Epidemiology and prognosis of coma in daytime television dramas.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how soap operas portray, and possibly misrepresent, the likelihood of recovery for patients in coma.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Nine soap operas in the United States reviewed between 1 January 1995 and 15 May 2005.


METHODS
64 characters who experienced a period of unconsciousness lasting at least 24 hours. Their final status at the end of the follow-up period was compared with pooled data from a meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Comas lasted a median of 13 days (interquartile range 7-25 days). Fifty seven (89%) patients recovered fully, five (8%) died, and two (3%) remained in a vegetative state. Mortality for non-traumatic and traumatic coma was significantly lower than would be predicted from the meta-analysis data (non-traumatic 4% v 53%; traumatic 6% v 67%; Fisher's exact test both P < 0.001). On the day that patients regained consciousness, most (49/57; 86%) had no evidence of limited function, cognitive deficit, or residual disability needing rehabilitation. Compared with meta-analysis data, patients in this sample had a much better than expected chance of returning to normal function (non-traumatic 91% v 1%; traumatic 89% v 7%; both P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The portrayal of coma in soap operas is overly optimistic. Although these programmes are presented as fiction, they may contribute to unrealistic expectations of recovery.
Casarett
David
D
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 9 East, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4155, USA. casarett@mail.med.upenn.edu
Fishman
Jessica M
JM
MacMoran
Holly Jo
HJ
Pickard
Amy
A
Asch
David A
DA
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003128:Coma; D004324:Drama; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013690:Television