Inaccuracies and exaggerations (Health Coverage)

Exaggerated or simplistic media coverage on health issues is often blamed for affecting public health (Sumner et al., 2016). For example, MacDonald and Hoffman-Goetz (2002) have shown that cancer information in newspapers frequently contained inaccuracies in the past. However, more recent findings suggest that inaccuracies, like an oversimplified language, and exaggerations are already present in health news press releases (Brechman et al., 2009; Sumner et al., 2016).  Field of application/theoretical founation: Health communication, science communication Example studies: Brechman et al. (2009); MacDonald & Hoffman-Goetz (2002); Sumner et al. (2014); Sumner et al. (2016)   Information on Brechman et al., 2009 Authors: Jean M- Brechman, Chul-joo Lee, Joseph N. Cappella Research question: The study explores the communication of genetic science to the lay public. To address this issue, this study compares the presentation of genetic research relating to cancer outcomes and behaviors (i.e., prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, smoking and obesity) in the press release (N = 23) to the presentation in the subsequent news coverage (N = 71). Object of analysis: The total sample included N = 71 articles on gene/cancer-outcome discoveries from major U.S. newspapers (no further information) as well as all corresponding press releases (N  = 23) from institution web sites and EurekAlert! or PRNewswire (electronic archives of releases for science writers). Time frame of analysis: July 2004 to June 2007 Info about variables Variables: Coding schema to capture conceptual and contextual differences between information presented in the press release and information presented in related news coverage; codes used to make these distinctions included overgeneralization/ simplification, assimilation of speculation into fact, contradiction, and level of specificity/qualifying information. Reliability: In order to assess reliability, five cases containing 109 claims were coded by two independent coders. Overall agreement was 79.8%. Level of analysis: Central claims on genetic research relating to cancer outcomes and behaviors in press release and media articles   Information on MacDonald & Hoffman-Goetz, 2009 Authors: Megan M. MacDonald, Laurie Hoffman-Goetz Research question: The purpose of this study was to determine whether cancer articles in Canadian newspapers provide accurate cancer information relative to the original scientific sources of the information and the extent of mobilizing information about cancer prevention and treatment. A second objective was to determine whether newspaper circulation size influenced the accuracy of reporting of cancer information. Object of analysis: From a total of 38 newspapers serving Ontario, the top 5 and bottom 5 newspapers in terms of circulation were identified for extreme group comparisons. All articles including the term “cancer” in the headline were extracted and a random sampling led to a total sample of N = 306 articles, including The Toronto Star (n = 63), The Ottawa Citizen (n = 49), The Hamilton Spectator (n = 53), The London Free Press (n = 42) and The Windsor Star (n = 30) as top 5 newspapers as well as. the Pembroke Daily Observer (n = 12), Lindsay Daily Post (n = 20), Northern Daily News (Kirkland Lake) (n = 12), Cobourg Daily Star (n = 10) and The Daily Miner & News (Kenora) (n = 15) as bottom 5. Time frame of analysis: 1991 Info about variables Variables: The accuracy of each article was assessed using the following criteria: misleading title, treating speculation as fact, erroneous information, omitting important results and omitting qualifications or caveats to findings. Reliability: The articles were coded separately by the researchers using the identified criteria. Where discrepancies occurred in coding results, these were discussed until a consensus was met. Consensus discussions occurred early in data collection to allow this process to inform and direct future coding (no further information provided). Level of analysis: article   Information on Sumner et al., 2014 Authors: Petroc Sumner, Solveiga Vivian-Griffiths, Jacky Boivin, Andy Williams, Christos A Venetis, Aimée Davis, Jack Ogden, Leanne Whelan, Bethan Hughes, Bethan Dalton, Fred Boy, Christopher D Chambers Research question: The study examines whether the press release or the news article are the source of distortions, exaggerations, or changes to the main conclusions drawn from research that could potentially influence a reader’s health related behaviour. Object of analysis: Press releases (n = 462) on biomedical and health related science issued by 20 leading UK universities, alongside their associated peer reviewed research papers and news stories (n = 668). Time frame of analysis: 2011 Info about variables Variables: Taking the peer reviewed paper as a baseline, the authors sought cases where news stories offered advice to readers, made causal claims, or inferred relevance to humans beyond (or different to) that stated in the associated peer reviewed paper. Given the likelihood that some statements in journal articles themselves would be considered exaggerated by other scientists in the specialty, the overall levels of measured exaggeration are likely to be underestimates. The authors then asked whether such discrepancies were already present in the corresponding press release. For example, if a study reported a correlation between stress and wine consumption and the news story claimed that wine causes stress, what did the press release say? Similarly, if a news story claimed a new treatment for humans but the study was on rodents, what did the press release say? Full coding guidelines: https://figshare.com/articles/InSciOut/903704 “Is there a generalisation?”: these variables provide information on whether exaggerations have occurred between the journal article and abstract, press release, or news report(s) No generalisation – yes/ no minor generalisation - yes/ no major generalisation - yes/ no Justification offered for generalisation between actual study and abstract / press release /news report - yes/ no Reliability: no information provided Level of analysis: article   Information on Sumner et al., 2016 Authors: Petroc Sumner, Solveiga Vivian-Griffiths, Jacky Boivin, Andrew Williams, Lewis Bott, Racel Adams, Christos A Venetis, Aimée Davis, Leanne Whelan, Bethan Hughes, Christopher D Chambers Research question: Recent findings suggested many exaggerations in the portrayal of health information were already present in university press releases, which scientists approve. Surprisingly, these exaggerations were not associated with more news coverage. This study examines whether these two controversial results also arise in press releases from prominent science and medical journals. Object of analysis: press releases (n = 534) on biomedical and health-related science issued by leading peer-reviewed journals. The authors similarly analysed the associated peer-reviewed papers (n = 534) and news stories (n = 582). Time frame of analysis: 2011 Info about variables Variables: The process of data extraction and analysis was identical to that in Sumner et al. (2014). Full coding guidelines: https://figshare.com/articles/InSciOut/903704   References Brechman, J. M., Lee, C.?J., & Cappella, J. N. (2009). Lost in Translation? A Comparison of Cancer-Genetics Reporting in the Press Release and its Subsequent Coverage in Lay Press. Science Communication, 30(4), 453–474. https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547009332649 MacDonald, M. M., & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2002). A Retrospective Study of the Accuracy of Cancer Information in Ontario Daily Newspapers. Canadian Journal of Public Health / Revue Canadienne De Sante'e Publique, 93(2), 142–145. www.jstor.org/stable/41993460 Sumner, P., Vivian-Griffiths, S., Boivin, J., Williams, A., Venetis, C. A., Davies, A., Ogden, J., Whelan, L., Hughes, B., Dalton, B., Boy, F., & Chambers, C. D. (2014). The association between exaggeration in health related science news and academic press releases: Retrospective observational study. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 349, g7015. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g7015 Sumner, P., Vivian-Griffiths, S., Boivin, J., Williams, A., Bott, L., Adams, R., Venetis, C. A., Whelan, L., Hughes, B., & Chambers, C. D. (2016). Exaggerations and Caveats in Press Releases and Health-Related Science News. PloS One, 11(12), e0168217. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.016821

Stigmatization (Health Coverage)

Media descriptions of mental illness and the mentally ill are often characterized by stigmatization. For example, in media coverage mental illnesses are often associated with crimes and violence (Ma, 2017). In consequence, patients are presented not only as peculiar and different, but also as dangerous. Thus, the media maintain misconceptions and stigma (Klin & Lemish, 2008; Srivastava et al., 2018). Field of application/theoretical foundation: Health communication, anti-stigma communication, anti-stigma research, stigmatization Example studies: Carpiniello et al. (2007); McGinty et al. (2014)   Information on Carpiniello et al. 2007 Authors: Bernardo Carpiniello, Roberta Girau, Maria Germana Orrù Research questions: The study explores the portrayal of mental illness in Italy’s leading national and regional newspapers, asking whether a different pattern emerged in describing criminal offences committed by the mentally ill in reports relating to homicides, suicide, and other acts of violence. Object of analysis: The total sample included N = 2279 all articles relating to homocides, suicides or attempted suicides as well as acts of violence in two leading Italian newspapers (Corriere della Sera, n = 387 and La Repubblica, n = 375) and the two leading regional newspapers (L'Unione Sarda, n = 783 and La Nuova Sardegna, n = 733) Time frame of analysis: October 2002 to March 2003 Info about variables Variables: For each article it was coded whether or not the criminal offence had been attributed to a mentally ill person (actions were deemed to have been attributed to the mentally ill only when clearly stated or strongly alluded to by the author of the article) as well as use of stigmatizing language (Penrose-Wall et al., 1999) Reliability: No information Level of analysis: News article Topics Homicide Suicide Attempted suicide Homicide + suicide Sex-related violence Other violent acts Attribution to a mentally ill person yes no Stigmatizing language Fool/ foolishness Monster/ monstrosity Maniac/ maniacality Mad/ madness Insane/ insanity Lunatic   References Carpiniello, B., Girau, R., & Orrù, M. G. (2007). Mass-media, violence and mental illness. Evidence from some Italian newspapers. Epidemiologia E Psichiatria Sociale, 16(3), 251–255. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1121189x00002359 Klin, A., & Lemish, D. (2008). Mental disorders stigma in the media: Review of studies on production, content, and influences. Journal of Health Communication, 13(5), 434–449. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730802198813 Ma, Z. (2017). How the media cover mental illnesses: a review. Health Education, 117(1), 90–109. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-01-2016-0004 McGinty, E. E., Webster, D. W., Jarlenski, M., & Barry, C. L. (2014). News media framing of serious mental illness and gun violence in the United States, 1997-2012. American Journal of Public Health, 104(3), 406–413. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301557 Penrose-Wall, J., Baume, P., & Martin, G. (1999). Achieving the balance: A resource kit for Australian media professionals for the reporting and portrayal of suicide and mental illnesses. Publications Production Unit (Public Affairs, Parliamentary and Access Branch), Commonwealth Dept. of Health and Aged Care. Srivastava, K., Chaudhury, S., Bhat, P. S., & Mujawar, S. (2018). Media and mental health. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 27(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_73_1

Die Mischung macht's

Der Ausbruch der Corona-Pandemie stellte Eltern und Kinder weltweit vor Herausforderungen und löste Unsicherheiten aus. Eltern mussten neben dem Alltag Homeoffice, Betreuungsaufgaben und die Begleitung des Homeschoolings ihrer Kinder bewältigen. Insbesondere die Schliessung der Kindestagesstätten und Schulen sowie Ausgangsbeschränkungen veränderten die familiären Tagesabläufe, was mit einer erhöhten Mediennutzung von Heranwachsenden und Erwachsenen einherging. Der Aufsatz untersucht auf Basis der Parental-Mediation-Theorie, welche Mediationsstrategien der kindlichen Mediennutzung Eltern während des ersten Lockdowns generell und bezogen auf Informationen über das Corona-Virus einsetzten, inwiefern sie diese Strategien pandemiebedingt anpassten und welche Faktoren bestimmten, für welche Form der Medienregulation sich Eltern entschieden. Er basiert auf Leitfadeninterviews (n = 55) sowie einer Onlinebefragung von Eltern mit Kindern im Alter von drei bis 18 Jahren (n = 146). Die Befunde zeigen, dass Eltern erstens verschiedene Mediationsstrategien miteinander kombinierten, diese zweitens in der Pandemie situativ den kindlichen Bedürfnisse anpassten und drittens Kind-, Eltern- und Kontextfaktoren die Wahl der Mediationsstrategie bestimmten.The outbreak of the Corona pandemic posed challenges and resolved uncertainties for parents and children worldwide. Parents had to cope with home office, childcare responsibilities, and accompanying their children’s homeschooling in addition to everyday life. In particular, daycare and school closures and curfew restrictions altered family routines, which was accompanied by increased media use by adolescents and adults. Drawing on parental mediation theory, this paper examines the mediation strategies of childen’s media use parents used during the first lockdown in general and in relation to information about the Corona virus, the extent to which they adapted these strategies in response to the pandemic, and the factors that determined which form of media regulation parents chose. It is based on guided interviews (n = 55) and an online survey of parents with children aged three to 18 (n = 146). The findings show that parents firstly combined different mediation strategies, secondly adapted them in the pandemic depending on the situation and the child’s needs, and thirdly that child, parent, and context factors determined the choice of mediation strategy

Family involvement in the context of chronic diseases: The role of social support in treatment decision-making for surgical procedures

If medical decision-making about complex treatment options (such as surgical procedures) is challenging for patients, family members can provide them with advice and health information. Previous research about family involvement in health communication has largely focused on cancer patients. Thus, it lacks an examination of family involvement in surgery decision-making in the context of non-life-threatening chronic diseases like arthrosis. In particular, we focus on the role of social support for family involvement in these situations. Against this background, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with arthrosis patients and their family members (n = 32 patients; n = 8 relatives). To better understand family involvement in surgery decision-making, three research questions were analyzed: (1) What are the perceived characteristics of the arthroplasty decisional process? (2) Which patterns of family involvement exist with regard to social support? (3) What general circumstances are relevant for family involvement? Our results demonstrate that social support plays an important role in the patterns of family decision-making. Instrumental, emotional, and informational support can indirectly enhance family involvement in decision-making. In addition, relatives are also directly involved in decision-making processes and may instigate the decision. The type of family involvement is influenced by characteristics of the decision-making situation. In addition to personal factors and the relationship with the physician, which is perceived as less supportive, the need for familial decisional support intensifies.Besonders wenn medizinische Entscheidungen zu komplexen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten (wie operativen Eingriffen) von den Patienten als Herausforderung wahrgenommen werden, können Familienmitglieder sie mit Rat und Gesundheitsinformationen unterstützen. Die bisherige Forschung hat sich größtenteils auf die Beteiligung von Familienmitgliedern in der Gesundheitskommunikation bei Krebserkrankungen fokussiert. Daher mangelt es an Untersuchungen, die die Familienbeteiligung bei nicht-lebensbedrohlichen chronischen Krankheiten wie Arthrose betrachten. Wir fokussieren im Besonderen die Rolle der sozialen Unterstützung für die Beteiligung von Familienangehörigen in solchen Situationen. Vor diesem Hintergrund, haben wir qualitative Leitfadeninterviews mit Arthrose-Patienten und ihren Familienmitgliedern durchgeführt (n = 32 Patienten; n = 8 Angehörige). Um die Beteiligung von Angehörigen bei medizinischen Entscheidungen besser zu verstehen, wurden drei Fragestellungen analysiert: (1) Was sind die wahrgenommenen Eigenschaften der Entscheidungssituation für die Implantation einer Endoprothese? (2) Welche Muster der der familiären Beteiligung existieren hinsichtlich der sozialen Unterstützungsfunktionen? (3) Welche generellen Rahmenbedingungen sind relevant für die Beteiligung der Familienmitglieder? Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die soziale Unterstützung eine wichtige Rolle für die Beteiligung der Familienmitglieder an medizinischen Entscheidungen spielt. Instrumentelle, emotionale und informationelle Unterstützung können die Beteiligung indirekt erhöhen. Außerdem sind die Familienmitglieder auch direkt am Entscheidungsprozess beteiligt und initiieren die Entscheidungsfindung. Die Art der Beteiligung wird durch Merkmale der Entscheidungssituation beeinflusst. Neben Eigenschaften der Personen, spielt hierbei die Beziehung zum Arzt eine wichtige Rolle. Diese wird teilweise als wenig unterstützend wahrgenommen, was den Bedarf der Patienten an Unterstützung durch die Familienangehörigen erhöht

Gender differences in gratifications from fitness app use and implications for health interventions

Previous research has shown gender differences in the motivations to be physically active, in mobile phone gratifications, and social media usage, but so far these areas have not been studied together. Based on the uses and gratification approach and self-determination theory, we aimed to identify gender-specific gratifications and determinants of fitness app usage in combination with fitness-related Facebook groups. Results of an online survey (N = 171) and of a mobile experience sampling method (N = 31) revealed that the app Runtastic was primarily used for achieving goals and to improve enjoyment for physical activity, with men and older participants sharing results with others in Facebook groups more often than women and younger participants. Conclusions regarding genderspecific targeting strategies and user-centered design and content of mHealth features are presented

How to tell the kids? Parental crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic

Crisis communication in a pandemic is challenging for parents, who have to explain risks and prevention measures to their children without transferring their own worries. Studies about crises indicate, that inappropriate crisis communication with children can ignite fears, worries, and even trauma among them. Recommended parental communication strategies in such situations are: (1) to consider developmental level to ensure comprehensibility; (2) to address age-related concerns; and (3) to use naturally occurring situations to talk about the crisis. However, the application of such strategies during a world-wide crisis is not known yet. Thus, we analyzed how parents explained their children the COVID-19 pandemic, which media they used, and which situations they employed. Following a mixed-method approach, semi-structured interviews (n = 55) and an online survey (n = 146) were conducted with parents in Germany. We identified three types of parental crisis communication (use of children-specific media, co-use of adult media, personal talk), found differences due to the developmental stage of the children, and recognized how parents used daily life activities for crisis talk. In sum, parents mostly employed forms of crisis communication recommended by experts, although they were sometimes hindered by the high burdens of their own emotional and organizational challenges

Anschlusskommunikation in Gesundheitskrisen: Die interpersonale Kommunikation zur Medienberichterstattung über die COVID-19 Pandemie

In Gesundheitskrisen wie der COVID-19-Pandemie stellt die massenmediale Berichterstattung eine zentrale Informationsquelle dar. Sie wird dabei nicht nur individuell genutzt und verarbeitet, sondern auch gemeinsam rezipiert, im sozialen Umfeld besprochen oder in Sozialen Medien diskutiert. Wie sich die interpersonale Kommunikation über pandemiebezogene Berichterstattung gestaltet, ist jedoch selten beforscht worden. Der Beitrag widmet sich daher der Anschlusskommunikation zur Medienberichterstattung in der COVID-19-Pandemie. In einer qualitativen Interviewstudie mit 22 Teilnehmenden fragen wir nach (a) Kommunikationspartner:innen, (b) den kommunikativen Rollen innerhalb der Anschlusskommunikation, (c) den Funktionen der Anschlusskommunikation sowie (d) nach potentiellen Veränderungen im Zeitverlauf. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Anschlusskommunikation (a) insbesondere mit Familie und Freund:innen im direkten sozialen Umfeld stattfindet, aber auch zur Entstehung neuer Beziehungen beiträgt. Sie erfolgt (b) vor allem auf Augenhöhe, sodass die Rolle der Austauscher:innen dominiert, wobei manche Personen als Multiplikator:innen fungieren. Die Anschlusskommunikation erfüllt (c) die Funktion des Teilens und Erhaltens von Informationen, der Informationsvalidierung und gemeinsamen Wahrheitssuche sowie dem Coping mit negativen Emotionen. Veränderungen im Zeitverlauf (d) sind vor allem mit Blick auf das (Themen-)Interesse und die Kommunikationsrollen zu beobachten.In health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, mass media coverage is a key source of information. It is not only used and processed individually, but also used collectively, discussed within people’s personal social network, or on social media. However, how interpersonal communication about pandemic-related media coverage is shaped has rarely been researched. This chapter therefore addresses the follow-up communication about media coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a qualitative interview study with 22 participants, we ask about (a) the communication partners, (b) the communicative roles within the follow-up communication, (c) the functions of the follow-up communication, as well as (d) potential changes over time. The results show that follow-up communication (a) takes place especially with family and friends in the immediate social network, but also contributes to the formation of new relationships. It takes place (b) primarily at eye level, so that the role of the exchanger dominates, with some people acting as multipliers. The follow-up communication fulfills (c) the function of sharing and receiving information, information validation and joint truth-seeking, as well as coping with negative emotions. Changes over time can (d) particularly be observed with regard to (topic) interest and communication roles

#Covid, Sanitary Report und Pesttraktate: Gesundheitskommunikation in Pandemiezeiten von "Corona" zurück bis ins Mittelalter

(Globale) Pandemien stellen das Gesundheitshandeln und die Gesundheitskommunikation von Gesellschaften seit jeher vor enorme Herausforderungen. Obgleich sich Pandemien im Laufe der Geschichte stark unterschieden haben und sich in divergierenden historischen Kontexten ereigneten, so ähnelt sich dennoch der Umgang mit und die Kommunikation zu pandemischen Krisen zu unterschiedlichen historischen Zeitpunkten. In diesem Beitrag blicken wir auf die Gesundheitskommunikation rund um pandemische Krisen in verschiedenen Epochen und unterschiedlichen Medien- und Kommunikationslandschaften und fokussieren auf die historischen Gemeinsamkeiten der Pandemiekommunikation. Auf Basis einer inhaltlichen Strukturierung und in Anlehnung an die Lasswell-Formel arbeiten wir dabei die historischen Analogien der Pandemiekommunikation mit Blick auf die Kommunikator*innen, Medieninhalte, Medien- und Kommunikationskanäle, das Publikum sowie deren Medienwirkungen heraus und identifizieren spezifische überzeitliche Phänomene und Muster der pandemischen Kommunikation.(Global) pandemics have always posed enormous challenges to societies' health actions and health communication. Although pandemics have varied greatly throughout history and have occurred in divergent historical contexts, the way pandemic crises have been handled and communicated at different historical stages is nevertheless similar. In this chapter, we look at health communication about pandemic crises in different eras and within different media and communication landscapes and focus on the historical commonalities of pandemic communication. On the basis of a content-based structuring and following Lasswell's formula, we delineate the historical analogies of pandemic communication with regard to communicators, media content, media and communication channels, the audience as well as media effects, and identify specific overarching phenomena and patterns of pandemic communication

Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven auf vergangene Gesundheitskommunikation

In dieser Einführung des Open-Access-Sammelbandes "Gesundheitskommunikation und Geschichte. Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven" stellen wir die Beiträge und ihre verbindenden Elemente sowie die Zielstellungen des Sammelbandes vor. In diesem Band geht es darum zu überprüfen, ob man voneinander lernen kann: Der Band versammelt geschichts-, kultur- und kommunikationswissenschaftliche Zugänge auf die Historizität des Redens, Schreibens und Zeigens der Bedingungen von Gesundheit und Krankheit. Sein Ziel ist, im Zusammenklang seiner Artikel mögliche interdisziplinäre Perspektiven, Zugänge, Materialien und Methoden auszuloten. Wir wollen tastend erfragen, ob und inwieweit die gegenseitige Irritation, die interdisziplinäre Vorhaben auslösen, nicht nur verunsichert, sondern auch eine konstruktive Unruhe auslöst. Dafür bietet der Band verschiedene Zugangswege durch unterschiedliche Strukturierungsansätze an. Dementsprechend werden die Beiträge anhand der (1) Gesundheitsthemen, der (2) Chronologien sowie Kontinuitäten, Analogien und Brüchen, der (3) Kommunikationsformate und (4) der damit verbundenen Sammlungen bzw. Institutionen vorgestellt. Abschließend werden auch Hinweise zu den ergänzenden digitalen Materialien gegeben.In this introduction to the open access anthology "Gesundheitskommunikation und Geschichte. Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven" ["Health Communication and History. Interdisciplinary Perspectives"] we present the individual articles and their links as well as the goals of the anthology. The anthology strives to test, whether we can learn from each other. It brings together approaches from history, cultural studies, and communication studies to the historicity of talking, writing, and showing about health, disease and illness. Its goal is to explore possible interdisciplinary perspectives, approaches, materials, and methods. We want to inquire tentatively whether and to what extent the mutual irritation triggered by interdisciplinary projects not only unsettles, but also triggers a constructive restlessness. For this purpose, the volume offers various accesses through different structuring approaches. Accordingly, the contributions will be described in terms of (1) health themes, (2) chronologies as well as historical continuities, analogies, and ruptures, (3) communication formats, and (4) related collections or institutions. Finally, notes on supplementary digital materials are provided

Visuelle Evidenzen aus historischer Perspektive: Politische Instrumentalisierung wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse in Gesundheitsausstellungen

Visuell präsentierte Belege werden in der Wissenschaftskommunikation nicht nur zur Veranschaulichung von wissenschaftlichen Zusammenhängen genutzt, sondern sie stehen mitunter auch stellvertretend für die Evidenz demonstrierter Sachverhalte und suggerieren Objektivität. Verschiedene (visuelle) Evidenzpraktiken können unterschieden werden, welche allerdings auch instrumentalisiert wurden und werden, um politische Strategien oder Ideologien zu legitimieren. Der Beitrag zeigt anhand unterschiedlicher visueller Evidenzen und Evidenzpraktiken in Gesundheitsausstellungen, wie diese in verschiedenen historischen Kontexten zur Wissenschaftskommunikation und politischen Instrumentalisierung eingesetzt wurden. Unsere explorative, historische Analyse zeigt, dass visuelle Evidenzen und Evidenzpraktiken gezielt für politische Propaganda unterschiedlicher politischer Systeme in Gesundheitsausstellungen des Deutschen Hygienemuseums Dresden eingesetzt wurden. Diese politische Instrumentalisierung visueller Evidenzen zeigt sich auch ganz aktuell in der Verbreitung von Falschinformationen zum Thema Impfen und COVID-1