Health Information during a Week of Television

Abstract

Abstract A commercial-network television channel in Detroit was monitored during a typical 130-hour broadcast week. Health-related content used 7.2 per cent of the time. Only 30 per cent of this health time offered useful information, and 70 per cent of the health material was inaccurate or misleading or both. Television programming did not use the educational capacity of the health professions to any notable extent. There were 10 times as many television messages that urged the use of pills or other remedies as there were against drug use or abuse. Although some useful health information was offered, the major health problems such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, hepatitis, maternal death, hunger, venereal disease, mental health, sex education, child care, lead poisoning and family planning were virtually ignored during the television week.

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