Key health communication strategies for reaching underserved, cross-cultural, or basic-literacy audiences

Many in public health (epidemiologists, interns, project officers, program managers) engage in some degree of health communications, whether formally trained in the field or not. Furthermore, as state budgets and funding sources tighten, more and more public health practitioners in understaffed offices are tasked with a wide scope of duties, including health communications, that may go beyond their areas of expertise and experience. Growing interest in the arenas of health disparities, inequities, and social justice further amplifies the need for functional knowledge of more than the basic tenets of good communication. The ability to implement key health communication strategies that effectively reach target audiences such as underserved, cross-cultural, and basic-literacy populations is an essential skill for any public health professional.

This poster presentation offers a visual display of key health communication strategies in three specific areas: writing for the web, writing for print, and communicating verbal messages. Furthermore, the research- and evidence-based strategies are specifically tailored for reaching underserved, cross-cultural, and basic-literacy audiences. The poster also offers key strategies for composing “plain language” messages across all three communication channels (i.e., web, print, verbal). An 8.5" x 11" version of the poster will be distributed as a handout during the poster session so that attendees will have a guide sheet for future reference.

The intent of the poster presentation is to provide practical guidance that attendees can implement immediately and to provide recommended resources for those interested in further study of health communications to disparate audiences.