Category: Persuasive Communication

Strategic Skill Area

A Systems Approach to Reduce Gun Violence

Course Objective

Discuss the public health approach to addressing gun violence
Discuss the applicability of systems thinking to address gun violence
Describe the roles that local public health agencies can play to address gun violence, including supporting gun safety

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Date: July 1, 2023

Gun violence is a major public health issue causing significant death, injuries and years of life lost. Gun violence and gun safety are complex public health problems and challenges that can benefit from a systems-thinking approach. This self-paced module course will focus on how local health departments can take action to address gun violence in their communities. The course describes two examples of how different counties in the state are applying the public health approach to gun violence in their communities and using systems thinking to help define the problem and identify risk factors and areas to intervene.

Confronting Barriers to Vaccine Acceptance: Create Effective Communication Using Behavioral Science

Course Objective

Describe vaccine hesitancy/vaccine confidence and why it is an important public health issue
Define behavioral science
Apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) to design vaccine messaging
Describe approaches to using behavioral science to combat misinformation about vaccines and build trust and confidence in vaccines and health care providers
Explain how these principles apply to current public health challenges that are described in case studies, including flu, COVID, and childhood vaccines

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Date: June 30, 2023

This self-paced module course outlines how to confront barriers to vaccine acceptance by creating effective communication using behavioral science, health literacy, and techniques to combat misinformation. It provides an introduction to the key tools from each of those fields, then instructs on the five-step process of developing vaccine communications. It includes case studies to show how these principles have been applied in a real-world setting. This course is appropriate for anyone communicating about vaccination, from healthcare workers in one-on-one communications to public health promotion specialists developing full communication campaigns.

Leveraging a bilingual communications campaign to promote physical activity: Muévete a tu Manera

Course Objective

Discuss the recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition and key findings to be communicated
Identify physical activity trends and diabetes prevalence in Spanish speaking populations
Describe how communities can leverage Muévete a tu Manera campaign to promote physical activity for Spanish speakers

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Date: January 10th, 2023

Presenter:
Joshua Chigozie Ogbuefi, MPH
Health Communications Fellow
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)
U.S Department of Health and Human Services

In this month’s Log-in2Learn, Joshua Chigozie Ogbuefi discusses the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd edition (Guidelines) and its key recommendations and findings related to how much physical activity Americans need and the benefits of physical activity, including the prevention of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Additionally, Ogbuefi identifies current physical activity rates among U.S populations and the estimated burden of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes among Spanish speaking populations. Lastly, Ogbuefi highlights a bilingual communications campaign that focuses on increasing awareness and knowledge of the Guidelines, physical activity self-efficacy, and changing behavior. Ogbuefi describes how organizations can leverage the campaign to promote physical activity in their communities.

Participants will be able to:

Discuss the recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition and key findings to be communicated
Identify physical activity trends and diabetes prevalence in Spanish speaking populations
Describe how communities can leverage Muévete a tu Manera campaign to promote physical activity for Spanish speakers

Communicate More Effectively: Psychological Principles to Change Behavior and Improve Outcomes

Course Objective

Describe what behavioral economics is, with examples of behavioral economics in action
Understand how to create messaging for disseminating public health data and information using behavioral economics principles
List and explain some key biases related to communicating information to influence behavior and improve health
Discuss some ethical considerations around the use of behavioral economics in communication

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Date: June 30th, 2022

Presenter:
Suzanne Kirkendall, MPH
CEO, BVA Nudge Consulting North America

This course empowers public health professionals to communicate more effectively with the public. To do so, learners will discover the basics of behavioral economics, key psychological principles that are important in communications, and the five-step process for how to apply these principles to their communications ethically and effectively. This is illustrated with a case study on how these new skills could be applied to a real-life situation.

Learners will be able to:

Describe what behavioral economics is, with examples of behavioral economics in action
Understand how to create messaging for disseminating public health data and information using behavioral economics principles
List and explain some key biases related to communicating information to influence behavior and improve health
Discuss some ethical considerations around the use of behavioral economics in communication

Strategic Storytelling: Using Data to Tell a Story and Telling Stories with Data

Course Objective

Describe how to find a story within a set of data points and how to use data effectively within a story.
Summarize different ways to use data both ethically and effectively in a story.
Explain how to tell stories of structure change.
List Edward Tufte’s six guidelines for the visual display of information.

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Date: February 2, 2021

Presenter:
Mark Dessauer, MA
Vice President of Learning
Spitfire Strategies

In the final webinar of our Strategic Storytelling series, Mark Dessauer, MA, shows us how public health practitioners can use data points to build a story and demonstrate impact. He walks us through the steps of finding a story in data and provides clear guidelines to ensure that the story we choose is engaging. He introduces the seven different types of data stories, while highlighting their strengths and weaknesses along the way. Mark emphasizes the most important dos and don’ts of using data in stories and shares vital infographic tips. After reviewing several examples of data stories, he explores how to tell stories about structural change and provides an overview of Tufte’s guidelines of the visual display of information. Finally, he shares a number of valuable resources to help enhance the use of data in creating effective stories.

Participants will be able to:

Describe how to find a story within a set of data points and how to use data effectively within a story.
Summarize different ways to use data both ethically and effectively in a story.
Explain how to tell stories of structure change.
List Edward Tufte’s six guidelines for the visual display of information.

Collecting, Creating and Sharing Ethical Stories

Course Objective

Describe why framing and narratives of stories are the building blocks to changing hearts and mindsets.
Explain ethics in storytelling and identify how to collect, create, and share stories in a manner that is respectful for the protagonist and community.
Summarize different ways to find and collect stories from their staff, partners, and community.

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Date: December 1st, 2020

Presenter:
Mark Dessauer, MA
Vice President of Learning
Spitfire Strategies

In this month’s Log-in2Learn, Mark Dessauer, MA, is back for part two of the storytelling in public health series. Following his October webinar on the power of storytelling, he now shifts the focus on how to share the stories of others in an ethical way. He first discusses how stories can and have gone wrong in the past. He explains in detail the components that make up a good story, including the framing, narrative, influencers etc. Next, he emphasizes why ethical storytelling is so important and walks us through the 4 elements that can help achieve this. He goes on to talk about how to find these stories and where they can and should be shared. Throughout the session, Mark reiterates ways to keep the subjects of the story involved in the process and how to navigate the balance of power. Finally, he ends by sharing a number of tools that are effective in creating narratives around health equity.

Following the webinar participants will be able to:

Describe why framing and narratives of stories are the building blocks to changing hearts and mindsets.
Explain ethics in storytelling and identify how to collect, create, and share stories in a manner that is respectful for the protagonist and community.
Summarize different ways to find and collect stories from their staff, partners, and community.

Strategic Storytelling for Public Health

Course Objective

Describe the value and power of using stories to engage audiences in a strategic manner
Identify six different types of stories to use when engaging audiences
Explain techniques for creating powerful stories, including both the process of telling stories and the content

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Date: October 6th 2020

Presenter:
Mark Dessauer, MA
Vice President of Learning
Spitfire Strategies

In this month’s Log-in2Learn, Mark Dessauer, MA, discusses the power of storytelling and how to optimize it. He emphasizes the importance of using stories as a public health tool to engage diverse audiences. He talks about the impact stories can have on changing existing narratives and addressing cultural norms. During this time of uncertainty, Mark stresses the need to use stories to connect people by sharing emotions and experiences that reflect their communities. He reiterates the use of this strategy to shed light on untold stories and to encourage equitable visibility. He also makes use of a variety of examples to demonstrate the effective use of this strategy to influence changes in attitudes and behaviors. Lastly, Mark walks us through the “storyteller’s toolbox”, providing insights on the types of stories to share, what angles to take and how to best showcase them.

Participants will learn how to the following:

Describe the value and power of using stories to engage audiences in a strategic manner
Identify six different types of stories to use when engaging audiences
Explain techniques for creating powerful stories, including both the process of telling stories and the content

Assessing your Audience for More Effective Cross-Sector Collaboration

Course Objective

Define an audience analysis
List approaches to audience analysis
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on situational characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on demographic characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on audience disposition and motivation

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Launch Date: June 30, 2020

Subject Matter Expert:
Nick Linardopoulos, PhD
Assistant Teaching Professor & Public Speaking Coordinator
Rutgers University, School of Communication & Information, Department of Communication

Multi-sector collaboration is increasingly important for addressing health challenges. This training focuses on assessing audiences to develop tailored communication strategies for building collaborative partnerships. Using a case approach based in fictitious Tycho County, this training will describe the steps of developing an Audience Analysis strategy in order to build cross-sectoral partnerships to address opioid misuse.

Participants will learn about the following:

Define an audience analysis
List approaches to audience analysis
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on situational characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on demographic characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on audience disposition and motivation

Writing for the Public : The Building BRIDGES Approach

Course Objective

Describe the rhetorical triangle and its components, and how it can be used to analyze communication
Identify assumptions you have about your audience and how these influence your writing
Construct an empathy map to help focus your writing

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Date: December 3rd, 2019

Presenter:
Anne Marie Liebel, EdD
President
Health Communication Partners LLC.

Public health professionals often construct or contribute to written materials about health topics, which are intended for a broad audience. This webinar explains concrete strategies for writing to the public, based in the building BRIDGES approach.

Drawing from both classical rhetoric and the New Literacy Studies, this webinar teaches ways to communicate effectively with the public. Using real-world examples, you’ll learn skills to break down various forms of communication, from pamphlets to websites. You’ll have a chance to explore your own assumptions about your audiences and see how empathy can enhance your writing. You’ll also learn a strategic way to maintain health literacy principles while getting your point across in oral, digital, and multimodal communications.

Participants will learn how to:

Describe the rhetorical triangle and its components, and how it can be used to analyze communication
Identify assumptions you have about your audience and how these influence your writing
Construct an empathy map to help focus your writing

Strategic Skills Training Series: Introduction to Persuasive Communication

Course Objective

By the end of this module, you should know how to:

Identify the key theories of persuasion
Identify instances where key theories of persuasion can be applied in a public health context
Conduct an audience analysis assessment for a persuasive presentation in a public health setting
Describe how to assess elements of key theories of persuasion to create a persuasive argument

…and see how you can incorporate these concepts in your practice to address a major public health crisis.

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The Strategic Skills Training Series developed by the Region 2 PHTC aims to help prepare public health leaders and the public health workforce to develop the practices and competencies associated with being a Chief Health Strategist. The modules in this series use the community health improvement planning process to introduce you to the basics of the following four strategic skills areas. The first set of modules have been developed at an introductory level; the next part of the series will build on these foundational modules.

To help you think about ways to leverage these skills in your journey as a Chief Health Strategist to address real world problems in your community, the modules will utilize a case study approach, set in the fictitious Tycho County.

Follow how the Tycho County Health Department could adopt a systems approach to inform its thinking and planning while developing a community health improvement plan focused on a familiar public health problem, opioid misuse.

In this module, you will learn some strategy-based communication principles you can use across different settings and audiences.