Analysis of oral health information in the Spanish mass media

The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health information delivered by the Spanish mass media. The study was composed of two parts. In a quantitative study three media were selected: press, radio, and television. The study was carried out between December 1987 and March 1988, and the media with largest numbers and audience were selected. Information variables were: politics/economy-labor/culture-education/interviews-events-reports/sport s/ leisure/publicity/health/oral health/miscellaneous. The mass media studied dedicated a very small percentage of their space/time to health information, with a clear predominance of other themes such as publicity, politics, and sports (17/1). In relation to oral health, results were even more significant because the space/time dedicated to health in relation to oral health was 180/1 (P less than 0.01). Most of the oral health time was given via promotional or politico-professional issues (P less than 0.05). In a qualitative study all available information relating in any way with oral health was selected from a survey of all written news by the non-specialized Spanish press that appeared during 1 yr (Jan 1987-Jan 1988). Reports dedicated to education were only 170 (31.48%) of the total (540) oral health reports. From 170 reports dedicated to oral health, 33 (19.41%) presented some sort of error and 137 (80.59) had an adequate educative content. Caries was the topic more frequently covered, 77.06% of the data, in contrast to periodontal disease, dealt with by only 33.53%. The qualitative level of data using a Score Level Index (SLI) was 42.73% of the highest possible level. Implications for public health dentistry are discussed.