Assignment 1: Communication Strategy Paper Today, there are a variety of ways in which health information may be communicated to the public including traditional methods such as brochures, posters, magazines, newspapers and other news outlets, and newer methods including mobile and web based applications, social media, and streaming media. These methods may include audio or visual elements or both. To effectively communicate health risk information, consideration must be given to the target audience. For this Assignment, you will select and support a communication strategy for different audiences and sectors. Your Instructor will provide you with a current health risk scenario and three different possible audiences and sectors. Prepare and submit a 3 page paper that includes the following: An APA style title page, including your name, date, course and section, and title APA style headings for each section below Explain what considerations are important when selecting a strategy for a particular audience and sector. Support your answer. Provide examples of communication strategies that can be used to convey health risk information to different audiences and sectors. Select a communication strategy for each of the provided audiences and sectors and explain why you believe it is the most effective way to convey risk and prevention information to that audience and sector. Support your answer. Explain how you would evaluate the efficacy of your selected communication strategies. Note: The title page and References page do not count towards the paper’s page requirement. Cite the sources within your text in APA style Include an APA formatted reference list at the end of your paper. Note: The title page and References page do not count towards the paper’s page requirement. RESOURCES Battle, C. U. (2009). Essentials of Public Health Biology: A Guide for the Study of Pathophysiology. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Chapter 45, “Communicating Public Health Information” (pp. 543–554) Resource for Assignment 1 National Institutes for Health (NIH). (2017). Clear Communication, Cultural Respect. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/cultural-respect

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Health Information Communication

Health communication is the practice of communication that aims to promote health-related information. It includes verbal and written methods to convey health information to communities, influence populations, and empower individuals to make healthy choices. Its primary purpose is to pass health information and hence encourage improvements in health literacy. Health communications often involve multiple theories to promote positive changes in health behavior. Its goal is to instill awareness of health issues, demonstrate health practices, teach benefits of behavioral changes to public health outcomes, teach on misconceptions about health, and increase support for health services. In the last two decades, disease prevention and health promotions have led to renewed interest in health communication (Battle, 2009). It was realized that daily investment in disease and health research yields no value if the process is not accompanied by proper communication and education on health information. Health communication links healthcare practices and communication, which has a significant influence on individual and community behavior. Thereby has the potential of improving the health of the community and the life of the people. Public health experts influence the behavior of people through health communication strategies.

When creating a communication strategy for health information, it is essential to consider the strategy’s overall communication goals. The most important is to understand the target audience to ensure the relevance of the content created. The people suffering or those at risk of contracting the health problem are the target audience. To identify audiences, research about the health condition extent. Such information is available to local health centers, the department of health, and national health centers. The healthcare workers and medical personnel can hasten the explanations of the health problems and how they spread. Much research will be required to identify the target audiences.

During the process of identifying the target audiences, group them into common characteristics such as residence, genders, age, and occupation or according to access points such as television, radio, internet, and social media (Battle, 2009). It is also essential to consider the messages to the communication channel being used, ensure the target population access the communication channel used, and, finally, use multiple media of communication to provide a wider reach.

Health information communication can be conveyed on several media of communication. Such examples include radio, television, newspaper, flyers, brochures, social media tools, and the internet. These media have specific audiences accessing them; hence it is essential to consider your target audience before selecting any media of communication (National Institutes for Health, 2017). For example, several youths today tend to use social media and the internet to communicate; it is, therefore, appropriate to pass health information targeting teenagers on the internet and social media platforms.

Healthcare workers define health communications channels are systems that pass messages to reach intended audiences. They have grouped the communications channels into three main groups, the interpersonal channels, the mass media channels, and the community-oriented channels. The community-oriented channels and the mass media channels are useful when communicating to change the community or cultural beliefs and norms. I interpersonal channels concentrates on one on one or one on group communications (Battle, 2009). Such include peer to peer, health worker to the client, doctor to patient, and spouse to spouse communications. An example of one to group communication is a community-oriented outreach worker meeting with women representative or a health worker. Interpersonal channels apply the use of verbal and nonverbal communication. The focus of community-oriented channels is passing information on social networks as families and community groups. It is essential when dealing with community beliefs and norms.

Of all the communication tools, brochures are the most effective and commonly used. There are several reasons to support the effectiveness of brochures in health communications. First, leaflets cover a wide range as they are easy to distribute. Brochures placed in strategic positions always finds the target audiences. Secondly, brochures present much information. The information in brochures is always precise and straightforward to understand. The information is presented with graphic and accompanying texts. Third, reach the target audience. Brochures ensure that the information finds the exact target audience. Brochures meant to pass an Information area always placed at strategic places where the target audience will have to see and find the intended information (National Institutes for Health, 2017). Though brochures are the most effective tools in this type of communication, several things need to be kept in mind when creating advertisements. The brochures layout should be kept attractive and straightforward. The use of photos and graphics should be deliberate and precise, pictures of target audiences, and graphics of the health risk. The choice of paper size, fonts, and text styling should be considered (Battle, 2009). When putting together a brochure or other printed piece, it is good to get a graphic designer’s help.

Finally, the communication of health information is gaining recognition. The emphasis put in place by governments and health departments to put together theories and practices of health communication promotes the communications of health information. This approach comes when the world is faced with several diseases and environmental calamities whose cures depend on human behavior.

References

Battle, C. U. (2009). Essentials of Public Health Biology: A Guide for the Study of Pathophysiology. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Chapter 45, “Communicating Public Health Information” (pp. 543–554)

National Institutes for Health (NIH). (2017). Clear Communication, Cultural Respect. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/cultural-respect

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