Connecting with good health: Podcasting as a means of providing health education on college campuses

There is a growing need to deliver health messages to college students in formats which will reach and motivate them to adopt and strengthen healthy lifestyle behaviors. In 2006, more than three quarters of University of Michigan student respondents to the National College Health Assessment listed the Internet as their most used source of health information, second only to their parents (NCHA, 2006). As students increasingly rely on technology to access health information, it is essential for health educators to develop technological delivery systems for the dissemination of accurate, relevant and trustworthy health information. Podcasting technology provides an excellent means for the production of portable and accessible health education for students. The technology allows for the delivery of both audio and visual health education messages. This presentation will focus on the work completed by health educators in collaboration with University of Michigan University Health Service to develop and design health education podcasts, targeting graduate and undergraduate students. A description of the project, the lessons learned, and recommendations for utilizing and integrating podcasting technology for health education on college campuses across the country will be presented.