First Peppa Pig nearly got us all killed by spiders. Now she's bent on destroying the entire healthcare industry.

First Peppa Pig nearly got us all killed by spiders. Now she's bent on destroying the entire healthcare industry.

A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) warns the popular children's cartoon sets unrealistic expectations about the role of doctors, and may encourage inappropriate use of their services.

"I have often wondered why some patients immediately attempt to consult their GP about minor ailments of short duration," writes the paper's author, English doctor Catherine Bell.

"As the mother of a toddler and frequent witness to the children’s television series Peppa Pig, I might have discovered the answer."

Dr Brown Bear visits Peppa Pig and her classmates (Astley Baker Davies)



Bell analysed three episodes of Peppa Pig featuring Dr Brown Bear, the physician who treats the eponymous character's family, to untangle the dire impact the series might have on primary care.

In the first of the episodes, titled 'Not Very Well', Dr Bear visits the family's home and offers mediciation after Peppa develops an "erythematous maculopapular facial rash" — which Bell deems "an example of unnecessary prescribing for a viral illness, [which] encourages patients to attempt to access their GP inappropriately".

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In the second episode, 'George Catches a Cold', Peppa's brother George (spoiler alert) catches a cold.

Dr Bear is again summoned outside normal working hours, which Bell describes as "clinically inappropriate". However, she concedes the doctor's advice to offer George bed rest and warm milk "might encourage the family to self-manage similar illnesses in future" rather than seek urgent medical assistance.

In the third episode, 'Pedro's Cough', Dr Bear is once again sent for when a child in Peppa's playgroup develops a cough. He immediately administers a dose of unidentified pink medication — then later develops symptoms of the same cough, and is treated by the playgroup attendees and their parents.

Bell suspects this behaviour indicates Dr Bear may be suffering from professional "burnout".

"His disregard for confidentiality, parental consent, record keeping, and his self-prescribing indicate that the burden of demand from his patient population is affecting his health," she observes. "He is no longer able to offer the level of service his patients have come to expect."

These three cases, Bell suggests, are signs of Peppa Pig's toll on medicine.

"From (repeated, mostly involuntary) review of the subject material, I hypothesise that exposure to Peppa Pig and its portrayal of general practice raises patient expectation and encourages inappropriate use of primary care services," she concludes.

"Given that Peppa Pig is broadcast and encountered by parents in more than 180 countries worldwide, the influence of his portrayal of the work of primary care physicians is likely to be significant."

If you're thinking the study seems kind of… frivolous, well: it's published in the BMJ's annual Christmas issue, renowned for showcasing tongue-in-cheek research.

The 2017 edition also includes insights into how Big Ben's nocturnal chimes disturb nearby hospital patients' sleep, and why men's weaker immune systems justify their moaning during bouts of man flu.

Despite Bell's criticism of Peppa Pig, she acknowledges it "conveys many positive public health messages, encouraging healthy eating, exercise, and road safety" — though "further study is needed to confirm" the series' true impact on the medical profession.

"Dr Brown Bear was approached for his perspective on the cases discussed; however, he is unable to comment pending the outcome of a fitness to practise investigation," Bell notes.

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