노년층 대상 텔레비전 건강정보 프로그램의 정보 제공 현황 분석

Abstract

This study analyzed the current state of health information provided by television programs targeting older adults. Five major health-related television programs broadcast in Korea between July 2024 and June 2025 were examined with a focus on three aspects: whether the information targeted older adults, the thematic categories of content, and the presence of sponsorship. Among 216 total episodes, 141 episodes (65.3%) contained health information for older adults. Based on the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) classification of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), “Others,” including menopause and aging, appeared most frequently, followed by Endocrine system, Nervous system, and Musculoskeletal diseases. According to the classification of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, “aging” was also the most frequent topic, followed by diabetes, cognitive impairment (including dementia and mild cognitive impairment), and osteoarthritis. The sponsorship structure varied by broadcasting type: public broadcasters did not include sponsorship, whereas all episodes of private broadcasters were sponsorship-based. These findings suggest that the commercial orientation of programs may affect the public credibility and objectivity of televised health information, underscoring the need for stricter review standards and ethical guidelines to ensure reliable health communication for the elderly.