The quantity and quality of medical information available to the public

This study was designed to assess medical information available to the public. This study included three components -- a telephone survey, a patient quiz and a quantitative study of medical topics in popular magazines. The study was conducted in a community of about 16,000 people. Our results suggest that physicians are the most trusted source of medical information and that the majority of the public would like more medical information provided by physicians; that more public awareness is needed in such selected areas as childhood poisoning, the prevention of falls, and breast cancer detection; and that 28% of the magazine covers surveyed dealt with health/medical issues.