A Content Analysis of Colorectal Cancer News Coverage: Disparities in Health Communication
Erin T. Jacques, EdD, PhD1, Grace C. Hillyer, EdD2, Corey H. Basch, EdD, MPH3
1 Department of Health & Human Performance, York College, CUNY, Jamaica, NY, 11451
2 Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 10032
3 Department of Public Health, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470
To address an uptick in colorectal cancer (CRC) morbidity and mortality rates, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the recommended ages for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening from 50 to 45. Nonetheless, research on how CRC is represented in the news is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the content of Google news stories related to CRC. Using the term colorectal cancer, researchers coded 100 most recent relevant Google news stories published between June 2021 to March 2022. Researchers used a deductive coding process to capture the dichotomous categories of risk factors and the mention of screening, disparities, mortality, severity, fear of screening, insurance/costs, colonoscopy, the spread of cancer, treatment, and research. An inductive approach elucidated the source of the news stories to include the internet, traditional, health, consumer, education, non-health organization, academic journal, and the government. Of the 100 videos reviewed, nearly half (49%) were created by health news organizations and 27% by traditional news services. Only 18% discussed CRC disparities. In contrast, most videos mentioned CRC screenings (61%). Themes that predominated among videos that mentioned CRC screening more often talked about risks for developing CRC, including the age at onset (75.4% vs. 33.3%, p<0.001), CRC mortality (73.8% vs. 30.8%, p<0.001), and severity of disease (60.7% vs. 33.3%, p=0.008). Google news articles did not adequately highlight disparities in CRC morbidity and mortality. The results of this study support a need to communicate information on screening and early-onset CRC, particularly among communities of color.
