title: Analysis of oral health information in the Spanish mass media.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health information delivered by the Spanish mass media. The study was composed of two parts. In a quantitative study three media were selected: press, radio, and television. The study was carried out between December 1987 and March 1988, and the media with largest numbers and audience were selected. Information variables were: politics/economy-labor/culture-education/interviews-events-reports/sport s/ leisure/publicity/health/oral health/miscellaneous. The mass media studied dedicated a very small percentage of their space/time to health information, with a clear predominance of other themes such as publicity, politics, and sports (17/1). In relation to oral health, results were even more significant because the space/time dedicated to health in relation to oral health was 180/1 (P less than 0.01). Most of the oral health time was given via promotional or politico-professional issues (P less than 0.05). In a qualitative study all available information relating in any way with oral health was selected from a survey of all written news by the non-specialized Spanish press that appeared during 1 yr (Jan 1987-Jan 1988). Reports dedicated to education were only 170 (31.48%) of the total (540) oral health reports. From 170 reports dedicated to oral health, 33 (19.41%) presented some sort of error and 137 (80.59) had an adequate educative content. Caries was the topic more frequently covered, 77.06% of the data, in contrast to periodontal disease, dealt with by only 33.53%. The qualitative level of data using a Score Level Index (SLI) was 42.73% of the highest possible level. Implications for public health dentistry are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oro-facial Medicine, Faculty of Odontology, University Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noguerol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Follana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sicilia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D003731:Dental Caries; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006266:Health Education; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008310:Malocclusion; D008402:Mass Media; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases; D011845:Radio; D013030:Spain; D013674:Technology, Dental; D013690:Television; D013997:Time Factors