Mikiyasu Hakoyama, MA¹, Gerald R Ledlow, PhD², and James A Johnson, PhD>². (1) MI 48859, 989-774-1196, hakoy1m@cmich.edu, (2) School of Health Sciences, Central Michigan University, 1218 Health Professions Building, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

Community health interventions are hardly meaningful unless they positively impact the health behavior of the members of the target community. Healthcare providers must recognize the types of desired information as well as the effective means of releasing information when planning an intervention. In order for the community health promotion to be effective, the healthcare providers need to be aware that information must not only be timely, accurate, useful, and appropriate in quantity, but it also has to be delivered from the trusted sources through preferred communication channels to impact each individual in creating positive behavioral change. Target health behavior for community health promotion and the means of interventions, however, may vary depending on the regions as well as the residents’ demographic variables. Individuals’ stage of lifecycle and diversity in the choice of lifestyle may also account for individual differences in effective health promotion approaches. The present study scrutinizes how information sources, communication channels, and individual learning styles relate to various types of health behavior such as seatbelt use in a motorized vehicle, protective helmet use when bicycling, motorcycling or skating, maintenance of a balanced diet, drinking habit, cigarette smoking, and practice of safe sex. Health Needs, Preferences, & Utilization Assessment Survey was conducted in Michigan and 3505 respondents were analyzed. Based on the findings of the analysis, a model emphasizing the roles of information sources and communication channels for the maximization of the effectiveness of community health interventions is presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants (learners) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the roles and importance of the communication channels and individual learning styles in maximizing the effectiveness of the community health interventions.
• Apply the presented model to design and develop an effective community health intervention.

Keywords: Public Health Education and Health Promotion, Communication Effects

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.