Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-3-20
pubmed:abstractText
Little previous research has been done on the public health impact of mass media coverage of cancer episodes of public figures. This paper uses a variety of data sources to examine the impact of President Reagan's colon cancer episode of July, 1985. Records of phone calls to the Cancer Information Service of the National Cancer Institute are examined as a measure of public interest and concern about colorectal cancer; data on the use of two colorectal early detection tests--proctoscopy and fecal occult blood tests--are looked at as a measure of behavioral change; and data on the incidence of early and advanced colorectal cancer are used to estimate the potential public health impact of this behavioral change. We find that there was a sharp, albeit somewhat transitory, increase in public interest in colorectal cancer in the wake of President Reagan's colon cancer episode, with a corresponding increase in the use of early detection tests. The incidence data on early and advanced disease is indicative of a beneficial public health impact, but this can be confirmed only after additional data on mortality becomes available.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
H
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0033-362X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
54
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
317-29
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
The presidential effect: the public health response to media coverage about Ronald Reagan's colon cancer episode.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article