Communicating Public Health Information

As the first of its kind, this book provides a comprehensive approach to help public health practitioners in both the public and private sector to improve their ability to communicate with different audiences. From the news media to legislators, and from visual communication to electronic communication, every chapter provides practical, With real-world recommendations and examples on how to communicate public health information to nonscientific audiences more effectively. The knowledge and skills gleaned from this book will assist with planning and executing simple and complex communication activities commonly done by public health practitioners. "In order to compete in this increasingly competitive and complex environment, those of us in public health must make the science and art of communication as integral a part of our everyday activities as the science of epidemiology and disease control.

The authors summarize and synthesize research on the selection and presentation of data pertinent to public health and provide practical suggestions, based on this research summary and synthesis, on how scientists and other public health practitioners can better communicate data to the public, policy makers and the press.

The Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Population Health Improvement brings together individuals and organizations that represent different sectors in a dialogue about what is needed to improve population health. On September 22, 2014, the roundtable held a workshop to discuss some of the science of health communication, audiences, and messaging, and to explore what it will take to generate widespread awareness, acceptance, and action to improve health, including through the entertainment media, the news media, and social media. This report summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop.

The field of communications is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool in addressing the world's most imperative public health challenges. Effective communication in health campaigns fosters public debate and policy change, in addition to informing and empowering individuals and persuading them to adopt healthier lifestyles Featuring a full chapter on informatics, Essentials of Public Health Communication is devoted to the competencies in public health communication and informatics recommended by the Association of Schools of Public Health. This text introduces concepts and examples that will prepare students to enter a local health department, community organization, or government agency, and contribute to health communication research, patient counseling, materials design, program management, and media relations Essentials of Public Health Communication presumes no prior knowledge of the health communication or informatics fields, making it accessible to students from a broad range of disciplines. Concepts are presented in clear, jargon-free language, with terms defined throughout

Public health officials are constantly dispensing important health information to the masses through various media outlets. This comprehensive, practical new book teaches important skills and techniques to communicate public health issues effectively, including: health communication in emergency preparedness; the importance of social marketing techniques; public-private partnerships; building direct links between communication and health service delivery by way of pragmatic strategies; maximizing information reach through interdisciplinary planning; and much more.

This volume argues the case that public health communication has affected health behavior. It brings together 16 studies of large-scale communication in a variety of substantive health areas--tobacco, drugs, AIDS, family planning, heart disease, childhood disease, highway safety--prepared by the authors who did the original research. These studies show important effects and illustrate the central conditions for success. The book also includes complementary analytic chapters which provide a meta-analysis of published results, some approaches to developing communication interventions, and alternative methods for evaluation of public health communication projects. Including studies based on communication programs in the United States, as well as projects done elsewhere in the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, this book: *offers a broad presentation of the alternative research designs that have been used to evaluate public health communication programs; *includes a great range of approaches from field experiments and natural experiments to simple before-after and complex time series designs, using data gathered from individuals and from archives; and *utilizes an innovative perspective on how to exercise public health communication from a leading and thoughtful practitioner. As such, it is required reading for scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers in public health, health communication, health psychology, and related areas.

"During public health emergencies, people need to know what health risks they face, and what actions they can take to protect their health and lives. Accurate information provided early, often, and in languages and channels that people understand, trust and use, enables individuals to make choices and take actions to protect themselves, their families and communities from threatening health hazards." -- Publisher's description.

"This is a timely discussion of using new information technologies and media for communicating diverse health information to diverse audiences. This book is useful, readable, current, well organized, and seems to be a unique contribution." --Doody's "In this volume there are examples of how advances in technology not only empower individuals in their interactions with a health system but also enable health professionals to better tailor their work and time for the benefit of patients and clients." -Paul R. Gully, MB, ChB, FRCPC, FFPH,World Health Organization, Geneva Switzerland (From the Foreword) To date, little guidance exists for health care professionals who want and need new ways to communicate health information with each other, their patients, and the general public. To address this need, Health Communication in the New Media Landscape presents innovative, media-based methods of communication to graduate students, educators, health care professionals, public health officials, and communication experts. Health Communication in the New Media Landscape demonstrates the extent to which modern, digital technology can serve as the most practical and efficient form of distributing health-related information. The authors are confident that, if implemented wisely, technology can and will transform the face of health communication as we know it. This unique book addresses the following: The role technology can and will play in health communication How new media can be used to improve health literacy How patients can learn about health-related issues and health care New ways practitioners will be able to communicate with their patients How persons with chronic diseases learn about resources, support systems, and rehabilitation The impact of the new media landscape on health care providers, insurance companies, and health care policies