Abstract
Removing language and literacy level barriers to public health message comprehension: Effective use of visual communications through multiple channels
Ody Leonard1, Jennifer McCulley, PhD2 and Julie Hentz, M.P.H.2
(1)IQ Solutions, Inc., Rockville, MD, (2)IQ Solutions, Rockville, MD
APHA's 2020 VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 24 - 28)
background: According to the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality Report, health literacy is linked to higher risk of death, and more emergency room visits/hospitalizations. In general, reading abilities fall three to five grade levels below the last year of school completed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-in-five people in the U.S. aged 5 or older, speak a language other than English, more than one-third of whom speak Spanish. It is our task to inform all communities with crucial health information, regardless of literacy and language levels.
method: Using the universal language of imagery as a tool, and shaping content based on foundational research of the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of a given target audience, imagery can maximize the success of both reaching the audience where they are and conveying messages that provide greater comprehension and action motivation. In the case of sample visuals where health messages are targeted to youth populations, the alignment with the 2010 HHS National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy will be demonstrated.
For multiple institutes within the National Institutes of Health, IQ Solutions has produced visual products that successfully translate complex science-based information into memorable visual messages that facilitate comprehension. The products appeal to and inform at all literacy and language levels. We will examine specific products from diverse communication channels including infographics, videos, and animated GIFs.
results: We will examine outcome evaluation, user responses, and metrics from the examples provided will be translated as an assessment of the impact of visual messaging on target audiences, including social media channels.
Advocacy for health and health education Communication and informatics Diversity and culture Social and behavioral sciences
Abstract
Behind the scenes: Creating meaningful podcasts to raise aware of public health issues in our community
Meena Nabavi, MPH1, Elena Kidd, MPH2, Chris Simma2 and Lisa McCormick, DrPH, MPH1
(1)University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL, (2)University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
APHA's 2020 VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 24 - 28)
According to statistics on podcasts, in 2019 there was an estimated 86 million podcast listeners in the United States. This number is expected to grow to 132 million by 2022. To reflect this, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health launched a podcast, “Population Health Plug-In”. This series highlights current topics and issues that affect population health in the Birmingham community. Podcast guests include experts from academia, community partners, and practitioners. Podcasts raise awareness of public health topics; recent examples include podcasts on
2019 Novel Coronavirus and
The Hidden Dangers of E-cigarettes and Vaping following the 2019 outbreak of e-cigarette product use-associated lung injury. Podcasts also promote national health awareness months; past examples include
Healthy Heart, Healthy You in recognition of Heart Awareness Month and
HIV/AIDS: Panama in observance of World AIDS Day. Podcasts complement school-wide seminars and allow for listeners to delve into the seminar topic; examples include
Lessons Learned from Love Canal, an interview with nationally renowned environmental activist, Lois Gibbs and
A GASP for Clean Air, an interview with a local non-profit working to advance environmental justice throughout Birmingham. Two podcasts are released monthly on all popular podcasting platforms, and notifications of newly released podcasts are distributed via social media, a weekly newsletter, and the School’s website.
This presentation will discuss how podcasts are being used to increase awareness of population health and highlight practice partners. Presenters will provide an overview of the development and challenges, production, and marketing of the podcast series.
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs Communication and informatics Other professions or practice related to public health Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Program planning
Abstract
Father’s playbook: A father-focused, mHealth intervention to engage men in prenatal care
Michael Mackert, PhD, MA1, Mike Garcia, MPH2, Jessica Wagner, MPH, CHES1 and Dorothy Mandell, PhD3
(1)The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, (2)University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, (3)University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Tyler, Austin, TX
APHA's 2020 VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 24 - 28)
Engaging men throughout pregnancy has of the potential to improve maternal and child health outcomes (CPIPO, 2010). Studies have shown significant relationships between father involvement in the prenatal period and improved communication between parents (Zvara et al., 2013), postpartum best practices, and father involvement in the postnatal period (Yargawa et al., 2015). Father involvement and paternity establishment are
key protective factors for infant maltreatment (Buek, Lakey & Mandell, 2019). Given this evidence, father-focused pregnancy interventions may be key to strengthening families, preventing infant maltreatment, and addressing disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.
Father’s Playbook is an mHealth intervention designed to support fathers in the prenatal period by providing education and tools to help plan for the baby. Current features of the dual-language Father’s Playbook smartphone application include information and tools for family financial planning, information on how to support a partner during pregnancy, and tips for self-care. In this presentation, presenters will describe (1) the formative research that informed the intervention’s development, (2) key features of the app, (3) the process of disseminating the app through a range of marketing tactics (i.e. social media and email marketing), and (4) future directions of the app
Communication and informatics Diversity and culture Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Social and behavioral sciences
Abstract
Examining digital health intervention engagement in communication: Findings from a scoping review
Hannah Getachew-Smith, MPH, CHES
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
APHA's 2020 VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 24 - 28)
Background: Digital health interventions (DHI; e.g., websites, apps) can effectively reach users with tailored health content and have potential to improve health outcomes. Engagement—how users interact with an intervention—is often used to quantify success. However, evaluating user engagement with DHI is difficult. Little consensus exists on how to define and measure DHI engagement, and what associated data represent. Communication as a field may offer insight into how engagement can be evaluated. This study reports a scoping review of DHI engagement to examine how DHI engagement is operationalized in the communication research literature.
Methods: A review of published literature within six communication-focused journals was used. Articles were screened for eligibility, full text extracted, and coded for key variables (e.g., engagement definition keywords, measures).
Results: Thirty-eight articles were included. The majority (71%) mentioned engagement, however only 3% clearly defined engagement and 8% inferred how engagement would be operationalized. The term “engagement” was often used within the context of people engaging in care or engaging in a desired health behavior as opposed to interacting with DHI. Engagement was also situated as dependent on digital and health literacy. Few articles described engagement measures (8%) or reported engagement metrics (e.g., self-monitoring data, app use; 10%).
Conclusions: Engagement with DHI is inherently a communication mechanism as it requires interactivity, yet it is not discussed in the communication literature within the context of DHI. Identifying what qualifies as meaningful DHI engagement would facilitate a better understanding of DHI effectiveness and inform future interventions.
Communication and informatics Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Social and behavioral sciences