Highlights
- •The coverage of MS in the written press in Colombia over three decades is described.
- •The yearly rate of publications has increased notably over the last 10 years.
- •Most publications are of low to intermediate quality.
- •The most frequent topics of coverage are MS itself and DMT's, being rehabilitation the least common.
Abstract
Background
Awareness in the community is an important factor across a wide range of diseases
and the communication media have an important role in its promotion. However, misinformation
and misguide may take place heightening the expectations of people affected by chronic
conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). This study explores media coverage of
MS in a low prevalence country.
Methods
We identified the most important written media at national and local levels and performed
a search in their digital archives and social media with the words "Multiple Sclerosis".
The articles found were categorized as relevant, and non-relevant. We describe the
total number, number of relevant and non-relevant articles published every year, since
the earliest found until 2018. We identified the topics covered by the relevant articles
and described their distribution and performed a quality evaluation of their content.
Results
We reviewed the archives of 20 sources. A total of 976 articles where MS was mentioned
were reviewed (relevant: 143 [14.6%]; non-relevant: 833 [85.4%]). We observed a steady
increase in the annual publication rate, from the first in 1991 up to 107 in 2018.
The most frequent covered topic was disease modifying therapies and MS itself, and
the least documented topic was rehabilitation. Most of the relevant articles had low
quality scores.
Conclusion
The media coverage of different topics MS has risen steadily since its first appearance
in the early nineties. This should be encouraged, but caution should be held so misinformation
is not propagated. We call for the public to discuss misleading information with their
healthcare providers.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 12, 2020
Accepted:
June 3,
2020
Received in revised form:
May 30,
2020
Received:
January 26,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
