Creating effective messages about environmental health.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health Science
• Public Health Communication

Background:

• The Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) received support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance environmental health messaging.
• The initiative aimed to boost the visibility of the environmental health profession and public understanding of its role in safeguarding health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test effective messages about environmental health.
• To identify communication barriers between environmental health professionals, policymakers, and the public.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration with a marketing team to create initial messages.
• Message development focused on five key themes: pollution effects, susceptible populations, economics/prevention, homeland security, and specific environmental health issues.
• Testing messages through focus groups with policymakers, environmental health professionals, and the general public.

Main Results:

• A significant perceptual gap was identified among the three tested groups: policymakers, environmental health professionals, and the general public.
• This gap indicates a need for more effective communication strategies within the environmental health community.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the necessity for the environmental health field to develop and disseminate clearer, more impactful messages.
• Addressing the identified perceptual gap is crucial for improving public awareness and understanding of environmental health's importance.