Public Estimates of Cancer Frequency: Cancer Incidence Perceptions Mirror Distorted Media Depictions

• Published in: Journal of health communication Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 609 - 624
• Main Authors: Jensen, Jakob D., Scherr, Courtney L., Brown, Natasha, Jones, Christina, Christy, Katheryn, Hurley, Ryan J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2014; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Decision making; Estimation; Female; Health behavior; Health technology assessment; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mass Media - standards; Media coverage; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - psychology; Perception; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Public Opinion; Risk; Risk Assessment; Tumors; Young Adult; Human; Social perception; Estimation; Frequency; Mass media; Malignant tumor; Public health; Cancer; Communication; Incidence
• ISSN: 1081-0730; 1087-0415
• DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2013.837551

Compared with incidence rates, certain cancers are over- or underrepresented in news coverage. Past content analytic research has consistently documented these news distortions, but no study has examined whether they are related to public perception of cancer incidence. Adults (N = 400) completed a survey with questions about perceived cancer incidence, news consumption, and attention to health news. Cancer incidence perceptions paralleled previously documented news distortions. Overrepresented cancers were overestimated (e.g., blood, head/brain) and underrepresented cancers were underestimated (e.g., male reproductive, lymphatic, thyroid, and bladder). Self-reported news consumption was related to perceptual distortions such that heavier consumers were more likely to demonstrate distorted perceptions of four cancers (bladder, blood, breast, and kidney). Distortions in risk perception and news coverage also mirrored discrepancies in federal funding for cancer research. Health care professionals, journalists, and the public should be educated about these distortions to reduce or mitigate potential negative effects on health behavior and decision making.