Oral

Social and mobile media—such as social networking websites, text messaging, and smart-phone or PDA applications—are becoming integral components of health communication initiatives that target individuals’ health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Almost 90% of U.S. households own mobile phones and devices, which offer constant Internet access and can be customized with thousands of specialized applications, including health-related apps. Likewise, 40-70% of Americans actively participate in social media, which offer participants the ability to share health information through blogs, networking sites, and online communities Some evidence has shown that social media and mobile devices, alone or as part of larger campaigns, can effectively shift behavior and push individuals toward healthier living. At the same time, health professionals are exploring the limitations of social and mobile media, including information credibility, challenges with controlling information content, and lower adoption among certain populations. This panel will explore various issues concerning the use of social media for health promotion.

Session Objectives: 1. Identify how social and mobile media strategies are being used to address public health issues, including both strengths and limitations 2. Explain how to adapt and customize social and mobile strategies for health communication campaigns 3. Evaluate the effectiveness of social and mobile media used to promote health

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)