Health Information via Mass Media: Study of the Individual's Concepts of the Body and its Parts

Abstract

This paper questions whether the mass media perform an adequate service in attempting to “educate” the public in health matters. The author contends that adults are not as responsive as they could be because of certain learning blocks influenced by carry-over of thoughts and feelings from childhood. To explore the aforementioned contention 87 highly educated adults, 21 to 51 yr. of age, were requested to outline the body and also draw and label the internal organs. Such data may be used to evaluate knowledge as well as reflect personal perceptions relative to the body. The eight organs drawn most frequently were heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, brain, sex organs. These were assessed for correctness of placement. Although considerable latitude was allowed in judging “correctness” many errors were observed. The majority of the drawings were crude, child-like statements of the body and its parts. The implication is that people have to be “ready” for what they hear and see to profit from efforts of the mass media.