This three-stage national longitudinal survey of 300 respondents evaluated the impact on levels of nutrition knowledge of a specially designed television programme. These levels were assessed among subgroups using different sources of health information. The study was fielded before programme viewing, within three days of programme viewing and about six months after programme viewing. Up to five sources per respondent were obtained. Health information sources analysed included magazines, television, newspapers and doctor/clinic/hospital. Results showed that knowledge levels consistently increased among all groups after programme viewing and also across time (p<0.001). In general, media users showed higher levels of knowledge than their non-user counterparts; however, only magazine users showed higher and significant differences in knowledge. Programme viewing led to an increased selection of television and newspapers as sources of health information. Magazine use and the use of doctors as health information sources remained the same after programme viewing.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Morain, C. , 1993, Headline hysteria. American Medical News, 36(20), 23.
2.
Morain, C. , 1993, Headline hysteria. American Medical News, 36(20), 23.
3.
Atkin, C. , and Arkin, E.B., 1990, Issues and initiatives in communicating health information to the public. Mass Communication and Public Health, edited by C. Atkin and L. Wallack (Newbury Park, CA: Sage), pp. 13-40.
4.
Squires, S. , 1986, The gatekeepers of medical news. Leading journals determine the agenda. Washington Post Health, 8-9 July, 2.
5.
Kirn, T.F. , 1987, Networks, local stations providing air time for physicians to report, advise. Journal of the American Medical Association, 258, 2169-2171.
6.
Flora, J. A. , Maccoby, N., and Farquhar, J., 1989, Communication campaigns to prevent cardiovascular disease: the Stanford Community Studies. Public Information Compaigns, edited by R. Rice and C. Atkin (Newbury Park, CA: Sage), pp. 233-252.
7.
Warner, K.E. , 1987, Television and health education: stay tuned. American Journal of Public Health, 77(2), 140-142.
8.
Smith, F.A. , Trivax, G., Zuehlke, D.A., Lowinger, P., and Nghiem, T.L., 1972, Health information during a week of television. New England Journal of Medicine, 286(10), 516-520.
9.
Weinberg, A. , and Andrus, P.L., 1982, Continuing medical education: does it address prevention?Journal of Community Health, 7, 211-214.
10.
Sobal, J. , Muncie, H.L. Jr., Valente, M.C., DeForge, B.R., and Levine, D., 1987, Physicians' beliefs about vitamin supplements and a balanced diet. Journal of Nutrition Education, 19, 181-185.
11.
Waitzkin, H. , 1984, Doctor-patient communication, clinical implications of social scientific research. Journal of the American Medical Association, 251, 2441-2446.
12.
Kreps, G.L. , and Thornton, B.C., 1992, Health Communication, Theory and Practice (2nd edn) (Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press).
13.
Lenius, P.N. , 1993, Study finds confusion about healthy foods. Supermarket News, 43(23), 47.
14.
Lenius, P.N. , 1993, Study finds confusion about healthy foods. Supermarket News, 43(23), 47.
15.
Baker, J.A. , Lepley, C.J., Krishnan, S., and Victory, K.S., 1992, Celebrities as health educators: media advocacy guidelines. Journal of School Health, 62(9), 433.
16.
Yankelovich, Skelly and White, Inc., 1979, The General Mills American Family Report 1978-79: Family Health in an Era of Stress (Minneapolis, MN: General Mills).
17.
Wade, S. , and Schramm, W., 1969, The mass media as sources of public affairs, science, and health knowledge. Public Opinion Quarterly, 33, 197-209.
18.
Connell, C.M. , and Crawford, C.O., 1988, How people obtain their health information: a survey in two Pennsylvania counties. Public Health Reports, March.
19.
Meissner, H.I. , Potosky, A.L., and Convissor, R., 1992, How sources of health information relate to knowledge and use of cancer screening exam. Journal of Community Health, 17(3), 153-165.
20.
Medeiros, L. , Russell, W., and Shipp, R., 1991, Nutrition knowledge as influenced by source of nutrition information. Nutrition Research, 11, 979-988.
21.
Cotugna, N. , Subar, A.F., Heimendinger, J., and Kahle, L., 1992, Nutrition and cancer prevention knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and practices: the 1987 National Health Interview Survey. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 92, 963-968.
22.
National Academy of Sciences , 1989, Diet and Health: Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk (Washington DC: National Academy Press).
23.
Roper, W.L. , 1993, Health communication takes a new dimension at CDC. Public Health Reports, March.
24.
Uliene, A. , 1987, National education for health: health in the media. Healthlink, July, 3-4.
25.
Lau, R. , Kane, R., Berry, S., Ware, J., and Roy, D., 1980, Channeling health: a review of the evaluation of televised health campaigns. Health Education Quarterly, 7(1), 56-89.
26.
Fitzgibbons, J.J. , and Garcia, P.A., 1977, TV, PSAs, nutrition and the elderly. Journal of Nutrition Education, 9, 114-118.
27.
Mielke, K.W. , and Swinehart, J.W., 1976, Summary evaluation of the `Feeling Good' television series. Children's Television Workshop.
28.
Rogers, E.M. , and Storey, J.D., 1987, Communication campaigns. Handbook of Communication Science, edited by C.R. Berger and S.H. Chaffee (Newbury Park, CA: Sage). pp. 817-846.
29.
White, S.L. , and Maloney, S.K., 1990, Promoting healthy diets and active lives to hard-to-reach groups: market research study. Public Health Reports, May.
30.
Mendelssohn, H. , 1947, Some reasons why information campaigns can succeed. Public Opinion Quarterly, 11, 412-423.
31.
Bettinghaus, E.P. , 1986, Health promotion and the knowledge-attitude-behaviour continuum. Preventive Medicine, 15(5), 475-491.
32.
Roper, W.L. , 1993, Health communication takes a new dimension at CDC. Public Health Reports, March.
33.
Nielsen, A.C., Company , 1991, Nielsen Audience Estimates (Dunedin, FL: A.C. Nielsen Co.).
