TY - JOUR
T1 - Complementary and alternative medicine
T2 - Representation in popular magazines
AU - Dunne, Alexandra
AU - Phillips, Christine
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Background: More than half the patients who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia do not discuss it with their doctors. Many consumers use popular media, especially women's magazines, to learn about CAM. Aim: To explore representations of CAM in popular Australian women's magazines. Method: Content analysis of three Australian magazines: Australian Women's Weekly, Dolly and New Idea published from January to June 2008. Results: Of 220 references to CAM (4-17 references per issue), most were to biologically based practices, particularly 'functional foods', which enhance health. Most representations of CAM were positive (81.3% positive, 16.4% neutral, 2.3% negative). Explanations of modes of action of CAM tended to be biological but relatively superficial. Discussion: Australian magazines cast CAM as safe therapy which enhances patient engagement in healthcare, and works in ways analogous to orthodox medical treatments. General practitioners can use discussions with their patients about CAM to encourage health promoting practices.
AB - Background: More than half the patients who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia do not discuss it with their doctors. Many consumers use popular media, especially women's magazines, to learn about CAM. Aim: To explore representations of CAM in popular Australian women's magazines. Method: Content analysis of three Australian magazines: Australian Women's Weekly, Dolly and New Idea published from January to June 2008. Results: Of 220 references to CAM (4-17 references per issue), most were to biologically based practices, particularly 'functional foods', which enhance health. Most representations of CAM were positive (81.3% positive, 16.4% neutral, 2.3% negative). Explanations of modes of action of CAM tended to be biological but relatively superficial. Discussion: Australian magazines cast CAM as safe therapy which enhances patient engagement in healthcare, and works in ways analogous to orthodox medical treatments. General practitioners can use discussions with their patients about CAM to encourage health promoting practices.
KW - Complementary therapies
KW - Periodicals as a topic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77957360482&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
SN - 0300-8495
VL - 39
SP - 671
EP - 674
JO - Australian Family Physician
JF - Australian Family Physician
IS - 9
ER -