Title: Cinema’s influence on people’s perception of healthcare: A cross-sectional study in the South Indian population
Abstract:
In the present era, media has transitioned from being a mere form of entertainment to a dominant presence that affects every facet of people's lives. Movies, in particular, often portray medical information and healthcare practices, which can influence public perceptions and behaviours. This is particularly significant in India, where actors often hold immense social influence, as demonstrated by the 2026 state assembly elections, in which a leading actor was elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Recently, there has been a rise in violence against healthcare professionals despite the regional laws in place to combat this issue. The objectives of this study are to assess the influence of movies on people's perceptions of healthcare and whether they affect people’s interactions with healthcare, and to analyse if misleading medical data in movies poses a threat to the public and healthcare workers. In this cross-sectional analytical study, conducted at ESIC Medical College & Hospital, K.K. Nagar, with 602 participants aged 18 and above who could speak Tamil or English, participants were assessed using a questionnaire after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. The questionnaire was validated after a pilot study by professors from Psychiatry, Statistics and Forensic Medicine. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests analysed links between age, education, gender, and health perceptions, with p<0.05. The participants were mostly female (63.6%; n=602) and young adults aged 18-30 (41.2%; n=602). Most participants (79%; n=602) doubted the realism of medical scenes in movies, and 39% (n=602) felt films portray healthcare negatively. Despite this, 89.5% (n=602) trusted their doctor’s advice over cinematic information (F (4) =1116.123; p=0.0001). Widespread awareness of movie-driven medical myths was noted, though a minority admitted that such misinformation could affect their beliefs or actions. Significant links were identified between demographics and health perceptions, which are further examined in this paper. This study aims to be the first step in recognising and understanding the specific mechanisms of this influence and help develop effective public health messaging and enhance patient education initiatives.
