As a health educator, how do you discern between valid and reliable sources of health information for designing a health communication campaign?
In today's world, you might face a bombardment of different health messages and sources of health information. Think about health headlines that you might hear on a news program or breaking news on the cover of a website or newspaper. Are these headlines and breaking news stories supported by evidence? If so, what type of evidence is considered sufficient for ensuring the validity and reliability of health information?
Questions such as these may help health educators identify sources of health information relevant to the development of a health communication campaign. Critically evaluating sources of health information is a valuable skill when engaging in the development of health education and communication strategies.
For this Discussion, review this week's resources and select a health topic on which to develop a health communication campaign. Consider the goals and objectives of your health communication campaign, including the target population for your health message. Then consider potential sources of health information that you might use to inform the development of your health communication campaign.
Post by Day 3 one goal for your health communication campaign and two to three objectives that support that goal. Be sure to include the target population for your health communication campaign. Then, identify three reliable sources of health information that you might use to develop your health communication campaign, including why these sources of health information are suitable for your target population. Explain which criteria you used for differentiating between reliable and non-reliable sources. Be specific and provide examples. Remember to begin interaction with your colleagues in the Discussion no later than Day 5 and continue engaging through Day 7 and critique your colleagues' criteria for differentiating between reliable and unreliable sources. Suggest additional resources that might help your colleagues to develop a health communication campaign. Provide a rationale for why these additional resources are reliable.