Cultivation Effects of Medical Television Viewing on Aspiring Doctors

Abstract

Using a cultivation analysis approach, this study involved analysis of the effects of media drama viewing on the career choices, career perceptions, and career motivations of pre-medical students. Survey questions investigate the intersection of medical television programming, pre-medical coursework, and other sources of career information in producing career perceptions, as well as motivations and reasoning for choosing a medical career. Television viewing was linked to an increased rating of the prevalence of cancer and lower levels of some aspects of intrinsic motivation. Medical documentary viewing had a positive relationship with ratings of common diseases, particularly heart disease. Higher ratings of intrinsic motivation were linked to more direct experience in the health field, defined as shadowing, volunteering, or having a paid position in a medical setting.