that patient awareness of these harms is low, we know little about how patients respond to information about these phenomena. OBJECTIVES Using the case of breast cancer screening, this study assesses women's awareness of and reactions to statements about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. METHODS We draw on data from a 2016 population-based survey of US women aged 35-55 years that oversampled women of lower socioeconomic position (those living at or below 100% of federal poverty level) (N=429). RESULTS Results showed that women's awareness of overdiagnosis (16.5%) and overtreatment (18.0%) was low, and women under age 40 were least likely to have heard about overdiagnosis. Most women did not evaluate statements about these harms positively: <1 in 4 agreed with and found statements about overdiagnosis and overtreatment to be believable, and even fewer evaluated them as strong arguments to consider in their own mammography decision making. Women with a recent mammogram history were particularly unconvinced by overdiagnosis and overtreatment arguments. CONCLUSIONS A majority of women were unaware of 2 important harms of breast cancer screening: overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Most did not find statements about these harms to be believable and persuasive. Communication interventions, supported by evidence from health communication research, are necessary to improve patient understanding of screening's harms, promote informed decision making, and, in turn, ensure high-value care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah H Nagler
- *Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN †Department of Government, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT ‡Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
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Hehemann MC, Baldea KG, Quek ML. Prostate Cancer in the Elderly Male: Diagnostic and Management Considerations. CURRENT GERIATRICS REPORTS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13670-017-0213-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Hutchinson R, Akhtar A, Haridas J, Bhat D, Roehrborn C, Lotan Y. Testing and referral patterns in the years surrounding the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against prostate-specific antigen screening. Cancer 2016; 122:3785-3793. [PMID: 27658175 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, there have been conflicting reports regarding the impact on the behavior of providers. This study analyzed real-world data on PSA ordering and referral practices in the years surrounding the recommendation. METHODS A whole-institution sample of entered PSA orders and urology referrals was obtained from the electronic medical record. The study was performed at a tertiary referral center with a catchment in the southern United States. PSA examinations were defined as screening when they were ordered by providers with appointments in internal medicine, family medicine, or general internal medicine. Linear and quadratic regression analyses were performed, and joinpoint regression was used to assess for trend inflection points. RESULTS Between January 2010 and July 2015, there were 275,784 unique ambulatory visits for men. There were 63,722 raw PSA orders, and 54,684 were evaluable. Primary care providers ordered 17,315 PSA tests and 858 urology referrals. The number of PSA tests per ambulatory visit, the number of referrals per ambulatory visit, the age at the time of the urology referral, and the proportion of PSA tests performed outside the recommended age range did not significantly change. The PSA value at the time of referral increased significantly (P = .022). Joinpoint analysis revealed no joinpoints in the analysis of total PSA orders, screening PSA tests, or examinations per 100 visits. CONCLUSIONS In the years surrounding the USPSTF recommendation, PSA behavior did not change significantly. Patients were referred at progressively higher average PSA levels. The implications for prostate cancer outcomes from these trends warrant further research into provider variables associated with actual PSA utilization. Cancer 2016;122:3785-3793. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Hutchinson
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Abdulhadi Akhtar
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Justin Haridas
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Deepa Bhat
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Claus Roehrborn
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Yair Lotan
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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Elstad EA, Sutkowi-Hemstreet A, Sheridan SL, Vu M, Harris R, Reyna VF, Rini C, Earp JA, Brewer NT. Clinicians' perceptions of the benefits and harms of prostate and colorectal cancer screening. Med Decis Making 2015; 35:467-76. [PMID: 25637592 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x15569780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinicians' perceptions of screening benefits and harms influence their recommendations, which in turn shape patients' screening decisions. We sought to understand clinicians' perceptions of the benefits and harms of cancer screening by comparing 2 screening tests that differ in their balance of potential benefits to harms: colonoscopy, which results in net benefit for many adults, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, which may do more harm than good. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 126 clinicians at 24 family/internal medicine practices completed surveys in which they listed and rated the magnitude of colonoscopy and PSA testing benefits and harms for a hypothetical 70-year-old male patient and then estimated the likelihood that these tests would cause harm and lengthen the life of 100 similar men in the next 10 years. We tested the hypothesis that the availability heuristic would explain the association of screening test to perceived likelihood of benefit/harm and a competing hypothesis that clinicians' gist of screening tests as good or bad would mediate this association. RESULTS Clinicians perceived PSA testing to have a greater likelihood of harm and a lower likelihood of lengthening life relative to colonoscopy. Consistent with our gist hypothesis, these associations were mediated by clinicians' gist of screening (balance of perceived benefits to perceived harms). LIMITATIONS Generalizability beyond academic clinicians remains to be established. CONCLUSIONS Targeting clinicians' gist of screening, for example through graphical displays that allow clinicians to make gist-based relative magnitude comparisons, may influence their risk perception and possibly reduce overrecommendation of screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Elstad
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, CR, JAE, NTB),Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, ASH, SLS, MV, RH)
| | - Anne Sutkowi-Hemstreet
- Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, ASH, SLS, MV, RH)
| | - Stacey L Sheridan
- Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, ASH, SLS, MV, RH),Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (SLS, MV),Health Care and Prevention Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (SLS, RH),Division of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (SLS, RH)
| | - Maihan Vu
- Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, ASH, SLS, MV, RH),Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (SLS, MV)
| | - Russell Harris
- Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, ASH, SLS, MV, RH),Health Care and Prevention Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (SLS, RH),Division of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (SLS, RH)
| | - Valerie F Reyna
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (VFR)
| | - Christine Rini
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, CR, JAE, NTB),Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (CR, NTB)
| | - Jo Anne Earp
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, CR, JAE, NTB)
| | - Noel T Brewer
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (EAE, CR, JAE, NTB),Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (CR, NTB)
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