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Media, Public Opinion and Health Care in Canada: How the Media Affect “The Way Things Are”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2008

Kelly Blidook
Kelly Blidook*
Affiliation:
Memorial University of Newfoundland
*
Kelly Blidook, Department of Political Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, [email protected]
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Abstract

Abstract. Health care has arguably been the most important issue in Canadian politics in the past decade. This paper focuses on the extent to which the media affect public perceptions of “the way things are” in the Canadian health care system. Individual perceptions of the state of health care are analyzed as being a function of personal experience with the system, loyalty or pre-formed opinions and the information that the individual receives through the media. Results indicate that media use has a significant effect on the likelihood of negative perceptions regarding the state of health care.

Résumé. Le système de soins de santé représente sans doute le thème dominant de la dernière décennie sur la scène politique canadienne. Cet article examine l'influence exercée par les médias sur les perceptions du public concernant «la situation courante» du système de soins de santé canadien. L'analyse présente les perceptions individuelles sur l'état du système comme étant le reflet de l'expérience personnelle, d'une loyauté ou d'une opinion préétablie et de l'information transmise par les médias. Les résultats indiquent que les médias ont une incidence importante sur d'éventuelles perceptions négatives concernant l'état du système de soins de santé.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 41 , Issue 2 , June 2008 , pp. 355 - 374
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 2008

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