The samples for each of these surveys, conducted between March and June of 1997, is weighted to be representative of all adults who watch at lest three out of four new episodes of the show. A show like ER has an opportunity to be a tremendous educational benefit to the public. The Kaiser Family Foundation's findings reveal that 53 percent of ER's regular viewers say they learn about important health care issues from the show. With 30 to 40 million viewers each week, the potential for reaching people is tremendous. If you feel that a health message in the media could benefit you, a friend or a family member, doctors and, even the show's producers, advise that you seek professional help.
Good information is only effective in the right hands.
Your doctor is still your best health care adviser. Choices are sometimes made for dramatic purposes and can misinform a viewer uneducated in medicine. Instead of accepting all the messages related both verbally and visually, write down terms, medications, anything important, then talk to your doctor, explain what you heard or saw, and ask how it applies to your situation. Preventive health care is of significant importance. Television programs like ER can provide a wide range of preventive information like the importance of seatbelts in preventing injury, how gun safety can save lives, or how people can protect against sexually transmitted infections.