EXTENSION AND PUBLIC HEALTH: PARTNERING TO

CO-CREATE HEALTH MESSAGES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES & ENGAGEMENT

LEARN: Participants will be able to understand the

empowerment framework

Participants will gain an introductory understanding of how the research findings can be translated into application.

DO: Participants will develop up to 3 Core Health Messages using our template, so they will leave with the capacity to develop health messages in other group settings using the provided template.

BACKGROUND: WORKING WITH RURAL

FAMILIES

Rural, low-income families experience Poorer health outcomes Limited availability and access to health services Inadequate health insurance coverage Low levels of health literacy

Studies focused on rural health disparities Rural Families Speak (RFS) Rural Families Speak about Health (RFSH) Rural Health and Safety: Core Health Messages

KEY CONCEPTS:HEALTH LITERACY

Health literacy principles suggest that health information must be

Scientifically sound

Easy to understand and do

Culturally appropriate

Emotionally appealing

KEY CONCEPTS:EMPOWERMENT

THEORY

By playing an active role in the development of health messages, mothers may gradually feel empowered to make good health-related decisions and perhaps extend to their outlook on life

PARTICIPANTS

92 ethnically diverse mothers (African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, and White) living in rural communities in eleven states

Primary caregivers of at least one child between the ages of 0 and 12

Income 185% or less than the federal poverty line

DATA COLLECTION

Tested initial health messages in the areas of:

Physical health, dental health, and food security

Health care reform

Used learner-focused approach to test messages using focus groups and interviews

RESULTS

Participants responded to questions about:

Their own health and their health literacy

Perceived sense of control

Appeal of test health messages

Preferences for receipt of health messages

Participants discussed what elements mattered most to them in a health message

SO WE DEVELOPED THIS TEMPLATE

WE TESTED IT WITH CONTENT EXPERTS

DEVELOPED BY LINDA ALDOORY (2010) WITH BONNIE BRAUN AND ELISABETH MARING, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK.

HERE’S AN EXAMPLE: DENTAL HEALTH

MESSAGE

A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MESSAGE

A FOOD SECURITY MESSAGE

ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY: CREATE 3 HEALTH MESSAGES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Sheila Mammen, Yoshie Sano, Swetha Valluri, and all the mothers and state Project Investigators who dedicated their

time and expertise to better understanding rural families.

This study is funded by a Rural Health and Safety grant fromthe USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Partners include: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Washington State UniversityUniversity of Maryland Extension

Rural Maryland CouncilMaryland Rural Health Association

University of Maryland School of Public HealthHerschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy

And 14 Rural Families Speak state research teams