Medical Television Research Articles

The Depiction of Medical Errors in a Sample of Medical Television Shows.

Background: Medical errors and adverse events may affect up to 7.5% of hospitalizations, although observational studies suggest the numbers could be even higher. Previous studies have shown that medical television (TV) shows may be a major driver when it comes to a patient’s medical knowledge and perspectives.Methods: Six episodes from the first season of eight medical TV series were analyzed by four reviewers. Demographics of the healthcare provider responsible for the error, demographics of the victim, type of error, setting of error, level of disability, and reporting of the error were recorded. Data was compared with event rates from US hospitals.Results: A total of 242 medical errors (average 6.4/hr) were included in the analysis. The healthcare provider responsible for the error was often an attending physician (55.8%), while victims were often White (73.6%), males (55.0%), aged 16-44 years (50.8%). Errors in diagnosis (28.9%) and operative errors (19.4%) were most common. Compared with data from US hospitals, TV series depicted more errors in diagnosis (p<0.001) and fewer operative errors (p<0.001). The most common levels of disability following medical errors were emotional trauma (37.6%) and temporary injury (30.2%). Emotional trauma was significantly overrepresented and temporary injuries were underrepresented (p<0.001). Error was not reported to the victim in 49.2% of events.Conclusion: There were multiple discrepancies between errors depicted on TV and US hospital data. This may lead to viewer fear and anxiety that results in delays in seeking medical care and increased medicolegal cases. Healthcare systems should attempt to reduce the incidence of medical errors and adverse events by ensuring competencies of their providers, instituting methods of risk analysis and prevention, and training providers on methods of proper error disclosure.

Depiction of Sexual Harassment in Medical Television Shows.

Background and objectiveMedical television (TV) shows are known to exaggerate medical scenarios, including relationships among/between medical staff and patients. Unfortunately, sexual harassment occurs within the medical and nursing profession. The objective of this study was to analyze the depiction of sexual harassment in eight popular medical TV shows.MethodsThe first 10 episodes of the first season of eight popular medical TV shows (St. Elsewhere, ER, Scrubs, Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, Nurse Jackie, The Good Doctor, and The Resident) were viewed and coded by two reviewers. The data abstracted included demographics of those involved in the sexual harassment and examples of sexual harassment depicted.ResultsThe analysis was based on 62 instances of sexual harassment. The victim of sexual harassment was female in 77% (49/62) of instances. The most common relationships depicted pertaining to the acts of sexual harassment were attending physicians toward attending physicians (12/62, 19.3%), interns toward interns (8/62, 12.9%), attending physicians towards interns (7/62, 11.2%), and patients toward attending physicians (5/62, 8.1%). The most common examples of sexual harassment portrayed were telling sexual anecdotes/jokes (23/62, 37.1%), inappropriate touching (12/62, 19.4%), and making sexual comments about appearance, such as body parts or clothes (12/62, 19.4%).ConclusionBased on our analysis of medical TV shows, instances of sexual harassment occurred most commonly between attending physicians, and most of them were associated with sexual anecdotes/jokes. Medical and nursing professionals may draw on relevant instances from medical TV shows to discuss how to recognize and deal with sexual harassment in the workplace in order to promote a safe and nurturing environment devoid of harassment.

FR02-14 ACCURACY OF UROLOGIC CONDITIONS PORTRAYED ON GREYʼS ANATOMY

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Benign and malignant urologic conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent in the aging population. However, studies have demonstrated that the general public often has little knowledge or insight into the field of urology or the role of a urologist (Gagnon 2009, Barayan 2011). One way to reach a large audience and increase the public’s awareness is through increased representation on medical television shows. Grey’s Anatomy is the longest running American primetime medical drama series (2005 to present) with an average of almost 20 million viewers for the first few seasons. In this study, we investigated the context, frequency, and accuracy of urologic conditions on Grey’s Anatomy to better understand how the field of urology is portrayed on this popular show. METHODS: We reviewed detailed plot synopses for each episode of the first 15 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy for common urologic keywords including kidney, prostate, bladder, penis, urethra, testicle, scrotum, stone, incontinence, prolapse, urine, catheter, retention, and urology. Episodes with urologic references were then screened and the urologic conditions, outcomes, and treatments were recorded. The medical accuracy of the conditions and treatments were agreed upon by two reviewing physicians. RESULTS: We identified a total of 21 urologic events across 15 seasons and 342 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. This corresponds to an average of 1.4 urologic condition per season or one urologic condition for every 16.3 episodes. A total of 43% (9/21) of the conditions were related to the male penis or urethra (Table 1). The remainder were related to the kidney (19%), bladder (19%), testicle/scrotum (10%), prostate (5%) or other (5%). The portrayal of these conditions and the associated treatments were considered to be medically accurate within reason 62% (13/21) of the time. The show’s main urologist was introduced in the 8th season so most of the urologic surgeries in the prior episodes were performed by general surgeons and plastic surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Urologic conditions are infrequently represented on Grey’s Anatomy and over half of the references were related to external male genitalia. There is significant room for improvement to increase the portrayal of common urologic conditions and malignancies to improve the public’s awareness and perception of our specialty.Source of Funding: None

The New Surgical Amphitheater: Color Television and Medical Education in Postwar America.

In the late 1940s to early 1950s, medical color television was sold to American hospital administrators and educators as a unique and enhanced form of vision that could modernize, improve upon, and replace the surgical amphitheater. Television and pharmaceutical industry actors, along with medical educators and administrators, asserted such claims in their marketing materials and statements to the press: they positioned color television as the ideal tool for medical education. This essay examines how the use of color medical television during this period intersects with, elucidates, and alters both the history of medical education and surgical space, and the discourses around television's relationship to human perception and experience. I focus on the production and visual practices of medical television, concentrating on the expertise of those working in color development for national television networks in the live closed-circuit broadcasts of medical techniques within healthcare institutions. In doing so, I will show that medical color television's promise to establish a virtual surgical amphitheater relied upon the material construction and maintenance of the in-house hospital television studio, which in turn eventually reconfigured a number of the everyday management, procedures, and visual strategies of the teaching hospital.

Television as a Career Motivator and Education Tool: A Final-Year Nursing Student Cohort Study

Fictional medical programs are often used for more than just their recreational enjoyment; they can also influence career decision making. Very little research has examined the pedagogical value of fictional medical programs in terms of their motivational value in the choice of a nursing career. As such, the aim of this study was to examine what motivated nursing students to choose nursing careers, if fictional medical programs were motivators, and if they are used by students as a learning tool. The cross-sectional study collected data using a questionnaire and occurred between April and June 2018. The findings were generated from students’ short answers and extended responses within the questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. A total of 291 students participated (82.6% response rate), with motivations for entering nursing being similar to other international studies; however, as motivators, fictional medical television programs were rated higher than job security. Overall, students engage with medical television programs along a television–learning continuum, ranging from limited watching time, recognising inaccuracies, understanding dialogue, through to using fictional medical television programs as tools for learning. However, this is dependent on time, interest, current level of understanding, and a program’s perceived value.

Screenplays and Screenwriting as an Innovative Teaching Tool in Medical Ethics Education.

Innovation in ethics pedagogy has continued to evolve and incorporate other forms of storytelling aimed at improving student engagement and learning. The use of bioethics narratives in feature-length films, medical television shows, or short clips in the classroom has a well-established history. In parallel, screenplays present an opportunity for an active approach to ethical engagement. We argue that screenplays and screenwriting provide a rich supplement to current medical ethics teaching and serve as a strong form of reflective learning.

The Potential for Learning Specialized Vocabulary of University Lectures and Seminars Through Watching Discipline‐Related TV Programs: Insights From Medical Corpora

This study investigated the potential of discipline‐related television programs as sources for incidental learning of specialized vocabulary used in university lectures and seminars. First, a Medical Spoken Word List (MSWL) of 895 specialized word types was developed from a 556,074‐word corpus of medical lectures and seminars based on a mixed method: corpus‐driven analysis, specialized dictionary checking, and expert ratings. Then, an 11,036,771‐word corpus of 37 medical television programs was developed and analyzed to examine the extent to which the MSWL words were encountered in these programs. Adopting 5 encounters or more, 10 encounters or more, 15 encounters or more, and 20 encounters or more as the frequency cutoff points at which incidental learning may happen, this study found that the number of MSWL words that met these cutoff points increased as the number of episodes, seasons, and programs increased. This indicates that discipline‐related television programs are potential sources for incidental learning of specialized vocabulary used in lectures and seminars if these programs are watched regularly and in a sequential order.

의학드라마 캐릭터와 내러티브를 통해 본 드라마 삽입곡의 역할에 대한 고찰- 「하얀 거탑」과 「낭만 닥터 김사부」를 중심으로 -

의학드라마 캐릭터와 내러티브를 통해 본 드라마 삽입곡의 역할에 대한 고찰- 「하얀 거탑」과 「낭만 닥터 김사부」를 중심으로 -

A preliminary study on the narrative medical curriculum for clinical medicine postgraduates

Objective To establish a scientific and rational narrative medical curriculum standards for clinical medicine postgraduates to improve their medical humanistic quality. Methods On the basis of literature review and group discussion, the standards of narrative medical curriculum for postgraduates majoring in clinical medicine were preliminarily constructed, and the Delphi method was used to evaluate and screen the indicators. An expert consultation questionnaire was drawn up for 40 selected experts to finalize the curriculum standards for narrative medicine. The small-scale teaching practice was carried out in post-graduates of the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery in Southwest Hospital of Chongqing, and the problems in the process of teaching implementation were collected. Results Experts' opinions tended to be consistent after two rounds of consultation. Finally, the study confirmed a theoretical and practical narrative medical curriculum which consisted of introducing narrative medicine theory, reading narrative medicine related books, watching the medical narrative film and television works, and writing the narrative medical records. Through the small-scale teaching practice, we collected a variety of problems, for which, we sorted out and analyzed, and finally put forward the improvement scheme. Conclusion The narrative medical curriculum for clinical medicine postgraduates is reasonable, which can lay the foundation for the promotion of clinical medical postgraduates' medical humanistic quality and doctor-patient communication ability, and accelerate the popularization of narrative medicine idea in our country. Key words: Clinical medicine degree; Postgraduates; Narrative medical curriculum; Humanistic care

Диагностирующая стратегия отечественного и американского дискурса телевизионной медицинской драмы

The article analyzes the implementation of the diagnostic strategy of television medical drama discourse in Russian and American linguoculture on the material of the series “Practice” and “Grey's Anatomy” as the most striking examples of this type of discourse. The study highlights the phenomenon of medicalization and the genre of the television medical drama, introduces the concept of the medical drama television discourse and discusses it definitional properties, as well as the ways of achievement of compliance at the diagnostic stage in Russian and American medical drama television discourse.

Doing the Work of Medicine? Medical Television Programmes and Patient Behaviour

This article explores the contribution of television programmes to shaping the doctor-patient relationship in Britain in the Sixties and beyond. Our core proposition is that TV programmes on medicine ascribe a specific position as patients to viewers. This is what we call the ‘Inscribed Patient’. In this article we discuss a number of BBC programmes centred on medicine, from the 1958 ‘On Call to a Nation’; to the 1985 ‘A Prize Discovery’, to examine how television accompanied the development of desired patient behaviour during the transition to what was dubbed “Modern Medicine” in early 1970s Britain. To support our argument about the “Inscribed Patient”, we draw a comparison with natural history programmes from the early 1960s, which similarly prescribed specific agencies to viewers as potential participants in wildlife filmmaking. We conclude that a ‘patient position’ is inscribed in biomedical television programmes, which advance propositions to laypeople about how to submit themselves to medical expertise.

PATIENT'S CHEST DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH DELAY IN REPERFUSION THERAPY ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

 Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a group of symptoms that are classify as unstable angina (ATS), ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) and non ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI). Main objective to provide timely reperfusion therapy is essential to improve survival. Initial and rapid intervention after the occurrence of coronary artery disease is associated with better clinical outcomes, but it is hampered by the nature of the patient's seeking decisions Patients expect the type of heart attack they often see in medical movies and television: like chest pain that grips and causes it to fall to the floor. This study aims to analyze the chest discomfort experienced by patients associated with delay in reperfusion therapy of Acute Coronary Syndrome. The method used is observational analytic with cross sectional approach. Nonprobability sampling with time quota technique obtained sample of 60 respondents. The results obtained as many as 55% of patients come more than 120 minutes after the onset of discomfort in the chest. The patient's delay in coming to the associated hospital is an accompanying symptom factor at onset with p = 0.048, and OR = 4.596 (1.014-20.828). There were no significant differences in the scores of knowledge, behavior, and beliefs based on the ACS response index between patients who came &lt;120 minutes and&gt; 120 minutes. The conclusions of this study present the accompanying symptom presentations at onset with the time interval between the appearances of the SKA symptoms until arriving at the IGD door. Seeing the results of this study suggests the need for efforts from medical staff to optimize the interpretation of "chest pain characteristics" to patients and families or who are susceptible about specific and non-specific cardiac signs. Keywords: acute coronary syndrome, prehospital delay, onset to door, reperfusion

Use of Twitter to Assess Viewer Reactions to the Medical Drama, Code Black

Fictional medical television programs are popular with viewers and have been shown to influence health-related outcomes. We sought to systematically analyze real-time viewer discourse on Twitter related to the new medical drama, Code Black. We retrieved all Twitter posts (tweets) and metadata around the time of the airing of Code Black for four consecutive weeks. We developed a codebook using both content assessment of Twitter messages (tweets) and theory-based variables used in entertainment education analyses. We coded all tweets that occurred during the Eastern Standard Time (EST) airing of the program. Tweets that fell into at least one coding category were further analyzed by two independent researchers. We collected a total of 19,369 tweets, with 54% of total tweets originating during the EST airing of the program. There were 1,888 tweets that fit into one or more of six broad coding categories. Qualitative analysis revealed several key themes including real-life motivation to pursue health sciences careers based on the program, engagement regarding medical accuracy, and respect for the nursing profession. Examination of tweets related to Code Black provides insight into viewer discourse and suggests that Twitter may provide a vehicle for leveraging program engagement into real-life discussion and inquiry.

The Influence of Self-efficacy in Medical Drama Television Programming on Behaviors and Emotions that Promote Cervical Cancer Prevention.

We explored the influences of medical drama viewing on health behaviors and emotions, and examined the role of self-efficacy in medical drama programming. A single-factor, 2-condition experimental design that manipulated self-efficacy levels was adopted. A total of 131 female undergraduate students who were likely involved with the issues of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer participated in this experiment. In line with social cognitive theory, the results indicated that participants in the high self-efficacy condition showed greater behavioral intention to receive a Pap smear (F (1, 126) = 4.38, p < .05, partial η2 = .03) and the HPV vaccine (F (1, 35) = 4.82, p < .05, partial η2 = .12) and higher levels of hope (F (1, 126) = 12.22, p < .01, partial η2 = .09) than participants in the low self-efficacy condition. In addition, hope mediated the relationship between self-efficacy condition and behavioral intention to receive a Pap smear (B = .16, SE = .08, 95% CI = [.04, .38]). Findings suggest that inclusion of self-efficacy information in entertainment programming may lead to beneficial health outcomes. Medical drama programming may act as an effective outlet to affect health behaviors and emotions of the larger public, ultimately enhancing public health.

Does the "script" need a rewrite? Is medication advice in television medical dramas appropriate?

Television medical dramas depict the healthcare industry and draw considerable interest from the public, while pharmacists play an integral part in providing medication-related advice to the public and other health practitioners in real life. The main objective of this retrospective, observational study was to assess the appropriateness of medication advice given in televised medical dramas and how frequently pharmacists were involved in providing the medication advice. Show selection was based on fictional series with a medical drama theme and having the highest viewership. Approximately 100 randomly selected hours of five medical television dramas (House, Grey's Anatomy, Nurse Jackie, Doc Martin and Royal Pains) were assessed for the appropriateness of advice given based on the medication indicated, number of safety checks performed, and the level of adherence to standard clinical guidelines. The appropriateness of medication advice was assessed as appropriate, mostly appropriate, partially appropriate and inappropriate using a piloted, 0-6 point scale. Other parameters recorded included patient demographics, health professionals involved, and the categories of medicines. Medications were mentioned on 424 occasions (on average four times per hour), including 239 occasions where medication advice was given. A pharmacist was involved in giving medication advice only 16 times (7%). Using the assessment tool, overall, medication advice was deemed to be appropriate 24% of the time, mostly appropriate 34%, partially appropriate 13% and inappropriate 7%. Although the medication advice given was often for the correct indication and the advice somewhat followed clinical guidelines, it frequently omitted adequate safety checks. Doc Martin had the highest mean appropriateness score, whereas House and Grey's Anatomy had the lowest. Medication was often used for the correct indication in television medical dramas; however, key safety checks were frequently omitted and other medication-related advice, including dose, was less reliable and accurate. Pharmacists were rarely involved in providing medication advice. Viewers should not base medication-related decisions solely on what they see in television medical dramas, and any medication-related advice should be interpreted with extreme caution.

Exposure to fictional medical television and health: a systematic review.

Fictional medical television programs have long been a staple of television programming, and they remain popular today. We aimed to examine published literature assessing the influence of medical television programs on health outcomes. We conducted systematic literature searches in PubMed, PsychINFO and CINAHL. Selected studies had to be scholarly research, to involve exposure to fictionalized medical television programming, and to assess associations between exposures and outcomes. Of 3541 unique studies identified, nineteen met selection criteria. The most commonly studied programs were ER (73%), Grey's Anatomy (58%) and House M.D. (37%). Outcomes included knowledge, perceptions and behaviors related to topics as diverse as organ donation, cancer screening, sexually transmitted infections, and heart disease. Viewing fictional medical television programs had a negative influence on viewers' health-related knowledge, perceptions and/or behavior in 11% of studies, a positive influence in 32% of studies, and mixed influence in 58%. While most studies (58%) were characterized as having fair quality in terms of rigor of study design, 21% were classified as good and 21% were classified as poor. As such, medical television can affect health education and outcomes. Future work should utilize randomization, more longitudinal assessments, and more direct assessments of health education and behavioral outcomes.

Healthcare workers' knowledge towards Zika virus infection in Indonesia: A survey in Aceh.

To assess the knowledge on Zika virus infection among healthcare providers (doctors) in Aceh province, Indonesia. A self-administered internet based survey was conducted from 3 May to 3 June 2016 among the members of doctor organizations in Aceh province. A set of validated, pre-tested questionnaire was used to measure knowledge regarding Zika infection and to collect a range of explanatory variables. A two-steps logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association of participants' demographic, workplace characteristics and other explanatory variables with the knowledge. A total of 442 participants included in the final analysis and 35.9% of them (159) had a good knowledge on Zika infection. Multivariate model revealed that type of occupation, type of workplace, availability of access to medical journals and experience made Zika disease as differential diagnose were associated with knowledge on Zika infection. In addition, three significant source of information regarding Zika were online media (60%), medical article or medical news (16.2%) and television (13.2%). The knowledge of the doctors in Aceh regarding Zika infection is relatively low. Doctors who have a good knowledge on Zika infection are more confident to established Zika disease as differential diagnosis in their clinical setting. Therefore, such program to increase healthcare providers' knowledge regarding Zika infection is needed to screen potential carriers of Zika infection.

Impact of Medical TV Shows on Preprocedural Fear of Surgical In-House Patients

Background and Hypotheses: The growing number of medical television series and the increasing amount of time people spend watching TV will have an influence on what they expect from their treatment in a hospital. We suspect that reality as presented in the media and the actual reality of hospitals are not always conceived of as two different worlds. Many medical TV shows present dramatic, life-threatening operations much more often than they occur in reality. Patients who frequently watch such shows might be induced to believe that even routine operations are often dangerous, which could result in higher levels of fear before such an operation. We suspect then that there is a significant relation between preoperative levels of fear and TV viewing habits. Methods: A standardized questionnaire was used to interview 162 in-house patients who had come to the hospital for an elective standard operation in a German hospital. They were interviewed 1-2 days prior to operation and shortly before discharge from hospital. The questions aimed at their social situation, their TV viewing habits with special consideration of medical TV shows, and the patients' preprocedural fear. Results: The links between levels of education, age, and gender on the one hand, and viewing habits on the other, which have been shown in cultivation research, are supported by our findings. Approximately 50% reported a relevant anxiety level above 4 (on a scale of 0-10). There is a significant association between levels of fear and TV viewing habits. Thirteen subjects (8%) indicated that they suffered the highest imaginable degree of fear, all of them frequent watchers of medical TV shows. Frequent viewers of medical TV shows were definitely more scared than all other patients (p = 0.039). The preoperative level of fear was highest in the age group of under 40 years and significantly lower (p = 0.0042) in the age group of over 70 years. Conclusion: The assumed effects of cultivation with in-house patients caused by watching TV series could be shown to be statistically significant. Watching medical TV shows increases the patients' preoperative fear.

Use of fictional medical television in health sciences education: a systematic review.

While medical television programs are popular among health profession trainees, it is not clear to what extent these programs affect their knowledge, perceptions, and/or behaviors. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of research evaluating associations between program exposure and outcomes. We conducted systematic literature searches in Pubmed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Selected studies were required to be scholarly research, involve exposure to fictionalized medical television programming by health professional students, and assess associations between exposure and outcomes. Studies were classified according to quality and factors related to population, exposure, and outcomes. Of 3541 studies identified, 13 met selection criteria. Six studies involved undergraduate medical students, one involved nursing students, two involved both medical and nursing students, two involved medical residents, one involved medical students, residents and attending physicians, and one involved graduate epidemiology students. Mean study quality according to the MERSQI was 8.27. The most commonly assessed television programs were ER and Grey's Anatomy (six each). Five studies assessed regular viewing habits, and found that fictional medical programs are popular among students and that students recall health topics from episodes. The eight studies that assessed the association with outcomes when using clips as educational tools reported high satisfaction and increased knowledge of the presented health topics. While relatively few published studies have explored influences of fictional medical television on health professional students, those conducted suggest that students often view these television programs independently and that integration of this programming into medical education is feasible and acceptable.

Influence of Sources of Information and Parental Attitudes on Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake among Adolescents

Study ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to: 1) describe parental sources of information about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for adolescents, 2) understand how parental sources of information about HPV vaccine are associated with adolescent HPV vaccine uptake, and 3) understand if the relationship between a greater number of HPV-related information sources and HPV vaccine uptake among adolescents is mediated by parental attitudes. Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionsWe conducted a 3-arm randomized controlled trial in middle and high schools in eastern Georgia from 2011 to 2013. As part of the trial, we surveyed parents during the final year to understand their sources of information about HPV vaccine for their adolescent. Data were collected from 360 parents via phone and online surveys. Main Outcome MeasuresParents responded to a survey that asked them to identify demographic information, parental HPV attitudes, sources of information about HPV vaccination, and HPV vaccine uptake. ResultsMost of the sample was African American (74%; n = 267) and 53% of parents (n = 192) reported that their adolescent received at least 1 HPV vaccine dose. The top sources of information about HPV vaccine reported by parents were a doctor or medical professional (80%; n = 287) and television (64%; n = 232). A mediation analysis showed sources of information about HPV vaccine are associated with parental attitudes, and parental attitudes about HPV vaccine are associated with vaccine uptake among adolescents. ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of HPV sources of information on parental attitudes.