Immigration Policy is Health Policy: News Media Effects on Health Disparities for Latinx Immigrant and Indigenous Groups.

Legal exclusions and cultural factors reproduce barriers to health care by enforcing boundaries between citizens and immigrants, leading to a range of health risks and disparities for Latinx immigrant and Indigenous communities. This study utilized a mixed-methods examination of news media and ethnographic interviews guided by a decolonial-inspired framework to demonstrate the linkages between policy discourse and health behaviors. Both newspaper articles and interviews with affected stakeholders show how immigrants and their families experience more significant health risks because of policy changes and proposals. Regardless of the political regime, media discourses that promote fear and threat sustain the overall effects of immigration policy enforcement strategies on health. Immigration policy is health policy, and these laws should be evaluated in terms of their impact on public health, in addition to other factors. Furthermore, the news media is a contextual factor for health promotion strategies and a target for health advocates working with immigrant and Indigenous communities.

Impact of art and reflective practice on medical education in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: There is heightened intrigue surrounding the application of arts-based pedagogy in medical education. Art encompasses multiple forms of expression and is used to convey specific meaning and emotion, whereas provoking critical reflection. Our aim was to explore the effectiveness of art and reflective practice in medical education, in the context of the ED. METHODS: Longitudinal methodological study design. Prior to the first, and after the final clinical practicum, medical students watched a 3-min film: 'The Art of the ED'. Written reflections focused on changing perceptions towards the film during their medical education programme. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Three themes were collected from 25 written reflections and included: 'professional growth' exploring personal and professional development across the medical programme; seeing 'patients are people'; and the purpose, structure and function of an ED exposed in 'the reality of ED'. Results highlight that arts-based pedagogy can facilitate meaningful and critical reflection in medical students, whereas also fostering professionalism. Reflecting on the film broadened their perspective into a realm of new possibilities, challenging them to identify implicit bias around ED, and promote professional identity formation. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of art and reflection in medical education enhances reflective learning and can lead to transformative change, including the development of core doctoring values of service, empathy and respect for patient. There are clear benefits to medical education incorporating more arts-based pedagogy that promotes reflective exploration and interpretation of the psychosocial context of health and illness, delivery of more holistic models of care and their role as doctors.

Harnessing an Integrated Health Communication (IHC) Framework for Campaigns: A Case of Prescription Drug Decision Making.

Drawing on a multiplicity of mass media and health behavior theories, we propose an integrated health communication (IHC) framework to understand and leverage the ways in which mass mediated and interpersonal sources of health information influence the public's health behavior in the context of their prescription drug decisions. Building on the agenda setting theory, two-step flow theory, and the Health Belief Model, we dig into the interrelationships between mass media and interpersonal information sources and information seeking engagement. Employing survey methodology, our framework was tested using a sample of U.S. adults (N = 628). The major results include (a) information gained through interpersonal sources and perceived benefits of the prescription drugs positively and sequentially mediate the association between mass media exposure and intent to seek prescription drug information, (b) interpersonal health information positively moderate the mediation of mass media exposure - perceived benefits - intent to seek prescription drug information, and (c) the inexpert interpersonal information's positive interaction effect with mass media exposure on intent to seek prescription drug information mediated through perceived benefits was greater with high expert interpersonal communication. These results impart valuable theoretical contributions and have the potential to guide integrated health communication (IHC) campaigns.

Is Coffee the Cause or the Cure? Conflicting Nutrition Messages in Two Decades of Online New York Times' Nutrition News Coverage.

Two-thirds of US adults report hearing news stories about diet and health relationships daily or a few times a week. These stories have often been labeled as conflicting. While public opinion suggests conflicting nutrition messages are widespread, there has been limited empirical research to support this belief. This study examined the prevalence of conflicting information in online New York Times' news articles discussing published nutrition research between 1996-2016. It also examined the contextual differences that existed between conflicting studies. The final sample included 375 news articles discussing 416 diet and health relationships (228 distinct relationships). The most popular dietary items discussed were alcoholic beverages (n = 51), vitamin D (n = 26), and B vitamins (n = 23). Over the 20-year study period, 12.7% of the 228 diet and health relationships had conflicting reports. Just under three-fourths of the conflicting reports involved changes in study design, 79% involved changes in study population, and 31% involved changes in industry funding. Conflicting nutrition messages can have negative cognitive and behavioral consequences for individuals. To help effectively address conflicting nutrition news coverage, a multi-pronged approach involving journalists, researchers, and news audiences is needed.

A Comparative Analysis of Health News in Indigenous and Mainstream Media.

It is important to evaluate the media's health coverage of Indigenous communities both because these communities have been hit very hard by health inequities, and because misinformation can negatively affect the future health of Indian Country. This study takes the unique angle of examining both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ("mainstream") news publications to evaluate information gaps in health, health policy, and health efficacy coverage. The Indigenous media examined, which covered 14 times more health stories than mainstream media, highlighted health issues in Indian Country through the lens of resilience by using framing to emphasize unequal power, while at the same time providing depth and specificity. Instead of putting Indigenous health stories into historical and cultural context, mainstream media focused on the lack of resources and the chronic struggle of Indigenous communities. Mainstream media often only covered the topic once per outlet; however, those outlets with connections to Indigenous communities did provide more balanced coverage. Instead of promoting change, most mainstream media stories blamed Indigenous people for their situation and offered a doom trajectory for tribes hit hardest by health disparities. This study reveals how embedded framing and mediatization direct non-Native readers' attention away from the systemic deprivation of support to U.S. Indigenous tribes that was guaranteed to them by the U.S. government in tribal agreements. The implications for journalism and policy are discussed.

Difusão e propaganda sobre antienvelhecimento na mídia brasileira: um estudo de representações sociais / Diffusion and propaganda about anti-aging in brazilian media: a study of social representations / Difusión y propaganda sobre el antienvejecimiento en los medios de comunicación brasileños: un estudio de las representaciones sociales

Esta pesquisa buscou mapear conteúdos relativos ao antienvelhecimento em revistas de grande circulação e no noticiário brasileiro, entre 1º de janeiro de 2016 e 31 de dezembro de 2019. Foram investigadas as revistas Claudia, Boa Forma, VIP e Carbono Uomo. Houve ainda coleta no portal de notícias G1, da Rede Globo de Televisão, voltado ao público geral. Foram criados dois corpora distintos formados pelos conteúdos do G1 e das revistas que, então, foram submetidos à Classificação Hierárquica Descendente pelo software IRaMuTeQ, dando origem a dois subcorpora e quatro classes para cada um. Os resultados apontam uma forte tendência mercadológica nas revistas, que buscam conduzir os leitores ao consumo de produtos e à realização de procedimentos estéticos. Por outro lado, as notícias jornalísticas apregoam um modelo de vida mais saudável como principal prática antienvelhecimento, ao mesmo tempo que alertam sobre os riscos envolvidos nos procedimentos e produtos estéticos irregulares. Em geral, o conteúdo das revistas dissipa representações sociais que idealizam um padrão de beleza do corpo jovial, associando a velhice à fealdade, enquanto o do portal de notícias G1 voltam-se à saúde e longevidade.(AU)

This survey aimed to map anti-aging content, in magazines with wide circulation and also in Brazilian news, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. Claudia, Boa Forma, VIP and Carbono Uomo magazines were studied. News were also collected from the G1 news portal, from Globo television network, aimed at the general audience. Two distinct corpora formed by the contents of the G1 and the magazines were created, which were then submitted to the Descending Hierarchical Classification, by the IRaMuTeQ software, leading to two subcorpora and four classes for each. The results show a strong market orientation in the magazines, which aim to lead readers to purchase products and undertake aesthetic procedures. The news reports, on the other way, promote a healthier life model as the main anti-aging practice, while warning about the risks involved in irregular aesthetic procedures and products. In general, the content of the magazines spreads social representations which idealize a pattern of beauty of a young body, connecting old age with ugliness, whereas that of the G1 news portal are focused on health and longevity.(AU)

Esta iniciativa buscó mapear material de antienvejecimiento, en revistas de gran tirada y en las noticias de Brasil, entre el 1 de enero de 2016 y el 31 de diciembre de 2019. Se analizaron las revistas Claudia, Boa Forma, VIP y Carbono Uomo. También se recogieron noticias del sitio de noticias G1 y de la red de televisión Globo, ambas dirigidas al público en general. Se crearon dos corpora distintos formados por el contenido del G1 y de las revistas, que luego fueron sometidos a la Clasificación Jerárquica Descendente, por el software IRaMuTeQ, dando lugar a dos subcorpora y cuatro clases para cada uno de los corpora. Los resultados señalan una fuerte orientación del mercado de promoción en las revistas, que buscan llevar a los lectores a consumir productos y realizar procedimientos estéticos. En cambio, las noticias periodísticas difunden un modelo de vida más saludable como la principal práctica antienvejecimiento, mientras que al mismo tiempo advierten sobre los riesgos que implican los procedimientos irregulares y los productos estéticos. De forma general, el contenido de las revistas difunde representaciones sociales que idealizan un estándar de belleza del cuerpo joven, asociando la vejez con la fealdad, mientras que el del portal de noticias G1 se orienta a la salud y la longevidad.(AU)

Metáforas da lama: multimodalidade e argumentação em discursos sobre sustentabilidade e rompimento de barragens de rejeitos de minério de ferro / Metaphors of the mud: multimodality and argumentation in discourses about sustainability and the rupture of tailings dams of iron ore

As barragens de rejeito de minério de ferro fazem parte do processo de mineração no Brasil. Trata-se de uma técnica antiga envolvendo diversas tecnologias para torná-la mais segura. A constante vigília e cuidado sobre essas estruturas tornaram-se uma rotina frequente das mineradoras para evitar possíveis rupturas dessas barragens. Após o rompimento da barragem de rejeitos de minério em Brumadinho-MG e Mariana-MG muitos discursos com elementos metafóricos acerca da sustentabilidade e a prática de uso de barragens de rejeitos foram sustentados por uma intencionalidade discursiva voltada para a crítica social. O objetivo deste estudo é identificar e analisar o uso de metáforas conceptuais presentes como elementos multimodais na argumentação textual, numa perspectiva sociocognitiva e interacional da linguagem. Para isso, adota-se uma pesquisa expo-facto. O viés teórico da intencionalidade discursiva na linha de Searle; o caráter de modelos mentais, representações sociais e conhecimento sociocultural tal com prevê Van Dijk, a visão sociosemiótica de Geeraerts para compreender como argumentação por meio do campo imagético das charges é construída e sustentada socialmente e o dialogismo na perspectiva de Meyer a partir da argumentação. Nessa perspectiva sociocognitiva e interacional, o texto é pensado como uma construção linguístico-discursiva na qual a intencionalidade está relacionada com os modelos mentais resultantes de representações construídas a partir da experiencia do sujeito em sociedade e das práticas interacionais. Nesse contexto, o texto contempla uma gama de operações cognitivas interligadas como direciona Marscuschi. Constitui-se um corpus de charges publicadas na mídia brasileira, orientadas para a temática do rompimento de barragens de rejeitos de minério de ferro para a análise do aparecimento de metáforas conceptuais. Conclui-se que as metáforas se constituem recursos multimodais na orientação argumentativa e revelam metáforas do medo e da lama envolvendo um discurso do horror sobre a tragédia das cidades de Brumadinho e Mariana.

Iron ore tailings dams are part of the mining process in Brazil. It is an old technique involving several technologies to make it more secure. Constant vigilance and care about these structures have become a frequent routine for mining companies to avoid possible failures of these dams. After the collapse of the ore tailings dam in Brumadinho (MG) and Mariana (MG) cities, many discourses with metaphorical elements about sustainability and the practice of using tailings dams were supported by a discursive intentionality focused on social criticism. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the use of conceptual metaphors present as multimodal elements in textual argumentation, in a sociocognitive and interactional perspective of language. For this, it is adopted from expo-facto research. The theoretical bias of discursive intentionality along the lines of Searle; the character of mental models, social representations,and sociocultural knowledge as predicted by Van Dijk, the sociosemiotic vision of Geeraerts (2016) to understand how argumentation through the imagery field of cartoons is constructed and socially supported and dialogism in perspective of Meyer from the argumentation. In this sociocognitive and interactional perspective, the text is thought of as a linguistic-discursive construction in which intentionality is related to mental models resulting from representations built from the subject's experience in society and interactional practices. In this context, the text contemplates a range of interconnected cognitive operations as directed by Marscuschi. A corpus of cartoons published in the Brazilian media is constituted, oriented to the theme of breaking up iron ore tailings dams for the analysis of the appearance of conceptual metaphors. It is concluded that metaphors are multimodal resources in the argumentative orientation and reveal metaphors offear and mud involving a horror speech about the tragedy of the cities of Brumadinho and Mariana.

Simulated nature and positive body image: A comparison of the impact of exposure to images of blue and green spaces.

Previous research has shown that exposure to simulated natural environments, such as still images and film, promotes more positive state body image. However, this body of work has not distinguished between different types of natural environment, with the distinction between blue and green spaces being notable. Here, we asked a sample of 168 university students from the United Kingdom to complete a measure of state body appreciation before and after being randomly assigned to one of three groups in which they viewed images of blue spaces, green spaces, or built environments, respectively. A mixed analysis of variance showed that exposure to images of the natural environments, but not the built environments, significantly elevated state body appreciation. In addition, exposure to images of blue spaces had a stronger effect on state body appreciation than exposure to images of green spaces. These results replicate previous work showing that exposure to simulated natural environments promotes more positive state body image, but additionally shows that blue spaces may be more effective than green spaces. Implications of the present findings for the development of imagery-based interventions aimed at promoting healthier body image are discussed.

Consequences of exposure to the thin ideal in mass media depend on moderators in young women: An experimental study.

This study examined the consequences of media exposure to thin ideals compared to pictures of landscapes in healthy young women and women with eating and mixed mental disorders and investigated whether appearance-related cognitive factors and cognitive distortions moderate the effects. Two hundred seventy-five women in a multisite laboratory trial (174 in- or outpatients and 101 healthy women; Mage 22.87 years, SD = 3.94) were exposed to either thin ideals or to landscape pictures and guided through a vivid imagery of these pictures thereafter. Changes in body image dissatisfaction, mood, eating behavior, and physiological markers were assessed. After thin ideal exposure and even more after guided imagery, women's body image dissatisfaction increased and mood declined. The effect on mood was most pronounced in women with eating disorders, less in women with mixed disorders, and smallest in healthy controls. No effects were found on physiological measures. Higher values of appearance-related cognitive factors moderated the effect of thin ideal exposure and guided imagery on all psychological outcomes. Cognitive distortions moderated the effect of thin ideal exposure and guided imagery on mood. Findings indicate an overall susceptibility to viewing thin ideal pictures in magazines in young and especially in women with eating disorders. Though exposure in the laboratory resulted in psychological effects, it did not lead to a physiological stress response. The impact of thin ideal exposure on mood is in line with affect-regulation models in eating disorders, with appearance-related cognitive factors and cognitive distortions potentially accelerating such effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Case of Billy Best: 25 Years Later.

Billy Best was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1994 at age 16 and became well-known when he ran away from home to avoid receiving further chemotherapy. His story became national news when, with the support of his adopted parents, he returned home and opted to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) instead of standard chemotherapy and radiation for his cancer treatment. Now 25 years since Billy Best entered the public eye, his story is one that is frequently referenced in pediatrics, bioethics, and other related fields. Here, the authors examine the evolution of various features of this case, including treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, the interplay between medicine and the media, the role of CAM in pediatric care, navigating entrenched disagreements and how best to integrate adolescents into health care decision-making, and the role of narrative in medical practice. The authors explore the unique role of each of these facets of Billy Best's case, describing how each has or has not changed in the quarter century since that time amid the changing landscape of pediatric health care. Ultimately, although many advances have occurred since Billy Best's time, significant work remains. Additional effort will be required in the future to optimize communication, improve treatment toxicities from Hodgkin lymphoma without decreasing survival, integrate the voice and perspective of adolescents into their treatment decisions, and navigate the roles of CAM and the media in pediatric health care.

Laser Acupuncture Improves Tear Film Stability in Patients with Dry Eye Disease: A Two-Center Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of laser acupuncture (LA) therapy in patients with dry eye disease (DED). Design: A two-center randomized controlled trial. Settings/Location: The Department of Ophthalmology, Chinese Medicine at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and the Sunming Eye Clinic in South Taiwan. Subjects: Fifty-nine participants ages 20 to 65 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to the experimental group (LA plus conventional treatment) or the sham control group (LA without laser output plus conventional treatment). Interventions: Subjects underwent LA treatment three times a week for 12 weeks. The subjects in the experimental group sequentially received 0.375 J of energy at each of the following acupoints: BL2, TE23, ST2, LI4, ST36, and GB37. Subjects in the control group received a sham LA treatment, without any laser output. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was ocular surface disease index (OSDI). The secondary outcome measures included tear film breakup time (TFBUT), Schirmer-I test finding, and visual analog scale (VAS) score. Results: At 4 and 12 weeks after the first visit, the experimental group showed significant improvement of dry eye symptoms as measured by OSDI, TFBUT, Shirmer-I test, and VAS. Compared with the control group, the OSDI (7.23, p = 0.001) and TFBUT (-1.78, p = 0.001) significantly improved in the experimental group at 12 weeks of treatment. Conclusions: LA improved the symptoms and tear stability related to DED in conjunction with conventional treatment. The authors suggest that LA be considered a complementary therapy for DED when conventional treatment does not provide satisfactory effects. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03204903.

How Do Nigerian Newspapers Report Corruption in the Health System?

BACKGROUND: Nigeria has a huge burden of corruption, with the health system especially vulnerable. The media can play a role in tackling it, by shaping the narrative around it. However, its influence depends on the extent and framing of its reporting on corruption. This paper reviews, for the first time, coverage of corruption in the health system in the Nigerian print media. METHODS: The top 10, by circulation, newspapers in Nigeria were selected and searched using the LexisNexis database for articles covering corruption in the health sector over a 2-year period (2016-2018). Two newspapers are not included in the database and were searched manually. 135 articles were identified and subject to content and framing analyses. RESULTS: The Punch newspaper had the highest number of publications focussed on corruption in the health sector. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was the organization attracting most coverage, followed by the Federal Ministry of Health. Corruption in the health sector was predominantly framed as a political issue. Most coverage was episodic, focused on the details of the particular case, with much less thematic, delving into underlying causes. Corruption was most often attributed to a lack of accountability while enforcement was the most frequent solution proffered. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential role of media analyses in helping to understand how newspapers cover corruption in the health sector in Nigeria. It argues that the media has the potential to act as an agent of change for tackling corruption within the health sector.

Collagen in the media: An analysis of news published between 2016 and 2018.

This study examines 102 news items related to collagen as a dietary supplement, written in Spanish and published over a period of 2 years, in both digital and print media. The objective of this study is to evaluate the scientific rigor and consistency of the news information included in the sample. Errors and incorrect uses relative to the current scientific knowledge were identified in the analyzed information, and these errors were classified according to the criteria extracted from previous research. The evidence gathered shows a relevant frequency of errors in the information examined. The results are discussed in light of the role that the media plays in the transmission of beliefs regarding the value of collagen supplements.

"Lift Big-Get Big": The Impact of Images of Hyper-Muscular Bodies and Training Information.

Purpose: It has been suggested that the media influence beliefs regarding ideal body appearance and drive for muscularity whilst also offering recommendations for achieving this; most commonly heavy load free weight resistance training (RT). However, evidence for media effects are inconsistent in the literature. This study investigated this "lift big-get big" culture and effects of imagery on males' beliefs regarding RT. Method: An online survey was conducted with male participants (N = 110) randomized to different images (hyper-muscular/lean/control) and RT information ("lift big-get big"/"evidence based RT"/control). Results: Descriptive data suggested belief in necessity of heavy loads and free weights was pervasive. There was a small significant effect of condition for multivariate analysis of beliefs regarding RT. Univariate analyses showed significant effects of condition regarding the importance of free weights and heavy loads for strength, and free weights for hypertrophy. Small to moderate effects were found comparing "evidence-based RT" with a hyper-muscular physique to "lift big-get big" conditions with both hyper-muscular and lean physiques, the latter more likely to agree free weights and heavy loads are necessary for strength. A small effect was found comparing "lift big-get big" conditions with both hyper-muscular and lean physiques and the control condition, the former more likely to agree free weights are necessary for hypertrophy. Conclusions: Although hyper-muscular bodies alone did not influence RT beliefs, new information, i.e., "evidence-based RT" combined with a hyper-muscular physique had a small effect. The "lift big-get big" culture is perhaps pervasive enough that most conditions merely reinforced existing beliefs.

Midwife-moderated social media groups as a validated information source for women during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Widespread use of the internet has fundamentally altered the way people access health information and communicate with health providers. Pregnant women are a group who are particularly highly motivated to seek out information online. However, where mothers actually obtain their information, who they trust to supply it, and whether or not it actually fulfils their needs is often unclear. This paper examines the experiences of women accessing advice and information on pregnancy and childbirth through a dedicated social-media platform, mediated by qualified midwives. The study formed part of a larger research project that focussed on professionally moderated online learning in maternity care, and the role of online communities. This paper reports on aspects of midwife mediated information provision in the context of these online communities. METHODS: Two secret (i.e. private / invitation only) Facebook groups were created. Both groups were moderated by 2 qualified midwives. One group had 17 mothers and the other 14 mothers. Both groups ran for 35 weeks. DATA AND ANALYSIS: The data included the written and spoken words of group participants and midwife-moderators in i) face-to-face (n = 4) and online (n = 4) post-intervention focus groups; ii) one-to-one interviews with group participants and midwife moderators (n = 24); iii) the complete corpus of text-based interaction across both groups; iv) a sub-set of private message sessions (n = 24) between individual participants and midwife-moderators. Thematic analysis was applied to the combined dataset. FINDINGS: Participants found engagement with midwives and other pregnant women via a social media group convenient and accessible. The groups provided a safe space for the sharing and validation of maternity relevant information. Members trusted their midwife-moderators to ensure information was reliable. For many members, the group became the primary source of pregnancy related information. CONCLUSION: Midwife-mediated social media groups offer a highly effective way of providing individualised information provision and social support for pregnant woman. Access to a group can also significantly impact on perceptions of relational continuity.

Trends in tobacco, alcohol and branded fast-food imagery in Bollywood films, 1994-2013.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Exposure to tobacco, alcohol and fast-food use in films is associated with initiation of these behaviours. India is the world's largest film producer, but the extent of such imagery in Bollywood (Hindi cinema) films is unclear. We therefore aimed to describe the extent of and trends in tobacco, alcohol and fast-food imagery in Bollywood films, between 1994-2013. METHODS: For the 15 top-grossing films each year between 1994-2013, the number of five-minute intervals containing product images were determined separately for tobacco, alcohol and fast-food. Both the proportion of films containing at least one image occurrence, and occurrences per film, were described overall and by year. Negative binomial regression described associations between film rating and occurrences/film, and estimated time-trends in occurrences/film, adjusted for rating. RESULTS: We analysed 93 U-rated (unrestricted), 150 U/A-rated (parental guidance for children aged <12 years) and 55 A-rated (restricted to adult audience) films, containing 9,226 five-minute intervals (mean intervals/film 30.8, SD 4.0). 70% (n = 210), 93% (n = 278) and 21% (n = 62) of films contained at least one tobacco, alcohol and fast-food occurrence, respectively. Corresponding total mean occurrences/film were 4.0 (SD 4.9), 7.0 (4.7) and 0.4 (0.9). Tobacco occurrences were more common in U/A films (incidence rate ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.09) and A films (2.95; 1.95-4.48) than U-rated films. Alcohol occurrences were also more common in A-rated films than U-rated films (1.48; 1.15-1.85). Tobacco occurrences/film became less common over the observed period (adjusted trend -4% per annum; -2 to -7%; p <0.001), while alcohol (+2%; 0-3%; p = 0.02), and fast food (+8%; 2-14%; p = 0.01) occurrences/film became more common. CONCLUSIONS: Although the extent of tobacco imagery in Bollywood films fell over 1994-2013, it is still frequently observed. Alcohol imagery is widespread, even in U-rated films, and trends in both alcohol and fast-food imagery are upwards.

An analysis of media reporting on the closure of freestanding midwifery units in England.

PROBLEM: Despite clinical guidelines and policy promoting choice of place of birth, 14 Freestanding Midwifery Units were closed between 2008 and 2015, closures reported in the media as justified by low use and financial constraints. BACKGROUND: The Birthplace in England Programme found that freestanding midwifery units provided the most cost-effective birthplace for women at low risk of complications. Women planning birth in a freestanding unit were less likely to experience interventions and serious morbidity than those planning obstetric unit birth, with no difference in outcomes for babies. METHODS: This paper uses an interpretative technique developed for policy analysis to explore the representation of these closures in 191 news articles, to explore the public climate in which they occurred. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION: The articles focussed on underuse by women and financial constraints on services. Despite the inclusion of service user voices, the power of framing was held by service managers and commissioners. The analysis exposed how neoliberalist and austerity policies have privileged representation of individual consumer choice and market-driven provision as drivers of changes in health services. This normative framing presents the reasons given for closure as hard to refute and cultural norms persist that birth is safest in an obstetric setting, despite evidence to the contrary. CONCLUSION: The rise of neoliberalism and austerity in contemporary Britain has influenced the reform of maternity services, in particular the closure of midwifery units. Justifications given for closure silence other narratives, predominantly from service users, that attempt to present women's choice in terms of rights and a social model of care.

Roles and Implications of Paper Media in Early Stage of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in China.

Paper media including the People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Health News and Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine were the main media that spread the thought and policy of integrative medicine (IM) in the early stage of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine (WM) in China. Issues including paper media and its roles for spreading IM, from "TCM learning from WM" to "WM learning from TCM", advocating integration of TCM and WM, promoting IM through multiple channels were analyzed in this article, so as to show the propagation process of IM in China and the roles of the paper media. It was shown that strengthening the propaganda of IM through mainstream media, strengthening media convergence and the role of new media are important in spreading the thought of IM.