Are Anti-Tobacco Messages Delivered through Different Mass-Media Channels Effective in India? Results from GATS-II Survey.

BACKGROUND: Anti-tobacco mass-media campaigns are an integral part of tobacco control. There is still a need to understand which mode of mass-media channels aids in promoting tobacco cessation. This study aimed to examine if exposure to anti-tobacco messages delivered through different media channels is associated with tobacco user's thoughts and attempts to quit. METHODS: We selected a sample of tobacco users (N=21857) from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), and assessed the association of noticing the anti-tobacco information through different media channels with tobacco user's thoughts and attempts to quit. RESULTS: Males reported noticing anti-tobacco information more than females in almost all modes of media channels. Among males, the odds were significant and were highest with exposure to radio (1.78 (1.4-2.27)), and internet (1.68 (1.12-2.52)) for thoughts to quit smoking and to radio (2.17 (1.63-2.89) and newspaper (1.46 (1.2-1.79) for thoughts to quitting smokeless tobacco (SLT). The attempt to quit smoking and SLT use among males was significant for exposure through public transportation (1.22 (1.03-1.44)), public walls (1.44 (1.21-1.71), internet (1.68 (1.06-2.66)), and radio (1.44 (1.1-1.87)). Exposure to more than two media resulted in a higher likelihood of thoughts of quitting tobacco, and those exposed to more than one media attempted to quit tobacco among males. Females reported no influence from the media exposure. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the importance of targeted and combination of different mass-media channels to maximize the quit behaviors among male tobacco users. The current study also highlights the need for future studies to identify effective ways to communicate anti-tobacco information to women and all socio-economic groups in the country.

Modeling and analysis of a human papilloma virus transmission model with impact of media.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is threatening human health as it spreads globally in varying degrees. On the other hand, the speed and scope of information transmission continues to increase, as well as the significant increase in the number of HPV-related news reports, it has never been more important to explore the role of media news coverage in the spread and control of the virus. Using a decreasing factor that captures the impact of media on the actions of people, this paper develops a model that characterizes the dynamics of HPV transmission with media impact, vaccination and recovery. We obtain global stability of equilibrium points employing geometric method, and further yield effective methods to contain the HPV pandemic by sensitivity analysis. With the center manifold theory, we show that there is a forward bifurcation when R0=1. Our study suggested that, besides controlling contact between infected and susceptible populations and improving effective vaccine coverage, a better intervention would be to strengthen media coverage. In addition, we demonstrated that contact rate and the effect of media coverage result in multiple epidemics of infection when certain conditions are met, implying that interventions need to be tailored to specific situations.

Intention to Quit Tobacco due to Media Advertisements in India: Findings from Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-17.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco has been among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In reducing tobacco consumption, media campaigns are crucial in raising awareness and encouraging individuals to quit. The present study aimed to profile participants of GATS-2, including tobacco usage patterns and media exposure, and explore the factors associated with quitting in the presence of media exposure. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of Global Adult Tobacco Survey-India (2016-17) data was done among current daily cigarette smokers and smokeless tobacco users. The primary independent variable was an intention to quit, while media exposure was the primary independent variable. Respondents were profiled as per various socio-demographic variables, and exposure to media advertisements and intention to quit were assessed using weighted bivariate analysis and multivariate log regression analysis. RESULTS: Males, and respondents aged 15 to 45, had more exposure to media and advertisements than female respondents. Cigarette smokers with moderate consumption, better awareness, those who had made any quit attempts in the last 12 months, and moderate to high media exposure depicted better intention to quit. In SLT users, intention to quit depicted significant odds per education level quit attempts and exposure to media and advertisements. CONCLUSION: We report a high intention to quit among those exposed to advertisements. Media campaigns play an important role in promoting tobacco control. There is a need to assess the impact of such advertisements on behavioral aspects. At the same time, comprehensive tobacco control policies should go hand in hand in reducing smoking rates.

Prevalence, Reach of Anti-smokeless Tobacco Messages and Quit Attempts by Product Type: A Secondary Data Analysis from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS - 2016-17).

OBJECTIVE: India has the highest number of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products available in different forms, consumed in various ways. The current study aimed to understand the pattern of daily SLT use according to different product categories and whether Quit intention and Quit attempts vary by SLT type and exposure to media messages. METHODS: Data from Global Adult Tobacco Surveys (GATS), 2016-17, was used to find access to media messages and warning labels by SLT type. Quit attempt and Quit intention were calculated for each of the SLT types. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify whether access to media messages, warning labels influenced, quit intention and attempts vary by SLT type. RESULTS: Khaini or tobacco lime mixture was the most common SLT type consumed by 37% of SLT users, whereas SLT users consuming more than one product accounted for 23% of SLT users. Exposure to media messages and warning labels was high among Gutkha/ paan masala tobacco users (74.7% and 81.2%) and low among oral tobacco (Mishri, Gul, Gudakhu) users (56.1% and 60.0%). Quit attempts and quit intention were high among Gutkha/ paan masala tobacco users (38.3% and 22.3%) and low among oral tobacco (Mishri, Gul, Gudakhu) users (25.3% and 13.6%). Users of Oral tobacco and khaini or tobacco-lime mixture were significantly less likely to attempt quitting (AOR 0.806(95%CI: 0.676-0.962), 0.839(95%CI: 0.736-0.956), and have quit intention (AOR 0.681(95%CI: 0.702-0.976), 0.733(95%CI: 0.627-0.857) compared to Gutkha/ paan masala with tobacco users. CONCLUSION: The reach of media messages and warning labels varies by SLT type. Quit intention and attempts vary by SLT type and access to media messages and warning labels. There is a need to re-strategise the tobacco control Information, Education and Communication (IEC) to reach out with effective messaging to the most unreached.

Sociocultural pressures and engagement with cosmetic products and procedures in adult women.

Previous studies have shown that cosmetic procedures and products that perpetuate Western hegemonic beauty standards among women have become increasingly popular, and pressures from sociocultural agents to utilize them are significant. However, little work has documented the relationship between perceived sociocultural pressures and use of cosmetic procedures and products among a larger age range of adult women. A community sample of 308 women aged 18-66, mean (SD) age of 35.7 (9.7), reported on the cosmetic procedures they had considered or used, as well as perceived pressures from the media, peers, romantic partners, and health and beauty professionals. Findings revealed that, among those investigated, the most frequently utilized products and procedures were supplements and hair removal. However, a significant minority reported considering more invasive procedures, including cosmetic surgery. Media was the predominant source of pressure, while partners were the least frequently endorsed. While pressure from professionals and peers had small-to-moderate associations with utilization of cosmetic products and procedures, pressure from partners had the largest association with their use. This work frames important future directions for examining the impact of sociocultural pressures on women's willingness to utilize cosmetic products and procedures that are sometimes underregulated and risky for physical and mental health.

Tobacco Imagery in Indian Over-the-Top (OTT) Media and Its Compliance With Existing Tobacco Laws: A Content Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Over-the-top (OTT) media are internet-based content delivery systems offering media services to the viewers bypassing the traditional broadcasting platforms. The OTT media, with limited regulatory oversight, can serve as a source of exposure to tobacco-promoting content. AIMS AND METHODS: This study analyzed the depiction of tobacco imagery in Indian OTT programs and assessed their compliance with existing Indian tobacco control policies. We conducted a content analysis of 28 purposively sampled OTT exclusive programs (14 movies and 14 web series) in India. Breathe California method was used to code the OTT content for tobacco imagery. We assessed the prevalence of tobacco imagery, its duration per episode or program, product placements, and brand appearances. We also evaluated OTT programs adherence to existing tobacco control policies in India. RESULTS: Tobacco imagery was identified in all of the web series and most OTT-exclusive movies. On average the web series depicted seven incidents of tobacco imagery per episode, whereas there were close to 19 incidents of tobacco imagery per movie. Ten minutes of OTT programming (including movies and web series) had on average 8.40 s of tobacco imagery. None of the OTT programs studied fully complied with Indian tobacco control policies. CONCLUSIONS: Depiction of tobacco imagery in OTT exclusive programs is common in India. Streaming platforms need to comply with existing tobacco control policies. Furthermore, there is a need to strengthen these policies and strictly enforce them to ensure tobacco-free mass media. IMPLICATIONS: India has more than 267 million tobacco users and accounts for the largest share of smokeless tobacco use globally. OTT platforms are largely unregulated and are considered drivers for global tobacco use. This is one of the few studies examining tobacco imagery in Indian OTT content, reporting the gaps in tobacco control policies in India. This study documents the product placement of smokeless tobacco, duration of exposure to tobacco imagery, and empirically report the compliance of OTT platforms with Indian tobacco control policies. The study findings can aid in strengthening tobacco control policies in India.

How did beliefs and perceptions about e-cigarettes change after national news coverage of the EVALI outbreak?

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to media content can shape public opinions about tobacco. In early September 2019, the outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) became headline news in the United States. METHODS: In August and September 2019, we conducted two cross-sectional online surveys with current and former smokers assessing attitudes and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Study one (n = 865) was collected before the EVALI outbreak was widely covered and study two (n = 344) was collected after the outbreak had become nation-wide news. We examined differences in perceptions and beliefs between time points. RESULTS: E-cigarette harm perceptions increased between study one (mean = 2.67) and study two (mean = 2.90, p < .05). Ever-users of e-cigarettes largely account for this change. Endorsement of the belief that e-cigarettes were risky and more likely to cause lung damage compared to cigarettes increased between studies (p < .05). Seventy eight percent of participants at study two were aware of the vaping illness story. Being aware of the story was associated with more endorsement of the belief that e-cigarettes were risky to use, but not that using e-cigarettes would make the participant more likely to get damaged lungs. DISCUSSION: When the stories about the health and safety of tobacco products dominate the public information environment, it presents an opportunity to change beliefs that are frequently targeted by paid health campaigns. Changes in participant's perceptions of e-cigarettes were associated with coverage of this large news story, underscoring the importance of working to ensure that coverage is a scientifically accurate as possible.

What cancer research makes the news? A quantitative analysis of online news stories that mention cancer studies.

Journalists' health and science reporting aid the public's direct access to research through the inclusion of hyperlinks leading to original studies in peer-reviewed journals. While this effort supports the US-government mandate that research be made widely available, little is known about what research journalists share with the public. This cross-sectional exploratory study characterises US-government-funded research on cancer that appeared most frequently in news coverage and how that coverage varied by cancer type, disease incidence and mortality rates. The subject of analysis was 11436 research articles (published in 2016) on cancer funded by the US government and 642 news stories mentioning at least one of these articles. Based on Altmetric data, researchers identified articles via PubMed and characterised each based on the news media attention received online. Only 1.88% (n = 213) of research articles mentioning US government-funded cancer research included at least one mention in an online news publication. This is in contrast to previous research that found 16.8% (n = 1925) of articles received mention by online mass media publications. Of the 13 most common cancers in the US, 12 were the subject of at least one news mention; only urinary and bladder cancer received no mention. Traditional news sources included significantly more mentions of research on common cancers than digital native news sources. However, a general discrepancy exists between cancers prominent in news sources and those with the highest mortality rate. For instance, lung cancer accounted for the most deaths annually, while melanoma led to 56% less annual deaths; however, journalists cited research regarding these cancers nearly equally. Additionally, breast cancer received the greatest coverage per estimated annual death, while pancreatic cancer received the least coverage per death. Findings demonstrated a continued misalignment between prevalent cancers and cancers mentioned in online news media. Additionally, cancer control and prevention received less coverage from journalists than other cancer continuum stages, highlighting a continued underrepresentation of prevention-focused research. Results revealed a need for further scholarship regarding the role of journalists in research dissemination.

Inaccuracies in News Media Reporting About the 2019 US Food and Drug Administration Ban on Transvaginal Mesh for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze inaccuracies in the news media reporting of the 2019 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on surgical mesh for transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: We queried the NexisUni media database for English-language news articles about "transvaginal mesh" or "FDA" published before and after the ban. Content analysis was based on discussion of the ban, indications for surgical mesh, and assessment of bias. We characterized public interest in transvaginal mesh using Google Trends. RESULTS: Of 290 news articles reviewed, 42 articles were included for analysis. Public interest in transvaginal mesh increased 4-fold after the FDA announcement. While 15 articles (38%) accurately reported that mesh was used in both POP and incontinence repairs, a plurality (18, 43%) only described using mesh for POP. The majority (30, 71%) of articles did not specify that the FDA ban applied to only transvaginal repair of POP and not to incontinence. Despite multiple professional societies affirming the use of mesh for incontinence, only 2 (5%) articles cited these evidence-based recommendations. About half of the articles had an overtly biased tone; articles with an anti-mesh bias were significantly less likely to identify the mesh indications relevant to the ban (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Seventy percent of news reports about the 2019 FDA ban on transvaginal mesh for POP failed to distinguish between the clinical indications for mesh impacted by the ban. The findings raise concern about patient perceptions of and future access to mesh surgery, regardless of indication.

Impact of Trump's Promotion of Unproven COVID-19 Treatments and Subsequent Internet Trends: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with large followings can influence public opinions and behaviors, especially during a pandemic. In the early days of the pandemic, US president Donald J Trump has endorsed the use of unproven therapies. Subsequently, a death attributed to the wrongful ingestion of a chloroquine-containing compound occurred. OBJECTIVE: We investigated Donald J Trump's speeches and Twitter posts, as well as Google searches and Amazon purchases, and television airtime for mentions of hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, azithromycin, and remdesivir. METHODS: Twitter sourcing was catalogued with Factba.se, and analytics data, both past and present, were analyzed with Tweet Binder to assess average analytics data on key metrics. Donald J Trump's time spent discussing unverified treatments on the United States' 5 largest TV stations was catalogued with the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone, and his speech transcripts were obtained from White House briefings. Google searches and shopping trends were analyzed with Google Trends. Amazon purchases were assessed using Helium 10 software. RESULTS: From March 1 to April 30, 2020, Donald J Trump made 11 tweets about unproven therapies and mentioned these therapies 65 times in White House briefings, especially touting hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. These tweets had an impression reach of 300% above Donald J Trump's average. Following these tweets, at least 2% of airtime on conservative networks for treatment modalities like azithromycin and continuous mentions of such treatments were observed on stations like Fox News. Google searches and purchases increased following his first press conference on March 19, 2020, and increased again following his tweets on March 21, 2020. The same is true for medications on Amazon, with purchases for medicine substitutes, such as hydroxychloroquine, increasing by 200%. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals in positions of power can sway public purchasing, resulting in undesired effects when the individuals' claims are unverified. Public health officials must work to dissuade the use of unproven treatments for COVID-19.

A Toxic Blend: Assessing the Effects of Cross-Source Media Coverage of Flavored E-Cigarettes on Youth and Young Adult Perceptions.

Flavored e-cigarettes have received high attention across social and news media. How does exposure to e-cigarette flavors across multiple sources in the media environment influence youth e-cigarette perceptions? To address this question, we identified e-cigarette flavor mentions on 24.3 million Twitter posts and 11,691 longform texts (newspapers, broadcast news, and websites) disseminated over 3 years (2014-2017). During the same period, we measured e-cigarette beliefs through a nationally representative randomly sampled rolling survey of 13-26-year-olds (N = 4,470, 1013 days). We estimated the association between flavor-specific content on Twitter and longform sources in the 28 days prior to each survey date and perceptions that e-cigarettes taste good. The interaction of coverage on Twitter and longform sources was significantly associated with more favorable perceptions of e-cigarette taste (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41); the main effects of each source type were not significant. This study presents a novel approach to evaluating the effects of cross-source coverage in today's complex media landscape and may strengthen claims for media influence on e-cigarette use.

Outcomes of the National Head and Neck Cancer Awareness and Screening Campaign in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: The prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) depends substantially on disease stage at the time of diagnosis. Unfortunately, the majority of HNC patients present at relatively late stages. In Oman, a national screening campaign was conducted to increase public awareness of HNC and encourage early detection. This study aimed to report the outcomes of that campaign. METHODS: The campaign took the form of biannual events conducted at a tertiary care centre and in public malls in Muscat, Oman from April 2015 to July 2019. Data were collected from participants using the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance screening form. Otolaryngologists and oral maxillofacial surgeons performed a thorough physical evaluation of the head and neck region. RESULTS: Of the 1,500 individuals visiting the hospital and malls during the campaign events, a total of 509 agreed to undergo screening (response rate: 33.9%). Of these, 12.8% had positive screening results and 5.9% required further evaluation. However, none of the cases with suspicious findings were found to be malignant after a thorough evaluation. Overall, 16.9% of the participants were aware of the early signs of HNC; in addition, 5.5% knew how to perform an oral self-examination. CONCLUSION: Screening is a simple and safe method for the prevention and early detection of HNC. Mass screening and public awareness programmes may help to reduce the burden of this disease in Oman.

Radiation protection in mammography for breast cancer screening: not covered by the French press.

BACKGROUND: In the context of major exposure to medical-based ionizing radiation (IR), French health institutions agree that adopting a precautionary approach is essential. A number of scientific studies have highlighted the risk of developing breast cancer after exposure to IR, even from low doses. However, the information circulating on the subject is varied. OBJECTIVES: A study of the mainstream press was performed to better understand the elements constituting women's representations of IR in mammography for breast cancer screening. STUDY DESIGN: The data used came from a corpus created with the mainstream press database 'Europresse.' The keyword 'mammography' was chosen. The software package Iramuteq was used to perform a statistical analysis of textual data using the Reinert method. RESULTS: This study highlights a paradox between the social principle of prevention and the discourse elements on mammography screening present in the mainstream press. CONCLUSION: The general French press does not take into account radiation protection in cancer screening discourses. A greater effort to provide information on this subject is needed.

30+ years of media analysis of relevance to chronic disease: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic, non-communicable diseases are a significant public health priority, requiring action at individual, community and population levels, and public and political will for such action. Exposure to media, including news, entertainment, and advertising media, is likely to influence both individual behaviours, and attitudes towards preventive actions at the population level. In recent years there has been a proliferation of research exploring how chronic diseases and their risk factors are portrayed across various forms of media. This scoping review aims to map the literature in this area to identify key themes, gaps, and opportunities for future research in this area. METHODS: We searched three databases (Medline, PsycINFO and Global Health) in July 2016 and identified 499 original research articles meeting inclusion criteria: original research article, published in English, focusing on media representations of chronic disease (including how issues are framed in media, impact or effect of media representations, and factors that influence media representations). We extracted key data from included articles and examined the health topics, media channels and methods of included studies, and synthesised key themes across studies. RESULTS: Our findings show that research on media portrayals of chronic disease increased substantially between 1985 and 2016. Smoking and nutrition were the most frequent health topics, and television and print were the most common forms of media examined, although, as expected, research on online and social media channels has increased in recent years. The majority of studies focused on the amount and type of media coverage, including how issues are framed, typically using content analysis approaches. In comparison, there was much less research on the influences on and consequences of media coverage related to chronic disease, suggesting an important direction for future work. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight key themes across media research of relevance to chronic disease. More in-depth syntheses of studies within the identified themes will allow us to draw out the key patterns and learnings across the literature.

Change in public awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms following the Be Cancer Alert Campaign in the multi-ethnic population of Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) cases are detected late in Malaysia similar to most Asian countries. The Be Cancer Alert Campaign (BCAC) was a culturally adapted mass media campaign designed to improve CRC awareness and reduce late detection in Malaysia. The evaluation of the BCAC-CRC aimed to assess campaign reach, campaign impact and health service use. METHODS: Participants aged ≥40 years (n = 730) from randomly selected households in Selangor State Malaysia, completed interview-based assessments. Campaign reach was assessed in terms of responses to an adapted questionnaire that was used in evaluations in other countries. The impact of the campaign was assessed in terms of awareness, confidence to detect symptoms and self-efficacy to discuss symptoms with a doctor as captured by the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM). CAM was administered before-and-after campaign implementation and responses by BCAC recognisers (i.e. participants who recognised one or more of the BCAC television, radio or print advertisements when prompted) and non-recognisers (i.e. participants who did not recognise any of the BCAC advertisements) were compared analytically. Logistic regression analysed comparative differences in cancer awareness by socio-demographic characteristics and recognition of the BCAC materials. RESULTS: Over 65% of participants (n = 484) recognised the BCAC-CRC. Campaign-recognisers were significantly more likely to be aware of each CRC symptom at follow-up and were more confident about noticing symptoms (46.9% vs 34.9%, p = 0.018) compared to non-recognisers. There was no difference between groups in terms of self-efficacy to see a doctor about symptoms. Improved symptoms awareness at follow-up was lower for Indians compared to Malays (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.53, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.34, 0.83, p = 0.005). Health service use data did not indicate an increase in screening activity during or immediately after the campaign months. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings of the evaluation indicated that the culturally adapted, evidence-based mass media intervention improved CRC symptom awareness among the Malaysian population; and that impact is more likely when a campaign operates a differentiated approach that matches modes of communication to the ethnic and social diversity in a population.

Exposure and reach of the US court-mandated corrective statements advertising campaign on broadcast and social media.

OBJECTIVE: As a remedy to committing fraud and violating civil racketeering laws, in November 2017, four major tobacco companies were court-ordered to develop and disseminate corrective statements regarding smoking health risks using mass media channels. We aimed to describe the nature, timing, reach of and exposure to the court-mandated tobacco industry corrective advertising campaign on social, broadcast and print media. METHODS: Data from social, print and broadcast media were used to measure potential exposure to corrective messages. Keyword rules were used to collect campaign-related posts from the Twitter Firehose between November 2017 and January 2018. Data were analysed using a combination of machine learning, keyword algorithms and human coding. Posts were categorised by source (commercial/institutional, organic) and content type (eg, sentiment). Analysis of social media data was triangulated with ratings data for television advertising and print advertising expenditure data. RESULTS: Keyword filters retrieved 13 846 tweets posted by 9232 unique users. The majority of tweets were posted by institutional/commercial sources including news organisations, bots and tobacco control-related accounts and contained links to news and public health-related websites. Approximately 60% of campaign-related tweets were posted during the first week of campaign launch. Household exposure to the televised corrective advertisements averaged 0.56 ads per month. DISCUSSION: The corrective campaign failed to generate social media engagement. The size and timing of the advertising buys were not consistent with strategies effective in generating high sustained impact and audience reach, particularly among youth.

Children's use of interactive media in early childhood - an epidemiological study / A utilização de mídias interativas por crianças na primeira infância - um estudo epidemiológico

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the prevalence of interactive media (tablets and smartphones) use by children aged two to four years old, as well as to characterize this use, and investigate habits, practices, parents' participation and opinion about their child's interactive media use. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 244 parents or legal guardians of children enrolled in daycare centers in a small Brazilian municipality was conducted. A questionnaire based on interactive media use and related habits were applied, and economic level was assessed. Children were divided into three different groups according to media use: Group 1 did not use (n=81); Group 2 uses up to 45 min/day (n=83) and Group 3 uses more than 45 min/day (n=80). Then, they were compared with regard to the sociodemographic variables and media use by the Chi-square test and Student's t-test. Results: The prevalence of interactive media use was 67.2%, with a mean time of use of 69.2 minutes/day (confidence interval of 95% - 95%CI 57.1-81.2). The activities most performed were watching videos (55%), listening to music (33%) and playing games (28%). Most parents reported allowing media use in order to stimulate their child's development (58.4%), accompanying them during use (75.2%), and limiting media time (86.4%). Conclusions: We observed high interactive media use prevalence. The predominant way of using these devices was marked by parent-child participation. Most parents reported believing in the benefits of interactive media. Passive activities were more frequent, with restricted time of use.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência do uso de mídias interativas (tablets e smartphones) pelas crianças de dois a quatro anos de idade, assim como caracterizar esse uso, investigar hábitos, práticas, participação e opinião dos pais acerca da sua utilização. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 244 pais ou responsáveis de crianças matriculadas em creches de um município brasileiro de pequeno porte. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre hábitos de utilização de mídias interativas e investigação do nível econômico. As crianças foram divididas em 3 grupos de acordo com o uso das mídias: grupo 1 - não utiliza; grupo 2 - utiliza até 45 minutos por dia; e grupo 3 - utiliza mais do que 45 minutos por dia. Os grupos foram comparados quanto às variáveis sociodemográficas e de caracterização do uso das mídias por meio dos testes do qui-quadrado e t de Student. Resultados: A prevalência do uso de mídias interativas foi de 67,2%, com tempo médio de utilização de 69,2 minutos por dia (intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 57,1-81,2). As atividades mais realizadas foram: ver vídeos (55%), escutar músicas (33%) e jogar games (28%). A maioria dos pais relatou permitir a utilização da mídia para estimular o desenvolvimento do seu filho (58,4%), acompanhá-lo durante o uso (75,2%) e limitar o tempo com a mídia (86,4%). Conclusões: Observou-se elevada prevalência do uso de mídias interativas. A forma predominante de utilização das mídias envolve conjuntamente crianças e pais, os quais acreditam nos seus efeitos benéficos. Atividades passivas são as mais realizadas, com restrição do tempo de uso.

Combining Crowd-Sourcing and Automated Content Methods to Improve Estimates of Overall Media Coverage: Theme Mentions in E-cigarette and Other Tobacco Coverage.

Exposure to media content can shape public opinions about tobacco. Accurately describing content is a first step to showing such effects. Historically, content analyses have hand-coded tobacco-focused texts from a few media sources which ignored passing mention coverage and social media sources, and could not reliably capture over-time variation. By using a combination of crowd-sourced and automated coding, we labeled the population of all e-cigarette and other tobacco-related (including cigarettes, hookah, cigars, etc.) 'long-form texts' (focused and passing coverage, in mass media and website articles) and social media items (tweets and YouTube videos) collected May 2014-June 2017 for four tobacco control themes. Automated coding of theme coverage met thresholds for item-level precision and recall, event validation, and weekly-level reliability for most sources, except YouTube. Health, Policy, Addiction and Youth themes were frequent in e-cigarette long-form focused coverage (44%-68%), but not in long-form passing coverage (5%-22%). These themes were less frequent in other tobacco coverage (long-form focused (13-32%) and passing coverage (4-11%)). Themes were infrequent in both e-cigarette (1-3%) and other tobacco tweets (2-4%). Findings demonstrate that passing e-cigarette and other tobacco long-form coverage and social media sources paint different pictures of theme coverage than focused long-form coverage. Automated coding also allowed us to code the amount of data required to estimate reliable weekly theme coverage over three years. E-cigarette theme coverage showed much more week-to-week variation than did other tobacco coverage. Automated coding allows accurate descriptions of theme coverage in passing mentions, social media, and trends in weekly theme coverage.

Applying Natural Language Processing to Evaluate News Media Coverage of Bullying and Cyberbullying.

Bullying events have frequently been the focus of coverage by news media, including news stories about teens whose death from suicide was attributed to cyberbullying. Previous work has shown that news media coverage is influential to readers in areas such as suicide, infectious disease outbreaks, and tobacco use. News media may be an untapped resource to promote bullying prevention messages, though current news media approaches to describing bullying and cyberbullying remain unexplored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current state of news media coverage of bullying and cyberbullying. A sample of newspaper articles covering bullying or cyberbullying across regional and national US newspapers from 6 recent years was identified. A content analysis using natural language processing was conducted with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software program for key variables including affective, social, and cognitive processes. Evaluation included the percentage of words that represented Fear-based reporting such as alarmist words (e.g., epidemic, tragic), as well as words that represent Public Health-oriented messages such as prevention. A total of 463 newspaper articles met inclusion criteria, including 140 cyberbullying articles and 323 bullying articles. Findings indicated that cyberbullying articles scored higher on affective processes such as measures of anxiety (Mdn = 0.34) compared to bullying articles (Mdn = 0.22). A greater number of cyberbullying articles were Fear-based (41.4%) than were bullying articles (19.5%). An equivalent number of cyberbullying articles (50.0%) and bullying articles (49.8%) were Public Health-oriented. Findings may be used to collaborate with journalists toward optimizing prevention-oriented reporting.