Oral

The Healthy People 2010 defines health communication as “the art and technique of informing, influencing and motivating individual, institutional and public audiences about important health issues”. Health communication plans and strategies have the potential for addressing the gap between what it is known about prevention and early detection of oral diseases and what is provided in private and public health clinics, dental schools and community-based programs. This session will highlight the challenges to integrate health communication into oral health activities and will highlight case studies and models for the use of interpersonal, community-based and mass media communications approaches.

Session Objectives: 1. Identify key principles, action areas and strategic approaches of health communications and their implications for oral health 2 Review relevant case studies on oral health communications 3. Discuss lessons learned about the use of health communications in other settings and how they apply to oral health promotion and disease prevention

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing