TY - JOUR
T1 - Does the "script" need a rewrite?
T2 - Is medication advice in television medical dramas appropriate?
AU - Cowley, Melissa
AU - Naunton, Mark
AU - Thomas, Jackson
AU - Waddington, Freya
AU - Peterson, Gregory M
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Television medical dramas depict the healthcare industry and draw considerable interest from the public, while pharmacists play an integral part in providing medication-related advice to the public and other health practitioners in real life. The main objective of this retrospective, observational study was to assess the appropriateness of medication advice given in televised medical dramas and how frequently pharmacists were involved in providing the medication advice.METHODS: Show selection was based on fictional series with a medical drama theme and having the highest viewership. Approximately 100 randomly selected hours of five medical television dramas (House, Grey's Anatomy, Nurse Jackie, Doc Martin and Royal Pains) were assessed for the appropriateness of advice given based on the medication indicated, number of safety checks performed, and the level of adherence to standard clinical guidelines. The appropriateness of medication advice was assessed as appropriate, mostly appropriate, partially appropriate and inappropriate using a piloted, 0-6 point scale. Other parameters recorded included patient demographics, health professionals involved, and the categories of medicines.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: Medications were mentioned on 424 occasions (on average four times per hour), including 239 occasions where medication advice was given. A pharmacist was involved in giving medication advice only 16 times (7%). Using the assessment tool, overall, medication advice was deemed to be appropriate 24% of the time, mostly appropriate 34%, partially appropriate 13% and inappropriate 7%. Although the medication advice given was often for the correct indication and the advice somewhat followed clinical guidelines, it frequently omitted adequate safety checks. Doc Martin had the highest mean appropriateness score, whereas House and Grey's Anatomy had the lowest.WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS: Medication was often used for the correct indication in television medical dramas; however, key safety checks were frequently omitted and other medication-related advice, including dose, was less reliable and accurate. Pharmacists were rarely involved in providing medication advice. Viewers should not base medication-related decisions solely on what they see in television medical dramas, and any medication-related advice should be interpreted with extreme caution.
AB - WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Television medical dramas depict the healthcare industry and draw considerable interest from the public, while pharmacists play an integral part in providing medication-related advice to the public and other health practitioners in real life. The main objective of this retrospective, observational study was to assess the appropriateness of medication advice given in televised medical dramas and how frequently pharmacists were involved in providing the medication advice.METHODS: Show selection was based on fictional series with a medical drama theme and having the highest viewership. Approximately 100 randomly selected hours of five medical television dramas (House, Grey's Anatomy, Nurse Jackie, Doc Martin and Royal Pains) were assessed for the appropriateness of advice given based on the medication indicated, number of safety checks performed, and the level of adherence to standard clinical guidelines. The appropriateness of medication advice was assessed as appropriate, mostly appropriate, partially appropriate and inappropriate using a piloted, 0-6 point scale. Other parameters recorded included patient demographics, health professionals involved, and the categories of medicines.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: Medications were mentioned on 424 occasions (on average four times per hour), including 239 occasions where medication advice was given. A pharmacist was involved in giving medication advice only 16 times (7%). Using the assessment tool, overall, medication advice was deemed to be appropriate 24% of the time, mostly appropriate 34%, partially appropriate 13% and inappropriate 7%. Although the medication advice given was often for the correct indication and the advice somewhat followed clinical guidelines, it frequently omitted adequate safety checks. Doc Martin had the highest mean appropriateness score, whereas House and Grey's Anatomy had the lowest.WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS: Medication was often used for the correct indication in television medical dramas; however, key safety checks were frequently omitted and other medication-related advice, including dose, was less reliable and accurate. Pharmacists were rarely involved in providing medication advice. Viewers should not base medication-related decisions solely on what they see in television medical dramas, and any medication-related advice should be interpreted with extreme caution.
KW - appropriateness
KW - entertainment
KW - media
KW - medical television dramas
KW - medication
KW - medication advice
KW - pharmacist
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85032832447&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.embase.com/search/results?subaction=viewrecord&from=export&id=L619097792
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.12581
http://rug.on.worldcat.org/atoztitles/link/?sid=EMBASE&issn=13652710&id=doi:10.1111%2Fjcpt.12581&atitle=Does+the+“script”+need+a+rewri
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/script-need-rewrite-medication-advice-television-medical-dramas-appropriate
U2 - 10.1111/jcpt.12581
DO - 10.1111/jcpt.12581
M3 - Article
C2 - 28833327
SN - 0269-4727
VL - 42
SP - 765
EP - 773
JO - Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
JF - Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
IS - 6
ER -