Contributions
Abstract: P687
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Introduction: Awareness in the community of etiology, common symptoms and treatment possibilities is an important factor of several public health interventions across a wide range of diseases and the communication media have an important role. However, misinformation and misguide may take place heightening the expectations of people affected by chronic conditions that require lifelong treatment and management. Colombia is a low MS prevalence country, although seemingly rising in the last years, MS is still an infrequent condition.
Aims: To explore the notion that the media coverage about MS is rising more than expected from the actual prevalence of the disease.
Objectives: To review of the MS related articles in the national and local written media.
Methods: We first identified the most important written media at national and local levels and performed a search in their digital archives with the words “Multiple Sclerosis” (in Spanish). The search was updated to April 30 2018. The articles found were categorized as main articles (MA), when directly related to MS; related articles (RA), when MS was mentioned in the text but was not its main subject (e.g., an article covering autoimmune diseases); and unrelated (UA), when MS was only mentioned tangentially (e.g., when someone in a chronicle had MS). We describe the total number, number of unrelated, related and main articles published every year, since the earliest found until 2018. We identified the topics covered by the articles and described their distribution.
Results: We reviewed the archives of 19 newspapers and we also reviewed the main weekly journal, which is considered an important opinion leader the written press in Colombia. A total of 905 articles, MS was mentioned were identified and reviewed (UA: 189 [20.9%]; RA: 589 [65.1%]; MA: 127 [14%]). 399 (44.1%) articles were published at the local level (UA: 98; RA: 256; MA: 45), and 506 (55.9%) at the national level (UA: 91; RA: 333; MA: 82). The earliest of them dates back to 1991. Since then, we observed a steady increase in the annual rate of publication of the three kinds of articles, up to 118 in 2017 (UA: 17; RA: 84; MA: 17). We found the most frequent covering topic was the approval of cannabis based products for the symptomatic treatment.
Conclusions: The media coverage of MS has risen steadily since its first appearance in the early nineties. This should be encouraged, but caution should be held so misinformation is not spread.
Disclosure: Simón Cárdenas-Robledo: nothing to disclose
Claudia M. Guío: nothing to disclose
Abstract: P687
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Introduction: Awareness in the community of etiology, common symptoms and treatment possibilities is an important factor of several public health interventions across a wide range of diseases and the communication media have an important role. However, misinformation and misguide may take place heightening the expectations of people affected by chronic conditions that require lifelong treatment and management. Colombia is a low MS prevalence country, although seemingly rising in the last years, MS is still an infrequent condition.
Aims: To explore the notion that the media coverage about MS is rising more than expected from the actual prevalence of the disease.
Objectives: To review of the MS related articles in the national and local written media.
Methods: We first identified the most important written media at national and local levels and performed a search in their digital archives with the words “Multiple Sclerosis” (in Spanish). The search was updated to April 30 2018. The articles found were categorized as main articles (MA), when directly related to MS; related articles (RA), when MS was mentioned in the text but was not its main subject (e.g., an article covering autoimmune diseases); and unrelated (UA), when MS was only mentioned tangentially (e.g., when someone in a chronicle had MS). We describe the total number, number of unrelated, related and main articles published every year, since the earliest found until 2018. We identified the topics covered by the articles and described their distribution.
Results: We reviewed the archives of 19 newspapers and we also reviewed the main weekly journal, which is considered an important opinion leader the written press in Colombia. A total of 905 articles, MS was mentioned were identified and reviewed (UA: 189 [20.9%]; RA: 589 [65.1%]; MA: 127 [14%]). 399 (44.1%) articles were published at the local level (UA: 98; RA: 256; MA: 45), and 506 (55.9%) at the national level (UA: 91; RA: 333; MA: 82). The earliest of them dates back to 1991. Since then, we observed a steady increase in the annual rate of publication of the three kinds of articles, up to 118 in 2017 (UA: 17; RA: 84; MA: 17). We found the most frequent covering topic was the approval of cannabis based products for the symptomatic treatment.
Conclusions: The media coverage of MS has risen steadily since its first appearance in the early nineties. This should be encouraged, but caution should be held so misinformation is not spread.
Disclosure: Simón Cárdenas-Robledo: nothing to disclose
Claudia M. Guío: nothing to disclose