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Beach communications: a need for evaluation of current approaches
Preethi L Pratap1, Palak Desai, Samuel Dorevitch
1Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, 2121 W Taylor, MC 922, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Journal of Water and Health
|October 7, 2011
Summary
Beach water quality notification systems vary widely across the US. Current public health communication methods lack consistent evaluation, leaving the impact on preventing waterborne illness unknown.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health Communication
- Water Quality Monitoring
Background:
- Public notification programs for beach water quality are managed at state and local levels.
- Effective communication is crucial for preventing waterborne illnesses by guiding public behavior during periods of impaired water quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the messages and delivery methods used in current beach notification programs.
- To assess available information on the effectiveness of these public health communication strategies.
Main Methods:
- A telephone survey was conducted with 37 state, tribal, and territorial beach programs.
- 18 county, city, or local beach programs were also surveyed to understand notification practices and evaluations.
Main Results:
- Significant variation exists in beach notification practices across different governmental levels.
- Commonly used methods like color-coded signs/flags lack universal standards; newer digital approaches are emerging.
- Few communication strategies have undergone systematic evaluation for content, delivery, or behavioral impact.
Conclusions:
- Current beach water quality communication practices are inconsistent and rarely formally evaluated.
- The effectiveness of these methods in promoting behavior change and reducing health risks remains largely unknown.
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