Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Death, Dying, Violence and Aggression as Shown on Medical Television Series.

This study is looking into popular medical TV shows to see how they present topics like death, dying, and aggressive situations in hospitals. These shows are often made for entertainment and don't always show real hospital life. However, they can shape how people think about medicine. The researchers want to find out if the way death and end-of-life care are shown on TV matches what really happens, especially in intensive care. They also want to see how healthcare workers are treated in these shows, especially since there's been a rise in aggression towards staff. Understanding these portrayals could help us see if TV shows create unrealistic expectations or affect behaviour towards medical staff.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

King's College Hospital NHS Trust

Enrolment target

500

Start

10 May 2026

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

End of Life Care Violent Aggressive Behavior Television Viewing Media Use

What is this study about?

Medical TV shows like 'Casualty' and 'Holby City' are very popular, but they're mainly for fun and often don't show exactly what it's like in a real hospital. However, these shows are powerful because they can teach us things and influence how we think about doctors, nurses, and medical situations.

When someone is dying in a hospital, especially in intensive care, it's a very emotional and difficult time. Sometimes, what people expect because of what they've seen on TV is very different from what actually happens. This study wants to see how these big moments – like death, end-of-life care, and delivering difficult news – are shown on TV. If what's on screen doesn't match reality, it could cause patients and their families more stress and disappointment during these sensitive times.

The study also looks at how hospital staff are treated on medical TV. Sadly, there's been an increase in people being aggressive or violent towards healthcare workers, both verbally and physically. By looking at how this is shown on TV, the researchers hope to understand if these programmes might influence what kind of behaviour people see as acceptable towards doctors and nurses. This is especially important because concerns about violence against healthcare staff have grown since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key takeaways

The study watches medical TV shows, not people.
It aims to see how death and end-of-life care are shown.
Researchers also look at aggression towards hospital staff in these shows.
The goal is to understand if TV creates unrealistic expectations or influences behaviour.
No patients are recruited or asked to do anything.
The findings could help improve communication about healthcare.

Who may be eligible?

This study isn't actually looking for patients to take part. Instead, the researchers are watching medical TV shows to understand how certain situations are shown.

They are interested in scenes of violence that happen in a hospital between two or more people. This includes physical or verbal attacks that are clearly shown or heard.

They are also looking for scenes where a patient dies in the hospital. The death must be clearly shown on screen, like a flatlining heart monitor, or when a body is visibly covered. They won't count deaths that are only talked about or implied.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a medical TV show?
Do you show clear acts of violence within a hospital setting?
Do you visibly show a patient dying in the hospital?
Are these scenes part of a professional medical context?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study doesn't involve any people directly. Instead, the researchers will be watching and analysing episodes of popular medical television series. They will be looking for specific types of scenes that show death, dying, and aggression within a hospital setting. No one will be asked to visit a clinic or take any medication. The study involves researchers carefully observing and recording what they see on screen. There is no set duration for individual participation as it's not a direct patient study. It's a study of media content.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study involves watching and analysing television shows rather than directly involving patients, there are no direct risks or benefits for individual patients or participants. The potential benefit is a better understanding of how medical TV influences the public's perception of healthcare. This knowledge could help healthcare communicators address unrealistic expectations or discuss issues like aggression towards staff. As no individuals are participating, there is no right to withdraw for patients.

Locations (2)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Medical tv series
Verified postcode
Witten, Germany
Medical tv series
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What kind of TV shows are they looking at?

They're reviewing popular medical drama TV series that show hospital life.

Are real patients involved in this study?

No, this study is about TV shows, not real patients. No one needs to take part directly.

What specifically are they looking for in the shows?

They're looking at scenes showing death, end-of-life care, and any aggressive behaviour towards hospital staff.

Why is this study important?

It helps us understand if TV shows create unrealistic ideas about hospitals or affect how people treat healthcare workers.

Does this study involve new treatments or medicines?

No, this study is about media analysis, not medical treatments or medications.

How to find out more

Victoria Metaxa, Consultant

victoria.metaxa@nhs.net +447503117348 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.