Assuntos
Participação da Comunidade , Emigração e Imigração/estatística & dados numéricos , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Promoção da Saúde/organização & administração , Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Redes Comunitárias , District of Columbia , El Salvador/etnologia , Feminino , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vigilância da População , Fatores Sexuais , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to examine popular press reports of the association between alcohol and breast cancer. METHODS: Articles from scientific journals and stories from newspapers and magazines published from January 1, 1985, to July 1, 1992, were retrieved from six on-line databases. Lay press stories were analyzed to determine which medical articles were publicized and what information was reported. RESULTS: Fifty-eight scientific articles on the relationship of alcohol and breast cancer were found, and 64 newspaper and 23 magazine stories were retrieved. The press cited 11 studies, 19% of those published during the study period. Three studies were featured in 77% of popular press stories. No scientific review articles were reported. Behavioral recommendations were given to the public in 63% of stories. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of scientific studies on alcohol and breast cancer were ignored in press reports. We encourage researchers and the popular press to give the public a broader understanding of public health issues.
