title: Effects of a television drama about environmental exposure to toxic substances.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed short-term outcomes of viewing an episode of a prime-time television drama in which a child developed cancer after environmental exposure to an illegal pesticide. The study explored the effects among viewers of feeling transported into a narrative world.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents (n = 2,139) to a post-episode Internet panel survey were asked if they had seen the show and asked questions about their demographic information, their frequency of viewing the television show, the degree to which they had felt transported into a narrative world created by the drama, and their knowledge and beliefs about the health effects of environmental exposure. Conversations with key informants from federal agencies and advocacy groups were also held.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Episode viewing and narrative transportation were positively associated with knowledge of toxic exposure effects, and transported viewers reported being more likely to report an unusually high number of cancer cases to authorities. The show also appeared to have prompted a clarification of federal pesticide-testing policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Entertainment Education is a promising strategy for disseminating key points of information about environmental health.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. mgkennedy@vcu.edu
authors.forename: May G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Elizabeth Eustis
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Turf
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson-Genderson
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Grace C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004324:Drama; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000506:poisoning*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013690:Television
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010575:Pesticides