Health Communication Messages Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preventive Practices Regarding Tuberculosis Among Healthcare Workers and Patients in India: A Mixed-Method Study.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in India. Healthcare workers (HCWs) and TB patients are critical to disease transmission and prevention. This study evaluated and compared knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to TB infection control. This was a mixed-method study that included a cross-sectional survey conducted among 167 HCWs and 346 patients with TB at tertiary hospitals in western Gujarat using a validated questionnaire. Additionally, 20 HCWs and 20 patients were interviewed to gain qualitative insights. Between-group analyses were performed, and multivariate regressions identified predictors of knowledge and compliance, while thematic analysis explored qualitative insights. A total of 142/167 (85.0%) HCWs had good knowledge, whereas 208/346 (60.1%) patients had good knowledge. A total of 151/167 (90.4%) HCWs had positive attitudes, whereas 242/346 (69.9%) patients had positive attitudes. A total of 159/167 (95.2%) HCWs practiced good preventive behaviors, whereas 225/346 (65.0%) patients did. HCWs demonstrated significantly higher mean knowledge scores (9.2 vs. 7.1, p<0.001) and higher median attitude scores (ranging from 5 with IQR 4-5 to 5 with IQR 5-5) compared to patients (ranging from 4 with IQR 3-5 to 5 with IQR 4-5) across all attitude statements assessed using the Likert scale (p<0.001). Being an HCW was associated with good knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.5, 95% CI 1.5-4.1), positive attitudes (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.6), and good practices (AOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.8-5.2). The qualitative themes highlighted the need for accessible education, clear communication, adequate resourcing, and personal responsibility. This study identified gaps in TB prevention knowledge and practices among patients compared to those among HCWs in India. Tailored educational initiatives, optimized health communication, improved infrastructure, and accessible messaging can help individuals assimilate appropriate infection control behaviors among healthcare system actors and communities toward ending TB.

Colorectal cancer information avoidance is associated with screening adherence.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer among U.S. men and women and the second deadliest. Effective screening modalities can either prevent CRC or find it earlier, but fewer than two thirds of U.S. adults are adherent to CRC screening guidelines. We tested whether people who defensively avoid CRC information have lower adherence to CRC screening recommendations and weaker intentions for being screened and whether CRC information avoidance adds predictive ability beyond known determinants of screening. Participants, aged 45-75 years, completed a survey about known structural determinants of CRC screening (healthcare coverage, healthcare use, provider recommendation), CRC information avoidance tendencies, and screening behavior (n = 887) and intentions (n = 425). Models were tested with multivariable regression and structural equation modeling (SEM). To the extent that participants avoided CRC information, they had lower odds of being adherent to CRC screening guidelines (OR = 0.55) and if non-adherent, less likely to intend to be screened (b=-0.50). In the SEM model, avoidance was negatively associated with each known structural determinant of screening and with lower screening adherence (ps < 0.01). Fit was significantly worse for nested SEM models when avoidance was not included, (i.e., the paths to avoidance were fixed to zero). Information avoidance was associated with screening behavior and other known structural determinants of screening adherence, potentially compounding its influence. Novel strategies are needed to reach avoiders, including health communication messaging that disrupts avoidance and interventions external to the healthcare system, with which avoiders are less engaged.

Factors Associated with Failed Completion of Four Antenatal Care Visits among Pregnant Women Delivering at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda

ntenatal care (ANC) was a key strategy towards improving maternal and child health. A recent survey data from sub-Saharan Africa has however shown that most women only initiated ANC after the first trimester and did not achieve the recommended number of visits. This study aimed to determine the completion rate of four ANC visits and factors associated with failed completion of four ANC visits among women delivering at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, eastern Uganda (JRRH). A cross-sectional study design was conducted from February 2021 to April 2021. A total of 355 pregnant women at term admitted at the maternity ward of JRRH were consecutively enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain data. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression were conducted. The variables in the final multivariate model were significant when p˂0.05. All data analyses were conducted using STATA 14.2. Of the 355 pregnant women recruited into the study, 98(27.6%) had completed a minimum of four ANC visits. Maternal age below 20 years (aOR=2.4, 95%CI: 1.61-5.21, p&lt;0.0001*) and a distance of more than four kilometres were independently associated with failure to complete four antenatal care visits (aOR=4, 95%CI: 1.33-7.19; p=0.031*). A significant number of women do not complete the recommended minimum of four antenatal care visits in this setting. Young pregnant women and those without public health facilities within a distance of less than four kilometres are likely not to complete the recommended four antenatal care visits in this setting. Strategies aimed at enhancing the accessibility of healthcare services are very crucial. Health Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) messages targeting teenage mothers are key to increasing ANC completion rates. Keywords: Antenatal care, Women, Pregnancy, Maternal death, Teenage mothers

Evidence-Based Communication to Increase Melanoma Knowledge and Skin Checks

Rates of melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—have increased. Early detection can save lives and patients have a critical role to play in checking their skin. We aim to identify health communication messages that best educate the public and increase intentions towards skin checks. After viewing messages intended to increase melanoma knowledge, participants correctly identified a greater proportion (74.6% vs 70.4%) of moles (mean number 17.9 [95% CI 17.5, 18.3] vs 16.9 [95% CI 16.6, 17.3], P < .001, ηp2 = .03) and had knowledge of more melanoma warning signs (5.8 [95% CI 5.7, 5.8] vs 5.6 [95% CI 5.5, 5.7], P = .01, ηp2 = .02). After viewing messages intended to increase self confidence in checking their skin accurately, they were also more likely to report greater intentions to do a skin check on a scale of 1-5 (3.8 [95% CI 3.7, 3.9] vs 3.6 [95% CI 3.4, 3.7], P = .005, ηp2 = .02). Online melanoma messages aimed at increasing both melanoma knowledge and skin-check confidence may be most effective in improving the accuracy of skin self-exams and intentions to do them.

Using a theoretical framework of Intervention Mapping to inform public health communication messages designed to increase vaccination uptake; the example of mpox in the Netherlands

IntroductionDuring an infectious disease outbreak, primary preventive pre-exposure vaccination (PPV) could substantially increase the potential for its control, if uptake is sufficiently high. An important tool to increase PPV uptake, are communication strategies, with tailored messages targeted to modify determinants for PPV uptake. Here, we take the example of the 2022 mpox multicountry outbreak, as we inform the development of communication strategies by applying a theoretical framework for selecting effective communication strategies.MethodsThe theoretical framework Intervention Mapping (IM) was applied during the outbreak to inform communications [program]. Steps included: 1. Creating a logic model of the problem [not accepting PPV] by reviewing available literature, conducting an online survey among people at risk of mpox exposure, and consulting community-members, healthcare-and communication professionals; 2. Creating a matrix of change [from lower to higher PPV acceptance]; and 3. Selecting theory-based methods and practical applications for communication messages to achieve the intended behaviour change (getting vaccinated).ResultsThe program objective was to promote PPV uptake in people at risk of mpox exposure. Important changeable determinants identified included perceived risk and severity of mpox, importance to protect against mpox [attitude], experienced effectiveness of vaccination and side-effects [response efficacy], and social norm. Theory-based communication methods for optimizing these determinants include provision of facts [increasing knowledge], personalized risk and scenario-based risk information [addressing risk perception/severity], elaboration, arguments [stimulating a positive attitude], gain framing [increasing perceived response efficacy], guided practice [increasing skills/self-efficacy in overcoming barriers] and social norm approach [demonstrating positive norm]. Other key important factors include that communication delivery is uniform (across channels), clear, accessible, and with stigma-free messaging, and that is well-timed and repeated.ConclusionIM provided a valuable tool in selecting communication methods to promote mpox vaccination uptake. These methods can be used to (more quickly) produce and implement a communication program in the context of possible future, vaccine-preventable, infectious disease outbreaks.

Scientists, speak up! Source impacts trust in health advice across five countries.

We examined how different types of communication influence people's responses to health advice. We tested whether presenting COVID-19 prevention advice (e.g., washing hands/distancing) as either originating from a government or scientific source would affect people's trust in and intentions to comply with the advice. We also manipulated uncertainty in communicating the advice effectiveness. To achieve this, we conducted an experiment using large samples of participants (N = 4,561) from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Across countries, participants found messages more trustworthy when the purported source was science rather than the government. This effect was moderated by political orientation in all countries except for Canada, while religiosity moderated the source effect in the United States. Although source did not directly affect intentions to act upon the advice, we found an indirect effect via trust, such that a more trusted source (i.e., science) was predictive of higher intentions to comply. However, the uncertainty manipulation was not effective. Together, our findings suggest that despite prominence of science skepticism in public discourse, people trust scientists more than governments when it comes to practical health advice. It is therefore beneficial to communicate health messages by stressing their scientific bases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining impact of Twitter sentiment &amp; source on COVID-19 info sharing by public

Abstract Introduction Public health communication programs have the power to affect change in people and groups by increasing awareness, enhancing knowledge, modifying attitudes and altering behaviours when they are properly designed, meticulously executed and maintained over time. There has been an influx of public health communication on social media during COVID-19. Aim To investigate if the Twitter user category (source) and/or message type (sentiment) impacts sharing behaviour of the public during COVID which would help understand how to use social media when communicating health messages. Methods All tweets in English were extracted using Twitter API and Python script. Data was extracted from 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Mar 2022 for Ireland and UK which resulted in 867,485 tweets in total. Four coders identified user categories by studying the user descriptions in an iterative process and sentiment analysis was conducted to identify message types during the pandemic. For sentiment categorisation, a similar approach was followed where four message categories were identified from existing public health literature and additional categories were created through the analysis of Twitter messages by five coders. Different Machine learning (ML) models and Chat GPT were applied to assign user categories and sentiments to the entire dataset and the model with the highest level of agreement with human coders was chosen. Results Overall the public sentiment was negative during the pandemic. Twelve user categories and seven message types were identified from our analysis. Conclusions Further detail of this ongoing analysis will be presented at the conference. Key messages • The abstract introduces a study that investigates the impact of Twitter user categories on the sharing behaviour of the public during COVID-19. • The study investigates the impact of message types on the sharing behaviour of the public during COVID-19 on Twitter.

Cost-efficient child vaccination project results from hard-to-reach rural communities in Kenya

Abstract Child immunization is a cost-effective public health measure for reducing child morbidity and mortality. Child immunization coverage in Kenya has improved in recent years, with coverage rates for most vaccines exceeding 80%. However, there are still pockets of low coverage, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach areas. We implemented a community-based project to improve access and equity in child immunization services in three Kenyan counties (Nairobi, Wajir and Mandera). We trained health workers, promoted community acceptance, and provided logistical support to Ministry of Health (MoH) for child immunization services through community outreach centers. During the project period (January 2020 to February 2023), our project facilitated full immunization coverage for 93,879 children and we reached 200,554 community members whom we communicated relevant messages for recommended practice about health, nutrition and child vaccination. Our project achieved a 26 percentage-point increase (increased from 62% at baseline in 2020 to 88% at endline in 2022) in age-appropriate child vaccinations by end of the project. We also conducted a cost-efficiency analysis by taking the actual costs incurred and project achievements into account. The key results from the cost-efficiency analysis revealed approximate cost for a fully immunized child as 21 US dollar, while per capita cost for communicating health messages to community members and health care worker training was 10 US dollar. UNICEF estimated approximately 32 US$ as vaccine delivery cost (=total cost - cost of vaccine and supply) per fully vaccinated child with standard schedule for children &amp;lt; 24 months which is higher than the cost for ensuring a fully immunized child in our project. These data clearly indicate the efficiency and success of community-based approach for strengthening MoH child immunization services in Kenyan rural and hard-to-reach communities. Key messages • Strong collaboration with Ministry of Health and community participation are critical key aspects for implementing child vaccination program successfully and cost-efficiently in rural communities. • Facilitating Ministry of Health for health system strengthening focus yields sustainable impact as footprint after end of a short-term of a community based project in developing country settings.

Mass Media and Health Communication Messages: Implications for Rural Development in the 21st Century Nigeria

This paper explores the role of mass media in health communication campaigns for rural development in the 21st century Nigeria. Mass media have been found to be critical components of Nigeria’s rural development because of their role in disseminating health communication messages with the aim of empowering and improving the health knowledge and skills as well as changing health behaviours of rural dwellers to improve their living conditions. The paper meticulously pinpoints the contributions of mass media in health communication; identified some select health communication programmes that succeeded in Nigeria courtesy of mass media amplification role as well as explored the challenges of mass media channels in rural health communication efforts. The paper is anchored on the agenda setting theory. The paper concluded that mass media are catalysts to rural development in Nigeria. The study recommended that communication should be the priority of government and development programme designers because of the pivotal role it plays in combating ignorance and misinformation in public health issues in Nigeria.

The framing of initial COVID‐19 communication: Using unsupervised machine learning on press releases

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic was a global health crisis that required US residents to understand the phenomenon, interpret the cues, and make sense within their environment. Therefore, how the communication of COVID‐19 was framed to stakeholders during the early stages of the pandemic became important to guide them through specific actions in their state and subsequently with the sensemaking process. The present study examines which frames were emphasized in the states' press releases on policies and other COVID information to influence stakeholders on what to focus on to help with sensemaking during the crisis. We conducted content analysis on 602 press releases from 50 US states using an unsupervised machine learning approach called Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). The results show that health communication using press releases to help the public make sense of the crisis were framed to include health frames as well as economic frames. Health communication messages are typically framed with health and safety measures; however, this study shows that economic frames were emphasized more than public health frames in the government's health communication for COVID‐19, which forced both large and small businesses to engage in specific socially responsible activities that were previously voluntary to support public health safety.

The Use of Travel as an Appeal to Motivate Millennial Parents on Facebook to Get Vaccinated against COVID-19: A Message Framing Evaluation.

In summer 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before fall travel to protect themselves and others from getting and spreading COVID-19 and new variants. Only 61% of parents had reported receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. Millennial parents, ages 25 to 40, were a particularly important parent population because they were likely to have children under 12 (the age cutoff for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility during this time period) and were still planning to travel. Since Facebook has been identified as a popular platform for Millennials and parents, CDC's Travelers' Health Branch determined an evaluation of public health messages was needed to identify which message appeals would resonate best with this population on Facebook. The objective was to evaluate which travel-based public health message appeals aimed at addressing parental concerns and sentiments about COVID-19 vaccination would resonate most with Millennial parents (25 to 40 years old) using Facebook Ads Manager and social media metrics. Six travel-based public health message appeals on parental concerns and sentiments around COVID-19 were developed and disseminated to Millennial parents using Facebook Ads Manager. The messages ran from October 23, 2021, to November 8, 2021. Primary outcomes included the number of people reached and the number of impressions delivered. Secondary outcomes included engagements, clicks, click-through rate (CTR), and audience sentiments. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze comments. The advertisement budget was evaluated by cost-per-mille (CPM) and cost-per-click (CPC) metrics. All messages reached a total of 6,619,882 people and garnered 7,748,375 impressions. The Family (n=3,572,140 people reached [53.96%]; 4,515,836 impressions [58.28%]) and Return to Normalcy (n=1,639,476 people reached [24.77%]; 1,754,227 impressions [22.64%]) message appeals reached the greatest number of people and garnered the most impressions out of all six message appeals. The Family message appeal received 3,255 engagements (60.46%) and the Return to Normalcy message appeal received 1,148 engagements (21.28%). The Family appeal also received the highest number of positive post reactions (n=82, 28.37%). Most of the comments portrayed negative opinions about COVID-19 vaccination (n=46, 68.66%). All 6 message appeals, including the Family (CPM=US $3.44) and Return to Normalcy (CPM=US $3.47) appeals, were either on par with or outperformed CPM benchmarks set by other similar public health campaigns. Health communicators can use travel, specifically the Family and Return to Normalcy message appeals, to successfully reach parents in their future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and potentially inform health communication messaging efforts for other vaccine preventable infectious disease campaigns. Public health programs can also utilize the lessons learned from this evaluation to communicate important COVID-19 information to their parent populations through travel messaging.

Healthy Eating in the Australian Coal Mining Industry: Assessing the Efficacy of the 'Out of the Box' Workplace Health Promotion Program.

Noncommunicable diseases are the world's leading cause of death. To curb the global rise in these diseases, using the workplace as a front to disseminate health communication messages and resources has been suggested. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a workplace health promotion program, 'Out of the Box', that targeted nutrition outcomes and nutrition guideline knowledge. A 6-month workplace health promotion program was implemented within a coal mine site. Over the 6 months, there were four wellness focus areas, lasting 1 month each, including fruits, vegetables and portion controlling, label reading, alcohol awareness, and hydration promotion. The study utilized a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design, with measurements via self-reported paper-based surveys. At baseline there were 163 responses, and 106 at follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up, respondents had increased odds of recalling the current fruit (OR 1.29, p = 0.032) and vegetable (OR 1.76, p < 0.001) guidelines. Being male was associated with lower vegetable intake (B: -0.28), although this did not reach statistical significance. A nutrition-focused workplace health promotion program can be an efficacious strategy in improving knowledge of fruit and vegetable guidelines. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs over time.

Supporting US healthcare providers for successful vaccine communication

BackgroundWhile many healthcare providers (HCPs) have navigated patients’ vaccine concerns and questions prior to the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, sentiments surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines have presented new and distinct challenges.ObjectiveTo understand the provider experience of counseling patients about COVID-19 vaccinations, aspects of the pandemic environment that impacted vaccine trust, and communication strategies providers found supportive of patient vaccine education.Methods7 focus groups of healthcare providers were conducted and recorded during December 2021 and January 2022, at the height of the Omicron wave in the United States. Recordings were transcribed, and iterative coding and analysis was applied.Results44 focus group participants representing 24 US states with the majority (80%) fully vaccinated at the time of data collection. Most participants were doctors (34%) or physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners (34%). The negative impact of COVID-19 misinformation on patient-provider communication at both intrapersonal and interpersonal levels as well as barriers and facilitators to patient vaccine uptake are reported. People or sources that play a role in health communication (“messengers”) and persuasive messages that impact behavior or attitudes towards vaccination (“messages”) are described. Providers expressed frustration in the need to continuously address vaccine misinformation in clinical appointments among patients who remained unvaccinated. Many providers found value in resources that provided up-to-date and evidence-based information as COVID-19 guidelines continued to change. Additionally, providers indicated that patient-facing materials designed to support vaccination education were not frequently available, but they were the most valuable to providers in a changing information environment.ConclusionsWhile vaccine decision-making is complex and hinges on diverse factors such as health care access (i.e., convenience, expense) and individual knowledge, providers can play a major role in navigating these factors with their patients. But to strengthen provider vaccine communication and promote vaccine uptake, a comprehensive communication infrastructure must be sustained to support the patient-provider dyad. The findings provide recommendations to maintain an environment that facilitates effective provider-patient communication at the community, organizational and policy levels. There is a need for a unified multisectoral response to reinforce the recommendations in patient settings.

Use of the U.S. National Poison Data System (NPDS) to Detect and Describe Potentially Harmful, Non-Traditional Behaviors Taken by Individuals to Prevent, Treat, or Cure COVID-19

Introduction:On January 19, 2020, Washington State reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19. Two years later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 90 million cases across every U.S. state and territory causing more than 1 million deaths, with numbers continuing to grow. As part of the overall pandemic response, CDC, in coordination with America’s Poison Centers, conducted enhanced surveillance of National Poison Data System (NPDS) data to detect potentially harmful, non-traditional behaviors taken to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19 to provide situational awareness and ensure CDC continues to develop effective, evidence-based health communication messages and materials.Method:Data from the fifty-five U.S. poison centers (PCs) are uploaded in near real-time to NPDS. CDC monitored several categories including cleaners and disinfectants, medications/vitamins, and behaviors such as suicide and drug use. We characterized exposures by daily call volume, age group, management site, route of exposure, and medical outcome compared to previous years. We also conducted follow-up detailed review for certain anomalies, spikes, or extreme adverse events.Results:We reported PC data to several task forces within the CDC Emergency Operations Center. The daily number of exposures increased sharply beginning in March 2020 for exposures to cleaners and disinfectants. For example, bleach exposure calls saw a 62.1% increase compared to 2019. Several medications saw spikes in calls in coordination with media coverage of certain treatments (e.g., hydroxychloroquine) throughout the pandemic.Conclusion:This data helped ensure a coordinated public health response to COVID-19 and maximized the unique role of PCs in addressing public and medical provider concerns and questions. Results led to several actions including notifications to state health departments, targeted messaging, and tailored response efforts. PCs are a valuable resource for providing guidance and advice about exposures to hazardous substances and can help reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

Examining science and media literacy health communication messages to reduce intentions to use cannabis while pregnant.

Although use of cannabis during pregnancy can be detrimental to the fetus, use of cannabis during pregnancy has increased. Pregnant people are often exposed to incorrect information about cannabis use during pregnancy online and have expressed a desire for additional information about the effects of using cannabis while pregnant. We wanted to design and test a brief intervention promoting media literacy and science literacy and assess whether exposure would reduce intentions to use cannabis during pregnancy. We created two sets of messages, one with a focus on increasing media literacy and another on increasing science literacy. Messages were either presented in a narrative/story or nonnarrative formats. Participants who identified as female, aged 18-40, were recruited online via a Qualtrics panel to participate in the online experiment. We used multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) to model the relationships across message groups. Results suggested that increased awareness about potential harms of Tetrahydrocannabinol to the fetus was associated with intentions to reduce cannabis use while pregnant in the science literacy conditions for both message types (science narrative b = .389, p = .003; science nonnarrative b = .410, p ≤ .001). Increased media literacy for source was associated with intentions to reduce cannabis use during pregnancy in the media literacy nonnarrative group (b = .319, p = .021) but was not significant for the media literacy narrative condition. Messages focused on both media literacy and science literacy may be of value to pregnant people who use cannabis, with science literacy likely having a more direct effect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Message frame and health literacy: Strategies to improve adherence to antihypertensive medications

BackgroundHypertension and prehypertension is prevalent in about half of the total world population. Experts recommend comprehensive medical treatment for people with underlying diseases or at risk for metabolic syndrome. However, previous studies have found that approximately half of all patients with hypertension stopped taking antihypertensive medication within a year, and this phenomenon was closely related to the low perceived benefit and outcome expectation of taking behavior. ObjectivesAs the initial perception of medication is greatly influenced by the medication message, this study explored the effect of the gain-loss framing of the message of adherence to antihypertensives. Furthermore, the study analyzed the interaction between health literacy and involvement, which is a characteristic of the message recipient, and the message frame and examined how the message strategy should differ according to individual factors. MethodsThe quasi-experiment via an online survey was conducted from August 9 to 11, 2021. Participants who had the potential for hypertension but had not yet been diagnosed were selected through screening questions. A total of 1200 participants were randomly assigned to each frame group. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance for analysis of main effects and interaction effects between variables, and Bonferroni post-hoc for multiple analyses. ResultsRegarding medical adherence intention, the frame did not show a main effect, whereas individual factors showed a main effect. An interaction effect of frame and individual factors were found. Specifically, in the group with low health literacy or low involvement, a significant gain frame advantage effect was observed. ConclusionsThis study verified the relationship between medication messages and behavior and provides insight into tailoring messages to antihypertensive adherence; it found that individuals’ health literacy and involvement must be considered in health communication message strategies.

Entertaining information: Third-party influencers’ role in COVID-safety health communication

This paper discusses findings from a commissioned evaluation of an Australian government COVID-19 health campaign that utilised third-party influencers to increase the reach of health communication messages among culturally and linguistically diverse young people. Although the campaign was successful, interviews with select influencers and target audience members indicated that the ‘serious’ tone of the health messaging was less effective and less likely to be shared and that messages should be more ‘entertaining’. Analyses of data indicated three themes providing insights into how future campaigns may benefit from a focus that draws together health information and entertainment using models already constructed in the entertainment–education field: (1) Entertaining health messages have a stronger fit with influencers who are known for their entertainment value; (2) Entertaining messages are more memorable and more likely to be shared; (3) A balance between entertainment and the signifiers of trust and credibility such as government health authority logos overcomes trust issues in the context of current health disinformation and misinformation.

Teach-Back Method in Presenting Health Promotion Topics Program: Nursing Collaboration with the Micronesian Islander Community Organization and Micronesian Islander Parent Leaders

Background A Micronesian Islander-based nonprofit community organization and academic nursing partnership in the United States Pacific Northwest identified the need to use the Teach-Back method with the Micronesian Islander Parent Leaders (MIPLs) to address prevention of non-communicable diseases for health promotion outreach. MIPLs are well-respected community leaders and elders from diverse Island communities. The Teach-Back method verifies a person’s understanding of the health messages, reteaching or modifying messages if knowledge is not met, and is a strategy for health literacy. A health message communicator or presenter uses caring, plain, and respectful language and asks participants to repeat the health messages that they receive in their own words. The RE-AIM framework guided this community participatory scholarly project. The community participatory scholarly project aimed to implement and evaluate the Teach-Back method in presenting health promotion topics with MIPLs as a program. Project questions were: 1) How effective is the Teach-Back method in presenting health promotion topics as a program using a distance learning format? and 2) Is the Teach-Back method as a program acceptable for communicating health messages for MIPLs? Approach The project was implemented in 4 virtual sessions using the Teach-Back method in presenting health promotion topics. We used the Teach-Back Confidence and Commitment Scale, distance learning and open-ended items, and field notes and observations journal for evaluation. Participants used the Teach-Back Observation Tool to practice observing the presenter leveraging essential elements of the Teach-Back method. Findings MIPLs reported increased adoption and acceptance of the Teach-Back method to communicate health messages to their community and family members. Conclusion Health promotion topics identified by the group were presented using caring, respectful, plain language, and in a non-threatening manner as a vehicle to illustrate and evaluate using the established Teach-Back method tools

Supplemental Material for Examining Science and Media Literacy Health Communication Messages to Reduce Intentions to Use Cannabis While Pregnant

Supplemental Material for Examining Science and Media Literacy Health Communication Messages to Reduce Intentions to Use Cannabis While Pregnant

Challenges and Successes in Health Communication Messaging With Asian Americans.

Asians are the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the United States, and in Michigan, Asians represent 3.4% of the state's population. Asians have long been aggregated as a homogeneous group and stereotyped as a "model minority." Asians, however, are very diverse, and each subgroup has different values, histories, beliefs, and dialects. The diversity among populations and variations in chronic disease risks demonstrate the importance of disaggregating Asian American ethnicities with respect to health promotion, which must be culturally and linguistically tailored to make the biggest impact. This article describes our challenges and successes in health communication messaging with Asian Americans during the 4 years of our Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Cooperative Agreement.