How to Communicate with Legislators about Obesity Prevention Policy

Purpose

This study examines the preferred source, presentation, and dissemination of health-related information for state legislators, using the 2013 Texas Health Perception Survey.

Methods

State legislators with committee appointments related to public health policy and the Farm to Table Caucus were targeted for in-person qualitative interviews, to evaluate knowledge and attitudes about obesity prevention and control policies. Public health graduate students were trained to facilitate the sixteen interviews.

Results

Survey results suggested the most effective witnesses for committee hearings were individuals personally affected by the stated topic (89%), and that testimony should be factual, concise, and presented in writing to the sponsored legislative office in advance. Texas Universities were perceived as the most credible institutions for research, while state/local agencies were perceived as the most dependable resources for information about the issue. Legislators prefer data at the local level.

On legislation specific to childhood obesity, legislators preferred the term ‘childhood obesity’ because it defined the problem. Physicians and university researchers were considered the most informed on childhood obesity (86%). Research findings on childhood obesity were preferred in electronic (92%) and/or paper (50%) format, with information that was easily-digestible (50%). Preferred mechanisms for delivery of information were email (77%) and in-person (23%). Communication with the legislator pre-session (23%) and/or after delivery of information (46%) was also encouraged.

Conclusions

The 2013 Texas Health Perception Survey found that better communication strategies, as well as recruitment of credible witnesses and messengers, would be helpful in disseminating research findings and health information to state legislators.