Mass media health communication campaigns combined with health-related product distribution: a community guide systematic review.

Context: Health communication campaigns including mass media and health-related product distribution have been used to reduce mortality and morbidity through behavior change. The intervention is defined as having two core components reflecting two social marketing principles: (1) promoting behavior change through multiple communication channels, one being mass media, and (2) distributing a free or reduced-price product that facilitates adoption and maintenance of healthy behavior change, sustains cessation of harmful behaviors, or protects against behavior-related disease or injury.

Evidence Acquisition: Using methods previously developed for the Community Guide, a systematic review (search period, January 1980-December 2009) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of health communication campaigns that use multiple channels, including mass media, and distribute health-related products.

Analysis of physical activity mass media campaign design.

Background: Mass media campaigns are a necessary tool for public health practitioners to reach large populations and promote healthy behaviors. Most health scholars have concluded that mass media can significantly influence the health behaviors of populations; however the effects of such campaigns are typically modest and may require significant resources. A recent Community Preventive Services Task Force review on stand-alone mass media campaigns concluded there was insufficient evidence to determine their effectiveness in increasing physical activity, partly due to mixed methods and modest and inconsistent effects on levels of physical activity.

U.S. healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions concerning Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness with particular difficulties for healthcare providers because there are no diagnostic signs or laboratory tests and because management aims to merely improve symptoms. Further complicating management, healthcare providers' awareness concerning CFS has not been rigorously assessed. The present study aimed to ascertain United States (U.

Profiling characteristics of internet medical information users.

Objective: The Internet's potential to bolster health promotion and disease prevention efforts has attracted considerable attention. Existing research leaves two things unclear, however: the prevalence of online health and medical information seeking and the distinguishing characteristics of individuals who seek that information.

Design: This study seeks to clarify and extend the knowledge base concerning health and medical information use online by profiling adults using Internet medical information (IMI).

Focusing on public health: a different look at translating research to practice.

ABSTRACT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committed to achieving true improvements in people's health. In chronic disease prevention and health promotion, we have a good deal of evidence about which intervention strategies work in clinics and in communities to improve health, but we need to accelerate translating that evidence into practice. This paper provides an overview of initial efforts of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) within the CDC to identify and organize the fundamental elements of translation, with the goal of understanding what our constituents need for success and to identify key issues to consider in translation.

Marketing social marketing: getting inside those "big dogs' heads" and other challenges.

Social marketing provides a powerful process for planning and implementing public health programs. Although often applied to the promotion of healthier lifestyles, social marketing can also be used to promote utilization of direct services or policy changes. Despite growing popularity among public health professionals, resistance by senior management, community advocates, policy makers, and others can create barriers to the use of the social marketing model.

Public beliefs about breastfeeding policies in various settings.

To understand the public beliefs about breastfeeding policies in various settings and to examine the associations of these beliefs with sociodemographic characteristics, we analyze the data from the 2001 Healthstyles survey, which is an annual national mail survey to US adults. We found that establishing workplace breastfeeding policies and lactation rooms in public places are the most acceptable breastfeeding policies surveyed, especially among African Americans and low-income populations. The overall population appears to approve of breastfeeding in public, but less-educated or older people (aged >/=45 years) are less likely to do so.

Public perceptions on breastfeeding constraints.

To describe public perceptions on breastfeeding constraints, the authors studied the responses of 2369 US adults who participated in the Healthstyles 2000 national mail survey (response rate = 75%). Among them, 2351 answered at least 1 of the 12 breastfeeding items. Public perceptions were positive for 8 of the 12 items.

The use of surveillance data and market research to promote physical activity.

Using various types of data sources for assessing and monitoring physical activity behaviors on a population level adds to our ability to explain the relationships between individuals and their surrounding social and physical environments. This article presents the findings from part of a panel presentation on available data sets at the 2001 Cooper Conference on Innovative Approaches to Understanding and Influencing Physical Activity. First, an overview of large national epidemiologic and surveillance data sets is offered, followed by a discussion on the use of market segmentation data to complement more traditional sources of data by adding new dimensions to our understanding of target groups and potential intervention strategies.

Public attitudes regarding the donation and storage of blood specimens for genetic research.

Objective: As sequencing of the human genome is completed, there is a need for population-based research to assess frequencies of genetic variants and their associations with human diseases. The authors therefore assessed the current climate regarding the donation and storage of blood for genetic research.

Methods: Data from the American Healthstyles Survey fo health attitudes and behavior were examined.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director's Physical Activity Challenge: an evaluation of a worksite health promotion intervention.

In 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a 50-day exercise campaign called the "Director's Physical Activity Challenge" to stimulate its employees to exercise. Of the 5822 eligible employees, 3740 (64%) joined, but pre- and post-data was available on only 1192 (20.5%) people.

Physical activity interventions using mass media, print media, and information technology.

Introduction: Media-based physical activity interventions include a variety of print, graphic, audiovisual, and broadcast media programs intended to influence behavior change. New information technology allows print to be delivered in personalized, interactive formats that may enhance efficacy. Media-based interventions have been shaped by conceptual models from health education, Social Cognitive Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, and Social Marketing frameworks.

Using "stages of behavioral change" constructs to measure the short-term effects of a worksite-based intervention to increase moderate physical activity.

We evaluated a three-level incentive program to promote regular, moderate physical activity among employees working in a federal agency. The objective was to assess the short-term effects of the intervention by examining the stages people go through as they attempt to make permanent changes in physical activity. Indicators of the process by which changes in physical activity take place were based on a modified version of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior.

Environmental and policy approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention through physical activity: issues and opportunities.

The majority of Americans remain inactive despite evidence of significant health benefits from even moderately intense activity. Previous intervention efforts have generally focused on changing individual behavior. This article discusses the use of policy, legislative and regulatory, and environmental interventions in promoting physical activity to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases.

A model for the inclusion of a physical fitness and health promotion component in a chemical abuse treatment program.

Alcohol and other substance abuse treatment programs are focusing more on the wellbeing of the total patient rather than just targeting functional sobriety. Various explanations are offered in this article for the inclusion of a fitness and health promotion component in a chemical abuse treatment program. The treatment program at Charter Hospital of Fort Worth, Texas, is discussed in detail, including a comprehensive medical examination, fitness and nutritional screenings, and appropriate exercise activities.

A comparison of results of a national cholesterol and blood pressure screening with the NHANES II Study: implications for further emphasis on reducing cardiovascular risk among Americans.

A comparison was made of serum total cholesterol and blood pressure levels taken from participants in a voluntary national health screening (N = 257,665) in 1988 with estimates for the general U.S. population from the NHANES II Study (1976-80).

Physician and consumer attitudes and behaviors regarding self-help health support groups as an adjunct to traditional medical care.

This study assessed the creditability of self-help health support groups as an adjunct to traditional medical care among a sampling of physicians (N = 120) and group members (N = 73) located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metropolitan area. Findings suggest a general lack of awareness of local groups among physicians, referral to only a few select groups, as well as little communication between health care professionals and their patients.

Reliability of long-term recall of participation in physical activity by middle-aged men and women.

The reliability of long-term recall of physical activity participation was examined in 322 women and 129 men in a worksite health study conducted at the Liberty Corporation, Greenville, South Carolina during 1976-1987. Leisure time physical activity was assessed at baseline; and energy expenditure in total, light, moderate, and vigorous activities was calculated. The long-term recall of baseline activities was determined 1-10 years after the examination.

HIV antibody testing: who benefits and who loses?

From a public health perspective, a significant milestone in the AIDS crisis so far has been the development of serologic tests to detect exposure to the HIV. With AIDS now reported in more than 124 countries and in every state of the Union, with the possibility that in excess of two million Americans have been infected and in the absence of a cure or vaccine, the issue of testing cannot be ignored anymore. Unfortunately, the testing debate has generated more heat than light.