Web 2.0 and local public health

Web 2.0 technologies, including blogs, wikis, and social networking web sites, emphasize community building, communication, and collaboration and are at the forefront of how people are increasingly finding and sharing health information online.

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, in 2008 80% of internet users have searched online for health information. There have been significant increases in the numbers of people watching videos online, reading blogs, and joining social networking sites. One third of adult internet users in the U.S. have a profile on a social networking site as well as 65% of online teenagers. These technologies are being used not only to exchange information, but to build online communities for learning and support. As such, Web 2.0 has enormous potential to revolutionize ways in which public health workers reach their target populations and improve communication within their organization and within the profession.

The University of Michigan Health Sciences Libraries and the Prevention Research Center of Michigan have collaborated with two local health departments to provide training on a wide variety of Web 2.0 technologies as well as implementing six specific projects which integrate Web 2.0 technologies into the work of each department. The projects addressed both internal communications within the health departments and external communications to the populations that they served.

An initial needs assessment was conducted at each health department which highlighted the lack of familiarity with Web 2.0 technologies amongst the staff as well as the need to discuss how these technologies can be applied to local public health.

This session will present both the results from the needs assessment as well as details of the Web 2.0 projects that were initiated within each health department.