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Osteoporosis coverage in selected women's magazines and newspapers, 1998-2001
Lorraine Silver Wallace1, Joyce E Ballard
1The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA. lwallace@mc.utmck.edu
Objective:
To evaluate the accountability of osteoporosis information available in selected mass-circulating women's magazines (n=8) and a sample of newspapers (n=2).
Methods:
Osteoporosis articles (n=132) were assessed for sources of information used, incidence/prevalence statistics, risks factors, and prevention measures.
Results:
Expert sources were highlighted in the majority of articles, whereas incidence/ prevalence statistics were described in less than half of the articles. Risk factors and prevention measures were outlined in most articles; however, much of the information presented was ambiguous and incomplete.
Conclusions:
It appears that the reporting of osteoporosis in women's magazines and newspapers is not entirely balanced; thus, future coverage should provide greater detail when reporting risks and preventive measures.