Making Health Communication Programs Work: A Planner's Guide

Book Review of Making Health Communication Programs Work: A Planner's Guide. (National Cancer Institute. 2004. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Health

Making Health Communication Programs Work: A Planner's Guide is a workbook designed to assist health and wellness professionals in planning and implementing health communication programs.  Health communication is defined as the "…study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that enhance health" (page 2).  Employing the four stages of the health communication cycle, this workbook presents both basic and advanced material needed to develop quality health promotion and educational programs.

This workbook utilizes a 'how to manual" format.  While the authors offer excellent examples of health communication theory and strategies, they focusing on the practical rather the theoretical.  Each chapter includes examples of quality health communication programs and offers improvements that any wellness promotion program can include almost immediately.

However, what I found most helpful were the checklists in the appendix.  These checklists guide both the first time and experienced health promoter in (1) developing the communication program plan, (2) designing and pre-testing concepts, messages, and materials, (3) implementing the communication program, and (4) assessing the effectiveness of the program.   The appendix also includes a sample communication plan, focus group moderator's guides, and scripts to help individuals conduct telephone interviews.

This workbook can be obtained free of charge from the National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute (1-800- 422-6237) or downloaded from

http://cancer.gov/pinkbook

James C. Duncan, Ed.D., FACW

Chair, Communication Department

Ivy Tech State College-Indianapolis