Metcalfe, David, Price, Charlotte L. and Powell, J. (John). (2011) Media coverage and public reaction to a celebrity cancer diagnosis. Journal of Public Health, Vol.33 (No.1). pp. 80-85. ISSN 1741-3842

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Abstract

Background Celebrity diagnoses can have important effects on public behaviour. UK television celebrity Jade Goody died from cervical cancer in 2009. We investigated the impact of her illness on media coverage of cervical cancer prevention, health information seeking behaviour and cervical screening coverage. Methods National UK newspaper articles containing the words ‘Jade Goody’ and ‘cancer’ were examined for public health messages. Google Insights for Search was used to quantify Internet searches as a measure of public health information seeking. Cervical screening coverage data were examined for temporal associations with this story. Results Of 1203 articles, 116 (9.6%) included a clear public health message. The majority highlighted screening (8.2%). Fewer articles provided advice about vaccination (3.0%), number of sexual partners (1.4%), smoking (0.6%) and condom use (0.4%). Key events were associated with increased Internet searches for ‘cervical cancer’ and ‘smear test’, although only weakly with searches for ‘HPV’. Cervical screening coverage increased during this period. Conclusion Increased public interest in disease prevention can follow a celebrity diagnosis. Although media coverage sometimes included public health information, articles typically focused on secondary instead of primary prevention. There is further potential to maximize the public health benefit of future celebrity diagnoses.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Other > Institute of Advanced Teaching & Learning Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cancer -- Press coverage, Celebrities -- Diseases, Goody, Jade, 1981-2009 -- Health
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Public Health
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	1741-3842
Date:	March 2011
Volume:	Vol.33
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 80-85
Identification Number:	10.1093/pubmed/fdq052
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/40728

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