Evidence Based Evaluation of Health Information in the Television News

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A rapid growth of socioeconomic status in Korea has triggered health information resolution of unprecedented magnitude among the general population. Despite its obvious benefits, the increase in the amount of information could also result in many potentially harmful effects on both consumers and professionals who do not use it appropriately. METHODS: This study was performed to evaluate health information in the television news from June 2003 through January 2004. We evaluated the quality and the accuracy of health information provided in the night news. We reviewed the health information for quality using the evidence-based medicine tools which evaluate the accuracy required to understand the text. RESULTS: A total of 85 types of information were identified. Among them, 34 (40.0%) contained inaccurate or misleading statement based on evidence-based medicine. These included confusing surrogate outcome with an end outcome (15.3%), extrapolating nonhuman results to human (8.2%), exaggerating results in conclusion (12.9%), incorrect words (7.1%), indefinite study methods (2.4%) In broadcasting stations A, B and C, the rate of error were 55.6%, 38.2% and 42.4%, respectively. The rate of error were higher in information of Korean source compared to those of international sources (65.8% and 27.3%). CONCLUSION: Many inaccurate medical information exist in the television news.