Science, health, and cultural literacy in a rapidly changing communications landscape

There is a gap between how many scientists communicate and how most people understand and interpret messages. This article argues that the extensive science communications literature needs to be joined by the health literacy literature and anthropological work on cultural variations in hearing and understanding messages. Rapid changes and differences in how people in the United States get information are also discussed. Better understanding of how people get and perceive messages, and how access to information and to health services affects their behavior, should be an iterative and interdisciplinary effort. Community involvement in developing communication strategies is strongly encouraged.