title: Uncertainty in Online U.S. News Coverage of Truvada.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency of incidents of uncertainty in online news articles about Truvada, a drug used to prevent HIV infection. Using a coding scheme that synthesized uncertainty research from health disciplines and communication studies, we analyzed 235 articles from the most-read United States-based news websites. Our results showed that 80.4% of articles contained at least one incident of uncertainty, that articles contained significantly more incidents of uncertainty before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed Truvada compared to after the CDC endorsed the drug, and that articles mentioning men who have sex with men (MSM) contained significantly more incidents of uncertainty than articles in which they were not mentioned.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Studies , Northeastern University.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: b Manship School of Mass Communication , Louisiana State University.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimm
mesh_terms: D017277:Drug Approval; D000069480:Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D035501:Uncertainty; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000069480:Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Drug Combination