Epilepsy through the eyes of the media: A paradox of positive reporting and challenges of access to advanced neurotechnology.

Epilepsy through the eyes of the media: A paradox of positive reporting and challenges of access to advanced neurotechnology. Epilepsy Behav. 2020 Jun 13;111:107200 Authors: Munjal V, Arakelyan M, McDonald PJ, Illes J Abstract OBJECTIVE: Media coverage of disorders and medical advancements can impact public perception regarding the riskiness, effectiveness, and accessibility of treatment options. We studied that coverage for epilepsy with a focus on surgical interventions and emerging neurotechnologies. METHODS: Epilepsy-related English language articles published through 2019 were retrieved from online International news media with a circulation of 80,000 or above. We used directed content analysis of news articles to code content into a priori categories both to identify salient themes and to characterize their valence. RESULTS: One hundred forty-six unique articles matched our search terms. Overall, there was a steady increase in epilepsy reporting over time, with a majority of articles published with a positive tone. Neuromodulation was the focus of over 50% of all the articles in the time points analyzed. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and deep-brain stimulation (DBS) were discussed more prominently than other types of neurotechnological interventions; VNS was the neurotechnological focus in 39% of the pediatric articles; resective surgery was the focus in 34% of adult articles. Access, support, and epilepsy liter...
Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Epilepsy Behav Source Type: research