Health messages on television commercials.
OBJECTIVE
Television is an important source of health information in the United States, yet little research has focused on the presentation of general health issues on television.  This preliminary study reports on the health-related content of television commercials found on a typical television day.


METHODS
We conducted a content analysis of a composite day of television comprising 20 hours randomly selected over a three week period (April-May 1989).  Findings are presented regarding health messages found in commercial time--advertisements, public service announcements (PSAs), editorials, and promotions for upcoming programs.


RESULTS
Overall, 31% of the 654 commercial spots contained health messages.  Most health messages were claims of good nutrition in food and beverage advertisements.  PSAs comprise 1.4% of the 20-hour sample and 5.8% of the commercial time.  Health messages appeared in 38% of PSAs, accounting for less than seven minutes. Not one PSA addressed tobacco, alcohol, or diet--the three leading behavioral risk factors for poor health.


CONCLUSIONS
PSAs are usually seen as a mechanism by which the public health community can alert the public to important health issues.  Given the declining pool of PSA time, public health educators will need to seek alternative strategies for influencing television content, such as media advocacy. In addition, further research on audience interpretation and response to commercial messages is suggested.
Wallack
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Department of Social and Administrative Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Dorfman
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L
D000329:Advertising; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013690:Television; D014481:United States