Developing Communication Skills in Future Public Health Practitioners through a Public Health Writing Program

Strong communication skills are essential for addressing the health needs of communities served by public health professionals; however, developing communication skills to a competent, professional level requires intense instruction beyond the classroom. In 2011, Boston University School of Public Health created the Public Health Writing Program (PHWP) as an approach to “teach students to communicate effectively to promote the health of all members of our communities.”  The program is based in collaborative learning theory, or the experience of two or more people learning together.  The program contextualizes this theory through a peer-sharing model, and as such, excellent student writers are hired as the program’s writing assistants.  Through one-on-one consultations, students receive feedback on the global aspects of their paper and targeted ways to strengthen their public health writing skills.

Since 2011, the PHWP has served 213 students.  Session evaluations indicate that: (1) 98% (n=204) of sessions were helpful; (2) 96% (n=204) of appointments increased the student’s information and/or skills in writing; and (3) 98% (n=44) of appointments increased the student’s confidence in writing.  The program has become an established resource for students' learning experience with over 20% of students using the program visiting more than three times during their degree program. Future directions include expanding student outreach and adapting program offerings to other employer identified professional communication needs, such as oral and technological communications.  The presentation will discuss lessons learned in designing, implementing, and evaluating a PHWP to improve future professionals’ practice in public health communication.