MAGAZINE COVERAGE OF BREAST CANCER IN 1993 AND 2003: A QUALITATIVE ...

MAGAZINE COVERAGE OF BREAST CANCER IN 1993 AND

2003: A QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS




A Thesis

by

NAOMI LOUISE REYES




Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of
Texas A&M University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE






May 2005





Major Subject: Science and Technology Journalism

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MAGAZINE COVERAGE OF BREAST CANCER IN 1993 AND

2003: A QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS



A Thesis

by

NAOMI LOUISE REYES



Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of
Texas A&M University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE


Approved as to style and content by:


_____________________________
_____________________________
Barbara Gastel Susanna Priest
(Chair of Committee) (Member)


_____________________________
_____________________________
Barbara Sharf Julia Kirk Blackwelder
(Member) (Head of Department)







May 2005


Major Subject: Science and Technology Journalism

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iii
ABSTRACT


Magazine Coverage of Breast Cancer in 1993 and 2003:
A Qualitative Content Analysis. (May 2005)
Naomi Louise Reyes, B.A., Baylor University
Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Barbara Gastel

Breast cancer has touched the lives of countless people, yet many women have
misconceptions about the disease. One of the most common sources for breast cancer
information used by American women is popular magazines. The current study sought
to describe the content of magazine articles on breast cancer from 1993 and 2003 in an
attempt to determine whether article content differed, and if so, in what ways and for
what reasons. Topical theme, identification of risk factors, preventive measures, and
sources mentioned were categories developed to determine possible differences in
content between the two years. Twice as many articles on breast cancer appeared in 1993
as in 2003. In 1993, living with breast cancer was a theme of many articles, while in
2003, hormone replacement therapy was a dominant theme. Family history was
emphasized as a risk factor in articles from 1993, while long-term hormone-replacement
therapy was emphasized in 2003. In general, articles in 2003 focused on overall health
practices in the possible prevention of breast cancer. Social, political, and scientific
occurrences relating to breast cancer that took place from the early 1990s through 2003

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were considered when analyzing content. Most of the differences in content appeared to
reflect such occurrences.

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DEDICATION

I could not have completed this thesis without the constant support and encouragement
of my husband, Matthew. Thank you, Matthew, for loving me in all the ways you do
and for being the man of God you were created to be. I love you with all my heart.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to Dr. Barbara Gastel, Dr. Susanna Priest, and Dr. Barbara Sharf for all of
your guidance in helping me develop this thesis. A special thank you to Jamie
DeGregory for the time and energy you devoted to editing this thesis. I am very
appreciative.

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vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS










Page
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………… iii
DEDICATION………………………………………………………………… v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………….. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………
vii
LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………….
ix
LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………...
x
CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION………………………………………………….
1

Objectives…………………………………………………….....
3
Research Questions……………………………………………..
3
Definition of Terms……………………………………………..
3

II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE…………………………………........
5

Background on Breast Cancer…………………………………..
5

Breast Cancer: Recent Historical Context………………………
7

Women’s Perceptions of Breast Cancer………………………...
12

Media Coverage of Breast Cancer………………………………
14

III RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY…………………………………… 19


Identification of Articles………………………………………..
21


Data Collection and Analysis………………………………….. 22

IV RESULTS…………………………………………………………..
27



Breast Cancer in Specific Populations…………………………
37

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viii
CHAPTER

Page

V CONCLUSION…………………………………………………….
39


Numbers and Publication Sites of Breast Cancer Articles……... ….
39

Content of Breast Cancer Articles……………………………... ….
42

Implications of the Study…………………………………………..
49

Other Issues That Merit Media Coverage…………………………..
51

Recommendations for Further Study……………………………....
52
Concluding
Thoughts……………………………………………….

54

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………. 55

APPENDIX A…………………………………………………………………..
62




APPENDIX B…………………………………………………………………..
64

APPENDIX C…………………………………………………………………..
67

APPENDIX D…………………………………………………………………..
69

VITA……………………………………………………………………….. …..
70

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ix
LIST OF FIGURES


FIGURE


Page

1 Comparison: Article Themes in 1993 and 2003………………………...
29

2 Comparison: Risk Factors Mentioned in Articles

from 1993 and 2003…………………………………………………….
31

3 Comparison: Preventive Measures Mentioned in Articles
from 1993 and 2003…………………………………………………….
32

4 Comparison: Sources Mentioned in Articles from 1993 and 2003…….. 34

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LIST OF TABLES


TABLE



Page

1 Medical Journals Mentioned in Articles from 1993…………………… 35

2 Medical Journals Mentioned in Articles from 2003…………………… 35

3 Physicians or Scientists Most Commonly Mentioned

as Sources in Articles from 1993……………………………………….
36

4 Physicians
and
Scientists Most Commonly Mentioned

as Sources in Articles from 2003……………………………………….
37

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