Reporting on health-related research in two prestigious Brazilian newspapers

OBJECTIVES: The dissemination of health-related news through newspapers can influence the behavior of patients and of health care providers. We conducted a study to analyze the characteristics of health-related research published by two leading Brazilian newspapers. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated health-related news published in the electronic versions of the newspapers Folha de São Paulo and O Estado de São Paulo over a period of three months (July through September, 2009). Only articles mentioning medical research were included. The articles were categorized according to topic, source, study location and the nature of the headline. We also analyzed the presence of background information on the topic, citations of medical periodicals, national contextualization and references to products or companies. RESULTS: Scientific research articles corresponded to 57% and 20% of health-related articles published by Folha de São Paulo and O Estado de São Paulo, respectively. Folha de São Paulo published significantly more articles about national studies, and most articles were written by its own staff. In contrast, most articles in O Estado de São Paulo came from news agencies. Folha de São Paulo also better contextualized its reports for Brazilian society. O Estado de São Paulo tended to cite the name of the periodical in which the study was published more frequently, but their articles lacked national contextualization. CONCLUSION: The results showed a significant difference in the way in which the studied newspapers report on health-related research. Folha de São Paulo tends to write its own articles and more frequently publishes the results of national research, whereas O Estado de São Paulo publishes articles that originate in news agencies, most of which have little national contextualization.

Medical learning in a private hospital: patients' and companions' perspectives / Ensino médico em um hospital privado: perspectiva dos pacientes e acompanhantes

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Contact with patients has important implications for medical students' education. Previous studies have shown that patients in teaching hospitals have positive views about medical education. The aim here was to assess the acceptability of medical education among patients and their companions in a non-teaching private hospital that is planning to implement a medical teaching program in the near future. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in a 200-bed tertiary-care private hospital in Brasília. METHODS: Between March and April 2005, patients and their companions in three different sections of the hospital (intensive care unit, ward and emergency waiting room) were surveyed using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 209 volunteers. The majority of the volunteers (178; 85 percent) said that they would allow a student to be present during consultations. Of these, 102 (57 percent) said that they would like to have a student present. Acceptance of the presence of students was higher among males (males 93 percent; females 81 percent; P = 0.026). Intensive care unit respondents said that they would like medical students to be present more frequently than the other two groups said this (ward 48 percent; emergency room 49 percent; intensive care unit 74 percent; P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Not only were medical students well accepted but also their presence during consultations was desired by many patients and their companions. These findings may be of great value for plans to implement medical teaching programs in private hospitals.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O contato com pacientes tem implicações importantes na educação de estudantes de medicina. Estudos prévios revelam que pacientes em hospitais escola têm opiniões positivas sobre ensino médico. O objetivo foi avaliar a aceitação de ensino médico em um hospital privado não-universitário que planeja implementar um programa de ensino médico em futuro próximo. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal conduzido em hospital privado de 200 leitos, em Brasília. MÉTODOS: Em Brasília entre março e abril de 2005, foram aplicados questionários a pacientes e acompanhantes em três diferentes seções do hospital: unidade de terapia intensiva, enfermaria e sala de espera do pronto-socorro. RESULTADOS: O questionário foi respondido por 209 voluntários. A maioria, 178 (85 por cento), permitiria a presença do estudante de medicina durante a consulta e dentre estes, 102 (57 por cento) gostariam da presença do estudante. A aceitação à presença de estudantes foi maior em voluntários do sexo masculino (homens 93 por cento; mulheres 81 por cento; P = 0,026). Os voluntários da unidade de terapia intensiva foram os que mais gostariam da presença do estudante quando comparados aos outros dois grupos (enfermaria 48 por cento; pronto-socorro 49 por cento; unidade de terapia intensiva 74 por cento; P = 0,011). CONCLUSÕES: Estudantes de medicina são não apenas bem aceitos, mas também desejados por muitos pacientes e acompanhantes durante consultas médicas. Esses achados podem ter grande valor para o plano de implementação de um programa de ensino médico em um hospital privado.