['Dementia' and 'memory' in daily and weekly publications: an analysis of newspaper clippings in the period 1987-1990].
Government, scientists and health care workers show an increasing interest in dementia and memory defects. It is unclear, however, whether the general public has acquired more access to the increased knowledge in this field. This is important to know because many people seem to worry about memory dysfunctions or about a possible dementia. An analysis of newspaper articles over a period of 3 years (March 1987 until March 1990) shows that the number of newspaper articles on memory has decreased. On the other hand, the average number of articles on dementia has increased from 11 per month in the first year to 25 and 28 in the second and third year. In these articles, most attention is given to research on dementia and to health care services for dementia patients. The number of articles on general aspects of dementia remained practically unchanged, although these articles in particular have an important informative function. In national newspapers, the attention for the six different themes is unequally divided. The themes 'general aspects of dementia', 'health care services' and 'research on dementia' have a relatively high impact. Finally, it appears that the same headline of an article can evoke different emotional reactions in a group of judges. Taking the results of this research into account, the authors argue that more health education activities should be directed at memory defects and dementia. Furthermore they conclude that a more systematic evaluation of these activities is necessary.
Commissaris
C J
CJ
Vakgroep Gezondheidsvoorlichting en -Opvoeding, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, Maastricht.
Jolles
J
J
Visser
A P
AP
D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic
'Dementie' en 'geheugen' in de dag- en weekbladpers: een analyse van kranteknipsels over de periode 1987-1990.