CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN TURKISH NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

Newspapers are designed to be appealed by people at different cultural levels andnewspapers are very useful for health education if they are correctly used.According to data compiled by Turkish Statistical Institute in 2011, cardiovascular diseases are number one cause of death (% 39.9) in our country. Our study isdesigned to evaluate cardiovascular diseases in Turkish Newspapers in the light ofthis information.Total newspaper circulation of 33 newspapers-except sports newspapers- is4.177.135. In the ranking, first 4 newspapers are 2.188.338 daily and they constitute of 52.4 percent of total circulation. All the news about cardiovascular diseases are analyzed (n: 241) between January-June 2012.188 news items of total 214 news items (78.0%) contain protecting advices againstcardiovascular diseases. 136 (%72.3) of these advices contain "increasing physicalactivity, preventing obesity, tobacco control, avoiding climate and suddenemotional changes". Remaining 52 (27.7%) news contains nutrition suggestions(various plants, herbal tea, coffee, chocolate, reducing salt intake) and also adviseto avoid chronic fatigue, protecting drugs and electromagnetic areas.53 news items of total 241 news items (22 %) are consisted of innovations inmedicine (n: 13), newly - opened cardiovascular centers (n: 10), traditional treatment methods (n: 7), personal cardiovascular health problems of famous people (n: 18) and other sensational news such as "Betrayal causescardiomyopathy" and etc.Newspapers present scientific innovationswith popular explanationsina way public can understand. Concerned people should convey correct, sufficient and usable information on time to the press member for more valuable health education.