2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

331349
Overcoming Social Media Myths & Fears: Adapting New Media Technology toward Integrated Health Services


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Mehroz Baig, MS, MIA, Center for Learning and Innovation, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
Frank Strona, MPH, PhD(c), Department of Health Services, National University, School of Health and Human Services, San Francisco, CA
The onset of social media in our lives is testament to the fact that it’s here to stay. Yet fear of integrating social media into traditional recruitment and communications efforts, lack of knowledge about best tools to use, and the ever-evolving nature of social media keep health organizations, especially health departments from effectively investing in emerging new media technology as a tool to promote public health. This presentation will highlight some of myths and fears around social media use and introduce a contextual framework for exploring how social media can be a collaboration tool for health promotion and beyond. We will introduce practical ways of integrating a menu social media options into health services: What are the tools? Which tool is best used for which type of message? How can organizations build their capacity to incorporate social media in their communications and methods to create a policy around social media use.

Learning Areas:

Communication and informatics

Learning Objectives:
Identify which social media tools are best suited for certain messages Discuss pros/cons of using social media for public health outreach Formulate strategies for social media integration into marketing plans Define parameters for creating a social media policy Identify evaluation methods useful in measuring usage

Keyword(s): Social Media, Social Marketing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a background in journalism and multimedia storytelling that I've brought to my work in public health. As a Communications Specialist within the San Francisco Department of Public Health, I've worked on developing and implementing a multi-faceted communications strategy for our CBA program, which includes new media and social media integration into our communications efforts. I've also lectured on integrating social media into health communications.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5022.3: Cutting Edge Research in Communication, Media and Public Health (organizrd by HCWG)