Key result
Chinese TV health programs feature general CVD information in ~92% of episodes, but completely lack minority-targeted content.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in China, particularly affecting the Hui ethnic minority, but little research has investigated CVD content broadcast on Chinese television health programs.
Chinese television health programs frequently broadcast general CVD education, medication guidance, and traditional Chinese medicine practices using entertainment formats, but completely lack culturally tailored content for the high-risk Hui ethnic minority.
TV programs omit Hui-specific CVD content; leaves open whether culturally adapted messaging narrows ethnic disparities.
This study aims to add to the knowledge about information depicted in television health programs in China. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the country. The threat it poses is particularly notable among the Hui ethnic minority people, who have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Little research has been conducted thus far on content concerning CVDs in Chinese television health programs, and this study aims to fill this lacuna. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze The Doctor Is In and Health Body Light. The results revealed that these two programs presented information about what CVDs and CVRFs are, how the former are treated, and what strategies are used to communicate health information. A new topic also stood out: discussions on how traditional Chinese medicine prevents and cures these diseases.
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Yang et al. (2021) studied Cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors (n=25). Qualitative content analysis of Chinese television health programs (The Doctor Is In and Health Body Light) was evaluated on Types of CVD-related health content, communication strategies, and targeting of the Hui ethnic minority. Chinese TV health programs depicted general CVD information in 23 of 25 episodes alongside treatments, traditional Chinese medicine, and entertainment tools, with 0 episodes targeting the Hui minority.
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