- It is currently estimated that the Mexican population between the ages of 13 and 18 spent an average of approximately 323 minutes watching television.
- Although it remains a mass media, in recent years it has lost relevance compared to digital platforms.
- A doctor did an analysis of the doctors who appear as guests on TV shows and identified that the majority meet some characteristics.
Health is so important that it is an area that attracts the mass media. One of its functions is to explain to the audience everything related to certain diseases. For the same reason, it is possible to permanently observe doctors appear in interviews on television or digital platforms, but do you know what their characteristics are?
Talk about complex issues for the general population
From the beginning of the pandemic, it was a constant to see different health professionals appear as guests on television programs. Its main function was explain what Covid-19 was and offer some advice to avoid contagion.
Although in reality it is a situation that has occurred a long time before and can be applied to any disease. Whenever an anniversary approaches, the most natural thing to do is invite a health expert to offer a few words.
One of the biggest unknowns is about the way in which doctors are selected to appear in the media. One requirement that they must meet is to have an ease with words. It is of little use to have an impressive resume if your ability to speak is limited.
Characteristics of doctors who appear on television
In this case, caring for a patient in the office is not the same as offering explanations in front of a camera. You can have enough knowledge but the important thing is to manage your nerves.
Similarly, the hand movement and voice control are fundamental items. While another important aspect is to avoid the use of technical terms. It can never be forgotten that the audience is not a health expert and that is why clear and simple explanations must be offered.
With the above in mind, Dr. Alberto Lifshitz, who is a graduate of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has a specialty in Internal Medicine, made an analysis on the subject.
He focused on the doctors who often appear on television programs and came to the conclusion that they meet some characteristics and stereotypes.
- Attractive Hollywood style physique.
- personal slovenliness
- Surgical uniform even on the street.
- Stethoscope around the neck and not in the ears.
- Messy and complicated personal lives.
- Hypersexuality and promiscuity with obsessive traits.
- Only instrumental interest in the patient.
- Slaves of technology.
- Wild competition.
- schematic knowledge.
Alberto Lifshitz says in the @ANacionalMed what are some characteristics of doctors on television pic.twitter.com/K4rKa06vly
— German Fajardo Dolci (@germanfajardo) February 23, 2023
In this case, it is striking that it speaks of the importance of physical appearance. In the end, even though they only have a brief appearance on screen, most of the interviewees meet all the beauty standards.
In fact, looking back, it is very unlikely to see doctors with obesity, brown complexion, or any other physical defect on television shows.
For now, do you agree with the aforementioned characteristics of doctors who appear as guests on television shows?
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