Date created: | Last Updated:

Category: Project

Description: The objective of our study is to explore the overall nature and quality of messages conveyed by disease awareness campaigns recognised by the WHO, Cochrane, and the US government. Specifically, we will examine: • The balance and quality of messages about the benefits and harms of diagnosis, tests and interventions, and whether reference to high quality evidence is included • Whether messages about disease prevalence, definitions, symptoms, prognosis and consequences are balanced, and include reference to high quality evidence • The existence – and disclosure of – commercial conflicts of interests amongst the organisers, as well as sponsors and partners of the campaigns • Whether campaigns promote self-diagnosis • Whether campaigns unduly emphasise particular treatment options or the need to seek treatment