TY - JOUR
T1 - A Kernel of truth? The impact of television storylines exploiting myths about organ donation on the public's willingness to donate
AU - Morgan, Susan E.
AU - King, Andy J.
AU - Smith, Jessica Rae
AU - Ivic, Rebecca
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - In this study, 580 participants viewed one of the 30 full-length entertainment television episodes. Fifteen of these episodes centered on an organ donation storyline (ODS) where facts about the process were portrayed inaccurately; the remaining 15 were matched by program, but did not feature organ donation, and served as controls. Results indicated nondonors were significantly impacted by negative organ-donation-related content. ODSs produced more negative attitudes, less accurate knowledge, and perceptions of social and descriptive norms less supportive of organ donation among nondonors. However, participants who had already declared a willingness to donate organs after death were not significantly impacted by entertainment television's depiction of myths about donation.
AB - In this study, 580 participants viewed one of the 30 full-length entertainment television episodes. Fifteen of these episodes centered on an organ donation storyline (ODS) where facts about the process were portrayed inaccurately; the remaining 15 were matched by program, but did not feature organ donation, and served as controls. Results indicated nondonors were significantly impacted by negative organ-donation-related content. ODSs produced more negative attitudes, less accurate knowledge, and perceptions of social and descriptive norms less supportive of organ donation among nondonors. However, participants who had already declared a willingness to donate organs after death were not significantly impacted by entertainment television's depiction of myths about donation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78149304847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2010.01523.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2010.01523.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78149304847
VL - 60
SP - 778
EP - 796
JO - Journal of Communication
JF - Journal of Communication
SN - 0021-9916
IS - 4
ER -