Cable television and health promotion: a feasibility study with arthritis patients

Community access cable television channels can be used to provide low-cost health programming in many communities. This article describes a study undertaken to ascertain the extent to which arthritis patients could be targeted by arthritis-related programming over a local cable system. A number of publicity sources were used to advertise the programs to a preidentified group and the public at large. Telephone and written surveys revealed that the programming garnered a moderate viewing audience composed preponderantly of arthritis patients. Some conceptual and practical issues involved in targeting chronic patient groups for health programming are discussed.