Abstract
Problematic substance use is a pressing global health problem, and dissemination and implementation of accurate health information regarding prevention, treatment, and recovery are vital. In many nations, especially the US, many people are involved in religious groups or faith communities, and this offers a potential route to positively affect health through health information dissemination in communities that may have limited health resources. Health information related to addiction will be used as the backdrop issue for this discussion, but many health arenas could be substituted. This article evaluates the utility of commonly used health communication theories for communicating health information about addiction in religious settings and identifies their shortcomings. A lack of trusting, equally contributing, bidirectional collaboration among representatives of the clinical/scientific community and religious/faith communities in the development and dissemination of health information is identified as a potential impediment to effectiveness. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) tenets of trauma-informed practice, although developed for one-on-one use with those who have experienced trauma or adversity, are presented as a much more broadly applicable framework to improve communication between groups such as organizations or communities. As an example, we focus on health communication within, with, and through religious groups and particularly within churches.
Highlights
In cities and towns throughout the United States, people gather together in religious services
Faith Community Health Communication congregations, people attend for various purposes, some for worship, others to socialize, some for information sharing about their own lives as well as community, national, and global issues, and some because of a desire to enhance flourishing for themselves and others
Through an examination of the literature on health information dissemination in churches (Blevins et al, 2019) and the implicit communication theories which guide these practices, we propose an approach that may improve collaboration between the clinical/scientific community and the faith community, focusing on addiction while recognizing applications extend to many health conditions of interest
Summary
In cities and towns throughout the United States, people gather together in religious services. Through an examination of the literature on health information dissemination in churches (Blevins et al, 2019) and the implicit communication theories which guide these practices, we propose an approach that may improve collaboration between the clinical/scientific community and the faith community, focusing on addiction while recognizing applications extend to many health conditions of interest. Recognizing the potential contributions religious communities might make in addressing public health crises and the need for bidirectional partnerships as part of such efforts, this article examines the health communication theories that often are at play within such collaborations After analyzing why these approaches may have limited success in faith settings, we will propose a new approach to health communication that should enhance collaboration between clinical/scientific and faith communities, with an eye toward application to concerns surrounding addiction
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