Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

From: Using media to impact health policy-making: an integrative systematic review

Haq 2010 [41]

Study setting

Health topic: maternal and newborn health

Pakistan

Population

Target of media intervention: district-level health officials/policymakers

Characteristics of the media intervention

TV talk show:

The aim of the TV talk show was to get on-camera commitments from three keys belonging to district health policy. The show started with a viewing of the documentary after which the host invited discussion by the participants. The discussion started with the panelists providing information on their plans to improve the MNH situation in their area. The host also invited members of the audience to raise their questions and concerns publicly on the show.

Date: The program series was aired from April to June 2007.

Level: national

Type of media: broadcast media (television)

Organizer: Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN); a project designed to improve MNH in 10 districts.

Study design

Qualitative method

Data sources: interviews with 20 out of 31 participants

Outcome

Change in policy behavior/approach

Vasudevan 2009 [48]

Study setting

Health topic: road safety

State of NE, US

Population

Target of media intervention: the public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Media and enforcement campaign:

The media and enforcement campaign is part of “Click it or ticket program”. The media campaign consisted of

-Paid media (paid television and radio advertisements)

-Earned media (ride-along with law enforcement officers, coverage of press event kick offs and upcoming enforcement events, newspaper coverage of enforcement campaign)

Date: May 2003, May 2004, and May 2005

Level: state

Type of media: broadcast media (television and radio), print media (newspapers)

Organizer: the state

Study design

Quantitative method: before and after design

Data sources:

-Seat belt usage observations conducted at 50 sites in Nevada

Outcome

Seat belt usage rates

Rehnman 2005 [47]

Study setting

Health topic: alcohol control

Norrmalm (inner-city area), Stockholm, Sweden

Population

Target of media intervention: the public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Beer campaign:

Media intervention was part of a multi-component intervention named “The beer campaign” that consisted of a series of activities involving information/training, media advocacy, and monitoring. In 1998, The intervention also included meetings with merchants, sending post card to parents, training of staff, and media advocacy. In 1999, a follow-up study indicated no improvements, which was followed by a renewed intervention, with added components: merchants received individual feedback on sales in their shops, and they committed themselves to buy back the beer that was sold to the students in the study.

The media advocacy consisted of presenting the baseline purchase study and follow-up study a year later at press conferences. The results were presented in several newspapers, local radio, and television. Contacts were maintained with both local and national media during the following year.

Date: 2 years (1998–2000)

Level: county

Type of media: broadcast media (television and radio), print media (newspapers)

Organizer: The STAD Project (Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems)

Study design

Quantitative method: controlled before and after design

Data sources:

-Purchase studies (controlled before and after design)

Outcome

Successful beer purchase attempt

Sivaneswaran 2011 [46]

Study setting

Health topic: water fluoridation/dental hygiene

New South Wales towns, Australia

Population

Target of media intervention: the public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Community education program:

Community education program including the organization of a public forum and the use of media. The use of media involved Fluoridation information kits prepared by the NSW Health Department containing relevant information on water fluoridation were also provided to the local media, Council offices as well as to those present at the public forums. In addition, a significant amount of information on water fluoridation was also provided to the community via the local newspapers, radio and television. Early during the campaign, NSW Health Department representatives met with the editor of the Mudgee Guardian to ensure balanced and impartial reporting of articles or editorial letters relating to water fluoridation and the editor was also invited to the forum.

Date: February 2005

Level: province

Type of media: broadcast media (television and radio), print media (newspapers)

Organizer: state (Mid-Western Regional Council, NSW Health Department)

Study design

Quantitative design

Data sources:

-Surveys completed from telephone interviews

-Surveys completed from face-to-face interviews

Outcome

- Support of the water fluoridation measure and adoption of fluoridation policy

Leurer 2013 [50]

Study setting

Health topic: nursing education

Saskatchewan, Canada

Population

Target of media intervention: Government/policymakers at the government level and the public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Media advocacy:

Nursing stakeholders quickly reacted to the “January 21st” policy announcement by using media advocacy to convey messages designed to exert pressure on the government to reconsider the new policy. Media advocacy including

-Framing and releasing of news releases, letters to the editor, press releases

-Wide press coverage of nursing students protests

-Media interviews

Date: 3-month period following January 21, 2000

Level: province

Type of media: print media

Organizer: nursing stakeholders

Study design

Qualitative media analysis:

Data sources:

- The print media sources included articles, editorials, and letters to the editor from The Leader-Post, the daily newspaper in Saskatchewan’s provincial capital Regina.

Outcome

- Change in government policy

Harwood 2005 [44]

Study setting

Health topic: Alcohol control

State of LA, USA

Population

Target of media intervention: policymakers and the general public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Media advocacy was an integral component of the coalitions’ work as they sought to affect public and legislative awareness and opinions about underage drinking issues. Some examples include solicited media coverage of rallies at the state capital, community information meetings, youth-lead community activities, and media interviews with coalition members for feature stories on underage drinking.

Date: 1997–2004

Level: state

Type of media: print media (newspapers)

Organizer: coalitions by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reduce underage drinking

Study design

Quantitative design

Data sources:

- Media data

- Legislative data

Outcome

- Passage of alcohol bills

Gardner 2010 [42]

Study setting

Health topic: Access to health care

State of CA, USA

Population

Target of media intervention: policymakers and the general public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Media advocacy activities including a combination of strategies:

-launching websites

-creating videos (some videos described the role of primary care clinics in specific regions of the state that were distributed to television stations and other venues)

-developing articles and letters to the editors for local and statewide newspapers

-working with local radio and television outlets

-television and radio interviews

-developing member clinic capacity to conduct media outreach

Date: the fund started in 2001 for 3 years and was renewed in 2004 and 2007

Level: state

Type of media: print media (newspaper, brochures, newsletters), broadcast media (television, radio, video), electronic media (websites) Organizer: Clinics Consortia

Study design

Quantitative and qualitative method

Data sources:

-Annual Policy Advocacy Activities Worksheet

-Annual Grantee Interviews

-Policy Maker and Community Leader Awareness Survey

-Media Representative and Consultant Interviews

Outcome

Effectiveness of media advocacy activities (increasing policymakers awareness, achieving a policy change or increased funding to clinics)

Gowda 2008 [43]

Study setting

Health topic: water fluoridation

Northland, New Zealand

Population

Target of media intervention: the general public and policymakers

Characteristics of the media intervention

Fluoridation advocacy program including policy advocacy, community action projects and media advocacy.

Media advocacy included proactive and reactive media releases in local newspapers, letters to the editors of various communities and local newspapers. Other channels used were the provision of information on the District Health Boards (DHB) websites, participation in newspapers and radio interviews (e.g., talkback shows on the radio) and information through school newsletters. Positive messages were released to the media from Northland DHB and a network of supporters was established to respond to any letters or other initiatives from opponents of community water fluoridation. The timing of the positive publicity and reopening of the fluoridation issue was important in gaining support from other health professionals, Māori health providers, PHOs and the community.

Date: 2005

Level: district

Type of media: print media (newspapers), broadcast media (radio), electronic media (District Health Boards websites)

Organizer: Northland District Health Board

Study design

Quantitative and qualitative methods (process evaluation)

Data sources:

-Written documents

-Field notes from direct observation and participation

- -Outcomes of community surveys

Outcome

- Support of the water fluoridation measure and adoption of fluoridation policy

Niederdeppe 2007 [45]

Study setting

Health topic: Tobacco control

State of FL, USA

Population

Target of media intervention: policymakers and the general public

Characteristics of the media intervention

The Florida Tobacco Control Program’s (FTCP) media advocacy strategy, a secondary program component, involved sending press releases and working with reporters to promote FTCP programs, media training for local SWAT leaders and promoting media events coordinated with local SWAT activities.

Date: FTCP was launched in 1998

Level: state

Type of media: print media and Broadcast media

Organizer: Florida Tobacco Control Program (FTCP)

Study design

Quantitative design (event history analysis)

Data sources:

-Content analysis of news coverage

-Surveys

Outcome

- Passage of tobacco product placement ordinances

Rock 2011 [49]

Study setting

Health topic: food insecurity

Canada

Population

Target of media intervention: policymakers and the general public

Characteristics of the media intervention

Media advocacy:

The media intervention conveyed the message that food insecurity is a serious population health problem. The media intervention was implemented in an effort to increase public awareness about the negative effects of poverty on health in conjunction with the publication of a study comparing the perspectives of food-insecure and food-secure Canadians. The intervention included

-News conference

-Communication with journalists

-Video news release (VNR) and DVDs

-Media release

Date: 2008

Level: national

Type of media: print media, broadcast media and electronic media

Organizer: University of Calgary

Study design

Qualitative design (content analysis)

Data sources:

-Media stories (to track media coverage)

-Emails (to track reactions from government representatives and social service providers)

-Hansard (the traditional name of the transcripts of Parliamentary Debates)

-Telephone and face-to-face communication

Outcome

- Reactions of policymakers to media coverage