Abstract
Background: This study explored the French media’s presentation of ideas and medical information about prostate cancer (PC) that may influence men’s understanding, attitudes and behavior. Methods: A qualitative media content analysis centered on PC information delivered by French professional media. The selected data were produced in the aftermath of the High Health Authority's decision in 2008 not to recommend systematic screening by prostate specific antigen(PSA) for men over 50. Source was the Media Archives of the French National Library. Content was analyzed from 15 television programs, 14 radio programs, and 55 articles from 35 popular French newspapers (online and printed, weekly and monthly) and 20 magazines. Audio content was narrated into textual form and submitted to manual coding along with the print content.Results: Television and radio content focused on the nature of PC, screening and treatment,and conveyed a gender-centric position linked to male sexuality and virility. Newspapers and magazines targeted the testing controversy, the lack of consensus among professionals, and scientific advances in screening and treatment.Conclusion: Media participation in the European testing debate is valuable for allowing patients to hear all opinions on PC risk factors. Debate on testing policy contributes to confusion and uncertainty regarding appropriate action.
Highlights
Media contribution and influence has the capacity to impact men’s and women’s cancer literacy
As one component of a larger ethnographic study about a transcultural representation of prostate cancer (PC) among men within a French cultural context, this paper reports a distinctive set of results of a media analysis study
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening controversy, education about PC prevention, progression, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as recent general scientific findings were the major subjects introduced by French media
Summary
Media contribution and influence (e.g. newspapers, magazines, newsletters, television, radio, Internet) has the capacity to impact men’s and women’s cancer literacy. Some authors suggested that media studies should explore the appropriation of the message as a long-term process rather than its contents,[4] while other authors stated that media power can place cancer prevention and diagnosis on the public agenda, impacting public health.[3]. This study explored the French media’s presentation of ideas and medical information about prostate cancer (PC) that may influence men’s understanding, attitudes and behaviour. Content was analyzed from 15 television programs, 14 radio programs, and 55 articles from 35 popular French newspapers (online and printed, weekly and monthly) and 20 magazines. Debate on testing policy contributes to confusion and uncertainty regarding appropriate action
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