The demographics of medical roles on television, The Flemish case.

Abstract

Television is often seen as a persuasive teacher that socializes and cultivates children and adolescents and teaches them knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and behaviors about a large variety of subjects including health (Atkin & Wallack, 1990; Brown & Walsh-Childers, 2002; Bandura, 2002; Gerbner et al., 2002). Since childhood next to sleeping and going to school watching television is the most important activity for children. Recent studies have shown that adolescents watch television approximately 22 hours a week (Van den Bulck, 2004). Millions of people have become so dependent of television that it has become their most important source for all kinds of information (Collee, 1999). Watching entertainment programs is also related to health related perception of viewers (Snyder & Rouse, 1995). Furthermore, beside doctors and dentists television is seen as the most credible source for health information (O’Keefe, Boyd & Brown, 1998).