1. Check Out That Body: A Community Awareness Campaign in New York City
- Author
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Amy Bleakley, Cheryl Merzel, C. Kevin Malotte, Nancy VanDevanter, Susan E. Middlestadt, Peter Messeri, and Tom L. Gift
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Media campaign ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Community-based participatory research ,Health check ,Interviews as Topic ,Intervention (counseling) ,Environmental health ,Preventive Health Services ,medicine ,Humans ,Community Health Services ,Mass Media ,business.industry ,Public health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Public relations ,Primary Prevention ,Health psychology ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Regression Analysis ,Female ,Community awareness ,business ,Psychology ,Program Evaluation - Abstract
The authors evaluate the effectiveness of the small media campaign in raising community awareness about the importance of going for a health check up. Data were collected over time from 535 respondents ages 15-30 years using cross-sectional surveys in two low-income, predominantly African-American communities in New York city. Regression analyses indicated campaign material recognition at 15 months was significantly higher in the intervention community relative to the comparison community. There were no significant changes in social norms, attitudes, or beliefs. Media campaigns aimed at adolescents and young adults on a community-wide level are an effective means of gaining material recognition. Editors' Strategic Implications: This research illustrates the effect of a public health media campaign on awareness, but it also serves as a reminder to public health officials that awareness is not necessarily sufficient to promote attitudinal or behavioral health changes.
- Published
- 2008
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