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Making the most of technology: Using audiovisual formats to reach Hispanic/Latino communities with public health messages

Margaret Weiss Behrns, MA1, Armando Trull1, Amparo Pinzon, PhD1, and Emily Glazer, MS, CHES2. (1) SAMHSA's Hispanic/Latino Initiative, 11426 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-747-4706, mbehrns@health.org, (2) Marketing and Outreach, SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, 11420 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is developing a comprehensive bilingual community training guide on DVD and VHS that combines information, skill-building, and demonstration. The modules address substance abuse prevention issues facing today's Hispanic/Latino families. The products will be free, without copyright restrictions, and available online. English and Spanish tracks will be included in both the DVD and the VHS versions, thereby increasing the versatility of the products.

The primary purpose of the bilingual DVD/VHS training guide is to give service providers and educators culturally appropriate information and educational tools to use with Hispanic/Latino parents. Hispanic adults are partial to audiovisual formats and are more likely to believe and trust information provided in Spanish. The DVD/VHS formats integrate the latest technological advances, such as graphic animation, with narration, dramatization, video clips, and text into a user-friendly, cost-effective package. The guide is segmented into modules to allow service providers to tailor the presentation to their programmatic needs.

Another advantage of this product is that it is ideal for Hispanic/Latino adults who work long hours and have little time to learn communication skills. Hispanic/Latino parents can review and practice the skill-building modules at their own pace, in their own homes, anytime they are available and interested in doing so.

Conclusion

The use of technology provides innovative, culturally appropriate, and cost-effective ways to reach the underserved Hispanic/Latino population with public health messages.

Learning Objectives:

  • By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

    Keywords: Hispanic, Communication

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:
    Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA's CSAP)
    I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
    Relationship: Employment

    Poster Session: Cross-cutting Intervention Issues

    The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA