This survey involved medical reporters to identify degrees of theoretical and actual com¬pliance to recommendations for health reporting. Methods The questionnaire was addressed to 450 Italian journalists and obtained a redemption of 23.1%. Major gaps between theoretical agreement and professional practice were: need of scientific background and continuing education; importance of avoiding sensationalism, assessment of scientific protocols and results, reporting of results as abso¬lute risk and numbers needed to treat, attention to the conflict of interest. Two homogeneous pro¬files emerged. Group 1 includes journalists working in newspapers and shows a large gap between theory and practice. Group 2 includes mainly journalists working in technical medical media and shows a higher consistency between the two settings. An improvement in theoretical understanding of medical literature is advisable, but interventions are needed in the working practice in particular in newspapers, a setting where approaches are more difficult.

Medical reporting recommendations: a gap between practical and theoretical approach of journalists in Italy / M. Di Croce, L. Vercellesi, M. Laccisaglia, F. Bruno. - In: ANNALI DELL'ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ. - ISSN 0021-2571. - 48:2(2012 Jun 28), pp. 194-200. [10.4415/ANN_12_02_13]

Medical reporting recommendations: a gap between practical and theoretical approach of journalists in Italy

M. Laccisaglia
Penultimo
;
F. Bruno
Ultimo
2012

Abstract

This survey involved medical reporters to identify degrees of theoretical and actual com¬pliance to recommendations for health reporting. Methods The questionnaire was addressed to 450 Italian journalists and obtained a redemption of 23.1%. Major gaps between theoretical agreement and professional practice were: need of scientific background and continuing education; importance of avoiding sensationalism, assessment of scientific protocols and results, reporting of results as abso¬lute risk and numbers needed to treat, attention to the conflict of interest. Two homogeneous pro¬files emerged. Group 1 includes journalists working in newspapers and shows a large gap between theory and practice. Group 2 includes mainly journalists working in technical medical media and shows a higher consistency between the two settings. An improvement in theoretical understanding of medical literature is advisable, but interventions are needed in the working practice in particular in newspapers, a setting where approaches are more difficult.
health communication ; mass media ; medical journalism ; survey ; quality
Settore BIO/14 - Farmacologia
28-giu-2012
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/212481
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