Finer D, Tomson G, Björkman N M
Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Patient Educ Couns. 1997 Jan;30(1):71-81. doi: 10.1016/s0738-3991(96)00960-3.
Medical journalists in the mass media play a key role in health information dissemination and risk/benefit education. Public education on the rational use of various health technologies, e.g. pharmaceuticals, is increasingly important as part of ongoing global health sector reforms. In a survey of 110 Swedish medical journalists (55% response rate) about medicinal drugs, risk perceptions and professional concerns, fact-giving, stimulating, and critical functions were rated as the most important journalist role attributes, followed by advocacy of patient interests and of public health goals. Major perceived problems were self-imposed professional demands, job stress, knowledge and time constraints, and selection and contextualization of news material. In terms of medicinal drugs, attitudes were strongly in favor of a unique drug information role for the media and critical of physician prescribing and information-giving. Views on the appropriateness of specific ethical rules or guidelines for medical journalists were sharply divided. The results offer some promise for increased alliance-building between public health and the mass media.
大众媒体中的医学记者在健康信息传播和风险/收益教育方面发挥着关键作用。作为全球卫生部门持续改革的一部分，对各种卫生技术（如药品）的合理使用进行公众教育变得越来越重要。在一项针对110名瑞典医学记者（回复率55%）的关于药品、风险认知和职业担忧的调查中，提供事实、激发思考和批判性的功能被评为记者最重要的角色属性，其次是维护患者利益和公共卫生目标。主要察觉到的问题是自我施加的职业要求、工作压力、知识和时间限制，以及新闻材料的选择和背景化。在药品方面，态度强烈支持媒体发挥独特的药品信息作用，并对医生开处方和提供信息持批评态度。对于医学记者特定道德规则或准则的适用性，观点存在明显分歧。研究结果为加强公共卫生与大众媒体之间的联盟建设带来了一些希望。
