The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45148

Kathryn E. Wilson, MPH, CHES, CDC's Office of Women's Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop D51, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-639-4623, kwilson6@cdc.gov

One way the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promotes health and quality of life is by providing individuals in the entertainment industry with health resources to encourage them to develop storylines with accurate health messages. This study is an evaluation of one resource, the CDC Resource Book for TV Writers and Producers, which contains information on the CDC's priority health topics. A 14 item questionnaire was designed based on the Diffusion of Innovations, and 15 out of 293 individuals involved with daytime and primetime television completed it. Results indicated that in general, the respondents obtain health information from academic institutions and health care providers most often. They use Web sites, articles in newspapers and magazines, and expert interviews frequently. Most never use CD ROMs. Although the majority of respondents indicated that they use the resource book when developing health-related storylines, of the resources the CDC provides, the respondents use the CDC Web site the most. Respondents indicated that the Web site and binder formats of the resource book would be easiest for them to use. The most useful sections of the resource book are "Contacts and Resources" and "Fact Sheets." Based on the results of the questionnaire, several recommendations were made, including with whom CDC should develop relationships, which media channels CDC should use to disseminate health information, and which elements of the resource book should be highlighted, discarded, and/or changed. This evaluation was successful in gathering information to help the CDC improve efforts to promote health through Entertainment Education.

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