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NEWS > HEALTH > RESEARCHERS RECOMMEND AGAINST USING TELEVISION SHOWS TO TRAIN DOCTORS
RESEARCHERS RECOMMEND AGAINST USING TELEVISION SHOWS TO TRAIN DOCTORS
February 17 2010
Halifax, Canada – Since the beginning of television two genres have dominated the small screen. Police and medical dramas have been stalwarts of the medium, helping to secure its place in the homes of millions. It is medical dramas that have often become
the most popular. Shows such as ‘General Hospital’, ‘M*A*S*H’, and ‘E.R.’ are just a few examples of medical dramas that also happen to be some of the most popular programs that have ever aired, a trend that continues today with hit shows such as ‘House’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.
Despite that success and popularity however, many of those shows have been frequently criticized for their portrayal of medical conditions and treatments. Now researchers from Dalhousie University in Halifax have determined definitively that medical dramas offer at best a partially accurate response to medical crises. After screening 327 episodes of various programmes, the researchers have determined that much of the side given in medical dramas can actually cause harm in real life and should not be practiced by untrained personnel. While the researchers believe that exposing these inaccuracies may help to improve emergency healthcare but also television itself. Television officials however aren’t so happy with the revelations, seeing it as a direct threat to their autonomy and earning potential.
“We found in 327 episodes screened, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Nearly all first aid was performed by nurses or doctors. But the study found inappropriate practices such as holding the person down, trying to stop involuntary movements or putting something in the person's mouth, occurred in 25 cases, or nearly 46 percent of the incidents,” said Researcher Andrew Moeller. “First aid management was shown appropriately in 17 seizures, or about 29 percent, and appropriateness of first aid could not be determined in 15 incidents, or 25 percent. Television dramas are potentially a powerful method of educating the public so it was a concern to find that TV shows inaccurately showed seizure management half the time.”
‘General Hospital’ is one of the longest running television programs in history and almost thirty years after it aired, the final episode of ‘M*A*S*H’ is still the most watched program in history.
“I mean some of this was pretty common knowledge. You watch a show like ‘House’ where he’s curing all these rare and obscure ailments and most viewers realize that they wouldn’t have the ability or means to cure such health issues. Emergency medical issues however are a different issue and I’m sure many TV viewers are going to be shocked by this revelation,” said Scrape TV Entertainment analyst Tracey Temple. “Things like choking and seizures are a little more manageable and easier for people to diagnose so they have always relied on the knowledge they have gained from television. If that information is incorrect though, than it could mean disastrous things for the industry and could upend the television medium as a whole.”
For many the greatest fear is that such criticism could extend to other television programs, potentially shaking viewer’s faith and eroding loyalty.
“Look at police dramas as an example. People believe that is the way crime investigations are done and commit crimes and investigate them accordingly. Now this study throws all that into doubt and could risk the struggling industry,” continued Temple. “And it isn’t just domestic dramas. Look at shows like ‘Star Trek’ which have given people a blueprint for the future which as it turns out might be totally inaccurate. A show like ‘Battlestar Galactica’ gave us a picture of how humanity evolved, but now all that is thrown into doubt and could forever change people’s faith in television.”
The researchers also recommended that people either leave medical procedures to professionals, or go to medical school.
Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent
NEWS > HEALTH > RESEARCHERS RECOMMEND AGAINST USING TELEVISION SHOWS TO TRAIN DOCTORS
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