AnEcologicalFramework

I think I am going to enjoy learning public health communication because it is a different avenue in which individuals can be reached. What I liked about the first day of class is learning about how the media influences individuals through it’s many avenues for example through soap operas and movies. I was actually watching a movie the other day and noticed that the actor was consuming a specific brand of soda. As public health professionals we DO have a strong battle against companies who have million of dollars to spend on funding when compared to our limited budgets. Although my next though is unrealistic I actually think it would be a good idea if the CDC had a movie that Incorporates with love, diseases, health disease and professionals. Maybee then the public would have a broader knowledge on what public health is and what it can and can’t do for them.

While sitting in class listening to the theories presented I think of compelling factors that influence dietary and physical activity behaviors in populations via the media. Besides the 4 Ps (Price, Product, Promotion and Place) I was unaware that there were other Marketing Strategies that could be applied when increasing public health knowledge using different levels of communication. I would like to learn more on how to apply an ecological perspective to health communication as I feel it is a strong avenue for reaching individuals at various levels. A city that comes to mind that exemplifies an ecological framework to health communication is New York. In an attempt to decrease Cardiovascular risk factors, New York made it a policy for it’s restaurants to remove trans fats. The capacity of it moving from policy and into the communities took an immense collaborative effort amongst the health department, policy makers and restaurant owners. Only time will tell if limiting trans-fats will reduce Cardiovascular risk factors.