Trends in news coverage about skin cancer prevention, 1993‐2006: increasingly mixed messages for the public

Scully, Maree; Wakefield, Melanie; Dixon, Helen

doi:10.1111/j.1753-6405.2008.00280.x

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Current research has suggested a role for vitamin D for a wide range of health outcomes (Garland et al, 2006), and consequently media reports have highlighted such potential health benefits, particularly in the popular press (Scully et al, 2008). Our results show that when prompted, recall about health benefits of vitamin D was significantly higher than unprompted recall, similar to findings in other health areas (Bauman et al, 2001;Waller et al, 2004).…”

supporting

confidence: 89%

Knowledge about health benefits of vitamin D in Queensland Australia

Janda

Youl

Bolz

et al. 2010

Preventive Medicine

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supporting

confidence: 89%

Knowledge about health benefits of vitamin D in Queensland Australia

Janda

Youl

Bolz

et al. 2010

Preventive Medicine

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“…Public health organisations have recognised the importance of harnessing the news media’s reach as part of a wider approach to distributing health information and advocating for changes in health policy [1, 3]. Past research has suggested that, compared with the expense and time restrictions of large-scale mass media campaigns (e.g., Pink Ribbon Day ), influencing the media through direct media advocacy (e.g., through the use of media releases and developing relationships with journalists) is a low-cost approach that has the capacity to develop an ongoing discussion about health with the public [4, 5]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013

et al. 2017

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BackgroundAlcohol is a Class-1 carcinogen but public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer is low. The news media is a popular, readily-accessible source of health information and plays a key role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy-makers. Examination of how the link between alcohol and cancer is presented in Australian print media could inform public health advocacy efforts to raise awareness of this modifiable cancer risk factor.MethodThis study provides a summative qualitative content analysis of 1502 articles that included information about a link between alcohol and cancer, as reported within Australian newspaper media (2005–2013). We use descriptive statistics to examine the prominence of reports, the nature and content of claims regarding the link between alcohol and cancer, and the source of information noted in each article.ResultsArticles were distributed throughout newspapers, most appearing within the main (first) section. The link between alcohol and cancer tended not to appear early in articles, and rarely featured in headlines. 95% of articles included a claim that alcohol causes cancer, 5% that alcohol prevented or did not cause cancer, 1% included both. Generally, the amount of alcohol that would cause or prevent cancer was unspecified or open to subjective interpretation. Coverage increased over time, primarily within community/free papers. The claim that alcohol causes cancer often named a specific cancer, did not name a specific alcohol, was infrequently the focus of articles (typically subsumed within an article on general health issues), and cited various health-promoting (including advocacy) organisations as information sources. Articles that included the converse also tended not to focus on that point, often named a specific type of alcohol, and most cited research institutions or generic ‘research’ as sources. Half of all articles involved repetition of materials, and most confirmed that alcohol caused cancer.ConclusionsInformation about a link between alcohol and cancer is available in the Australian newsprint media, but may be hidden within and thus overshadowed by other health-related stories. Strategic collaboration between health promoting organisations, and exploitation of ‘churnalism’ and journalists’ preferences for ready-made ‘copy’ may facilitate increased presence and accuracy of the alcohol-cancer message.

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“…At that time, we obtained information on attitudes towards sun protection and Vitamin D and found that 15% agreed, and 39% were unsure, with the statement that ''if I regularly protect my skin from the sun I am in danger of not getting enough Vitamin D." 29 Since that survey was conducted a significant amount of media attention has focussed on the issue of Vitamin D deficiency, sun protection and cancer. A recent study in Australia examined trends in media coverage about skin cancer prevention, and found a significant increase in coverage of issues surrounding Vitamin D. Further, this research highlighted that articles were more likely to report a ''negative" effect of sun protection where they referred to Vitamin D. 30 Given the recent increased media attention on the issue of Vitamin D and health, and the level of population uncertainty, [31][32][33] we wanted to monitor attitudes and possible changes in sun protection behaviour due to concerns about healthy levels of Vitamin D over time.…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

Vitamin D and sun protection: The impact of mixed public health messages in Australia

Youl

Janda

Kimlin

2009

Intl Journal of Cancer

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Exposure of the skin to sunlight can cause skin cancer and is also necessary for cutaneous Vitamin D production. Media reports have highlighted the purported health benefits of Vitamin D. Our aim was to examine attitudes and behaviours related to sun protection and Vitamin D. A cross-sectional study of 2,001 residents in Queensland, Australia, aged 20-70 years was undertaken. Information collected included the following: skin cancer risk factors; perceptions about levels of sun exposure required to maintain Vitamin D; belief that sun protection increases risk of Vitamin D deficiency; intention, and actual change in sun protection practices for adults and children. Multivariate models examined predictors of attitudinal and behavioural change. One-third (32%) believed a fair-skinned adult, and 31% thought a child required at least 30 min/day in summer sun to maintain Vitamin D levels. Reductions in sun protection were reported by 21% of adults and 14% of children. Factors associated with the belief that sun protection may result in not obtaining enough Vitamin D included age of 60 years (OR 5 1.35, 95% CI 1.09-1.66) and having skin that tanned easily (OR 5 1.96, 95% CI 1.38-2.78). Participants from low-income households, and those who frequently used sun-protective clothing were more likely to have reduced sun protection practices (OR 5 1.33, 95% CI 1.10-1.73 and OR 5 1.73, 95% CI 1.36-2.20, respectively). This study provides evidence of reductions in sun protection practices in a population living in a high UV environment. There is an urgent need to refocus messages regarding sun exposure and for continued sun protection practices. ' 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: Vitamin D; skin cancer; sun protection; ultraviolet Vitamin D, commonly referred to as the ''sunshine vitamin'', is required for the preservation of calcium and phosphate blood levels and hence the maintenance of bone health.1 While there are dietary sources of Vitamin D, the main source (over 95%) is through exposure of 7-dehydrocholesteraol in the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation followed by 2 hydroxylation steps.2 It has been estimated that Vitamin D production is maximised following exposure to one-third of a minimal erythemal dose (MED).2 Increasing the surface of the skin exposed to UV radiation also decreases the amount of time required to synthesise a given amount of Vitamin D. It is known that UV-induced DNA damage increases linearly with total exposure to sunlight. However, the concentration of preVitamin D reaches a threshold after less than 1 MED. Thus, increasing exposure of the skin to the sun does not necessarily result in increased Vitamin D production.

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Trends in news coverage about skin cancer prevention, 1993‐2006: increasingly mixed messages for the public

Cited by 31 publications

References 23 publications

Knowledge about health benefits of vitamin D in Queensland Australia

Knowledge about health benefits of vitamin D in Queensland Australia

An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013

Vitamin D and sun protection: The impact of mixed public health messages in Australia

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