Is Health Advocacy "Sexy?"

Okay, now that I've gotten your attention, I have to admit that this post is only very indirectly about sex.

Last Wednesday, Brown University was host to a presentation by Dr. Les Roberts, lead author of a Lancet study that estimates 655,000 Iraqi deaths since the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. This number is in stark contrast with the latest Pentagon count of 50,000 Iraqi civilian dead, and as such, it has generated much controversy--resulting in a public rejection by the Bush administration even as reports emerge of the British government acknowledging the study's accuracy.

Oddly enough, this controversy is one that's been largely ignored by the American press...

Roberts made many interesting points during his lecture at Brown, but some of his best insights came during the long question and answer session that followed. "Mortality statistics aren't a very sexy topic, he admitted. "It's what I call a fundamental topic--a category that includes activities of daily living, number of births, and the quality of our health care. The press is simply not very interested in covering 'fundamentals,' but unfortunately, these topics are really what society should be concerned about."

I thought this comment was particularly relevant for everyone involved in health advocacy. After all, it seems that we spend every waking moment involved with 'fundamentals'--i.e., taking care of the sick and making sure the healthy stay well. Yet, the success of our efforts to raise public awareness or to effect social change is very much linked to our ability to make a fundamental topic "sexy" enough to catch media attention. As Roberts' experience shows, even the most groundbreaking data can quickly be buried and ignored if this media outreach fails to take place.

The solution for making a fundamental topic "sexier" is nothing new. Indeed, Roberts mentioned that pictures and stories will always speak louder than statistical data and that this point holds true for the media and the public. As health advocates, it is very important that we don't forget this crucial fact. The truth is, we need to become more skilled at documenting and chronicling our experiences in the clinic or in everyday encounters related to health. Until we do so, the issues and patients we advocate for risk being forgotten and ignored by the public and the decision makers we need to reach.

-Margret

To view Dr. Les Roberts' lecture, please visit: https://email.brown.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://watsoninstitute.org/news_detail.cfm?id=599