Twitter Analysis Shows Medical Dramas Influence Perceptions of E-Cigarette Risks
Today, on April 18, news reports indicate that after three popular prime-time medical dramas depicted the health hazards of using e-cigarettes, hundreds of comments were made on Twitter—some individuals stated that they planned to quit e-cigarettes due to what they saw in the shows.
A new analysis led by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public Health and published in the Journal of Health Communication examined these tweets to gain insights into how television programs share public health information.
Following episodes of New Amsterdam, Chicago Med, and Grey's Anatomy that aired in January 2020, each featuring storylines involving lung injuries related to e-cigarettes (also known as e-valI) among teenagers, at least 641 tweets commented on the shows and e-cigarettes.
Nearly half of the tweets commented on the realism of the storylines, with 23.1% expressing enjoyment of the plot, although a significant portion of viewers commented that these shows were unrealistic, partly because they did not address e-cigarettes containing cannabis oil. About 12% of the tweets expressed knowledge about e-cigarettes, and 4.4% mentioned behaviors, including intentions to quit e-cigarettes.
"Given the rapid increase in e-cigarette use among American teenagers, it is crucial for public health professionals to develop effective methods to communicate the dangers of e-cigarettes to young people," said lead author Dr. Beth Hoffman. "Our analysis suggests that prime-time television could be an effective way to positively shape viewers' perceptions of the risks associated with e-cigarette use."
