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Background: Organizational adoption is a key but understudied step in translating evidence-based interventions into practice. The purpose of this study was to report recruitment strategies and factors associated with church enrollment and intervention adoption in a national implementation study of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program., Methods: We worked with partners using multiple strategies to disseminate intervention availability. Interested churches completed an online form. To enroll, the church coordinator (FAN coordinator) and pastor completed baseline surveys and then received intervention online training access. We compared enrolled vs. non-enrolled churches on how they heard about the study and church characteristics. We compared intervention-adopting vs. non-adopting churches on Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs using Fisher's exact tests, χ 2 , or independent sample t-tests and reported differences where p < 0.10, d≥|0.35|, or the difference in percentage points was ≥ 10., Results: We received 226 interest forms; 107 churches enrolled, and 85 churches adopted the intervention. Faith-based sources were the most, and paid media the least, effective in reaching churches, which were largely from the southeast with a Methodist or Baptist tradition (no differences by enrollment status). Enrolled churches were less likely to have 500 + worshipers and more likely to have attended a study information session than non-enrolled churches. Church (CFIR inner setting) and FAN coordinator characteristics, but not intervention characteristics, were related to intervention adoption., Conclusion: Partnerships, relationships, and "face time" are important for enrolling churches in evidence-based interventions. Church and church coordinator characteristics are related to intervention adoption. Further work on adoption conceptualization and operationalization is needed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantially lower uptake of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. As vaccination rates struggle to rebound, childhood vaccine hesitancy continues to grow. Addressing vaccine disinformation and increasing catch-up vaccination is an urgent public health priority. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of "Jenny's First Sleepover," a darkly humorous satirical book about childhood vaccinations, to influence attitudes of vaccine hesitant parents. This study implemented a randomized pretest - posttest experimental design using a web-based survey with one intervention and one control. "Jenny's First Sleepover" improved attitudes toward vaccination among vaccine hesitant parents. Negative emotions were an important mediator of attitudes toward vaccinations. Findings identify mechanisms that increase effectiveness of satirical approaches, including the presentation of novel information about serious vaccine-preventable diseases with a dark narrative twist. Health communicators may consider a darkly humorous satirical approach to improve attitudes toward childhood vaccination among vaccine hesitant parents.

Background: There is a pressing need to translate empirically supported interventions, products, and policies into practice to prevent and control prevalent chronic diseases. According to the Knowledge to Action (K2A) Framework, only those interventions deemed "ready" for translation are likely to be disseminated, adopted, implemented, and ultimately institutionalized. Yet, this pivotal step has not received adequate study. The purpose of this paper was to create a list of criteria that can be used by researchers, in collaboration with community partners, to help evaluate intervention readiness for translation into community and/or organizational settings., Methods: The identification and selection of criteria involved reviewing the K2A Framework questions from the "decision to translate" stage, conducting a systematic review to identify characteristics important for research translation in community settings, using thematic analysis to select unique research translation decision criteria, and incorporating researcher and community advisory board feedback., Results: The review identified 46 published articles that described potential criteria to decide if an intervention appears ready for translation into community settings. In total, 17 unique research translation decision criteria were identified. Of the 8 themes from the K2A Framework that were used to inform the thematic analysis, all 8 were included in the final criteria list after research supported their importance for research translation decision-making. Overall, the criteria identified through our review highlighted the importance of an intervention's public health, cultural, and community relevance. Not only are intervention characteristics (e.g., evidence base, comparative effectiveness, acceptability, adaptability, sustainability, cost) necessary to consider when contemplating introducing an intervention to the "real world," it is also important to consider characteristics of the target setting and/or population (e.g., presence of supporting structure, support or buy-in, changing sociopolitical landscape)., Conclusions: Our research translation decision criteria provide a holistic list for identifying important barriers and facilitators for research translation that should be considered before introducing an empirically supported intervention into community settings. These criteria can be used for research translation decision-making on the individual and organizational level to ensure resources are not wasted on interventions that cannot be effectively translated in community settings to yield desired outcomes., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The high uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is one of the most promising measures to control the pandemic. However, some African American (AA) communities exhibit vaccination hesitancy due to mis- or disinformation. It is important to understand the challenges in accessing reliable COVID-19 vaccine information and to develop feasible health communication interventions based on voices from AA communities. We conducted 2 focus group discussions (FGDs) among 18 community stakeholders recruited from 3 counties in South Carolina on 8 October and 29 October 2021. The FGDs were conducted online via Zoom meetings. The FGD data were managed and thematically analyzed using NVivo 12. Participants worked primarily in colleges, churches, and health agencies. We found that the challenges of accessing reliable vaccine information in AA communities primarily included structural barriers, information barriers, and a lack of trust. Community stakeholders recommended recruiting trusted messengers, using social events to reach target populations, and conducting health communication campaigns through open dialogue among stakeholders. Health communication interventions directed at COVID-19 vaccine uptake should be grounded in ongoing community engagement, trust-building activities, and transparent communication about vaccine development. Tailoring health communication interventions to different groups may help reduce misinformation spread and thus promote vaccination in AA communities in the southern states.

For-cause physical activity events reach many people. Little research has applied Self-Determination Theory to participants' experiences in for-cause physical activity events. This qualitative study explored participants' ( n  = 18) experiences in 5K for-cause physical activity events and intention to complete future events. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Emergent coding assessed responses for themes. Constructs of competence and relatedness were most prevalent and an altruistic desire to support the cause. Participants highlighted feelings of community supporting their intention to complete future events. Overall, experiences aligned with Self-Determination Theory. Future studies may include altruism to understand leveraging opportunities for promoting physical activity.

Public Relations Quarterly recognized Surgeon General C. Everett Koop as "Communicator of the Year" in 1988 for his work to inform the public about HIV/AIDS and reframe a then politically charged issue to focus on public health and education. Using a historical perspective, this study examines Koop's communication about AIDS during the 1980s, including press conference remarks, reminiscence notes, and an unprecedented mailing sent to all U.S. households. This study also explores media coverage at the time and framing throughout these materials to determine what lessons can be learned for today's communication efforts. Two lessons relate to the importance of leadership in media advocacy and prioritizing public health over politics. Parallels are drawn between public relations and health and science communication practice and scholarship, and future research is suggested related to recent government communication surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: The authors report no declarations of interest., (© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To combat health disinformation shared online, there is a need to identify and characterize the prevalence of topics shared by trolls managed by individuals to promote discord. The current literature is limited to a few health topics and dominated by vaccination. The goal of this study is to identify and analyze the breadth of health topics discussed by left (liberal) and right (conservative) Russian trolls on Twitter. We introduce an automated framework based on mixed methods including both computational and qualitative techniques. Results suggest that Russian trolls discussed 48 health-related topics, ranging from diet to abortion. Out of the 48 topics, there was a significant difference ( p -value ≤ 0.004) between left and right trolls based on 17 topics. Hillary Clinton's health during the 2016 election was the most popular topic for right trolls, who discussed this topic significantly more than left trolls. Mental health was the most popular topic for left trolls, who discussed this topic significantly more than right trolls. This study shows that health disinformation is a global public health threat on social media for a considerable number of health topics. This study can be beneficial for researchers who are interested in political disinformation and health monitoring, communication, and promotion on social media by showing health information shared by Russian trolls.

This study investigated vaccine acceptance of putative COVID-19 vaccines among a national sample of vaccine hesitant parents. Vaccine hesitancy and politicization of vaccine development has led to a pronounced distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. A total of 1,381 vaccine-hesitant parents participated in this study. Participants indicated a general unwillingness to vaccinate their children ( M = 3.55, SD  = 2.13) and themselves ( M = 3.58, SD  = 2.16) when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. More educated parents were more likely to plan to vaccinate themselves [ F (5, 533) = 9.93, p < .05] and their children [ F (5, 533) = 10.278, p < .05]. Understanding vaccine hesitant parents offers crucial insights as a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for the general public and as we wait for a vaccine to be approved for pediatric use.

Despite increasing warnings about inaccurate information online, little is known about how social media contribute to the widespread diffusion of unverified health information. This study addresses this issue by examining the vaccine-autism controversy. By looking into a large dataset of Twitter, Reddit posts, and online news over 20 months in the US, Canada, and the UK, our time-series analysis shows that Twitter drives news agendas, and Reddit follows news agendas regarding the vaccine-autism debate. Additionally, the results show that both Twitter and Reddit are more likely to discuss the vaccine-autism link compared to online news content.

Using a survey of mothers with young children (N = 455), this study applies Fishbein and Ajzen's reasoned action approach (RAA) to examine the relationship between online communication and infant feeding practices. Contrary to expectations, attitudes, perceived normative pressure, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) did not fully mediate the relationship between time spent online and behavioral intentions. Our findings indicate a significant, direct, negative association between time spent online and breastfeeding intentions In this article, theoretical and practical implications for health communication are discussed.

Journalists communicating risk-related uncertainty must accurately convey scientific evidence supporting particular conclusions. Scholars have explored how "balanced" coverage of opposing risk claims shapes uncertainty judgments. In situations where a preponderance of evidence points to a particular conclusion, balanced coverage reduces confidence in such a consensus and heightens uncertainty about whether a risk exists. Using the autism-vaccine controversy as a case study, we describe how journalists can cover multiple sides of an issue and provide insight into where the strength of evidence lies by focusing on "evidentiary balance." Our results suggest that evidentiary balance shapes perceived certainty that vaccines are safe, effective, and not linked to autism through the mediating role of a perception that scientists are divided about whether a link exists. Deference toward science, moreover, moderates these relationships under certain conditions. We discuss implications for journalism practice and risk communication.

Using an online survey of health communication practitioners and academics (N = 372), this study investigates the educational background (degrees, knowledge, skills, and coursework) perceived to be important for employment in health communication. It provides an update on what may be needed in terms of graduate education, as well as which areas may be emerging as most important in the field. The purpose is to inform students, educators, administrators, and practitioners about the current status and possible future trends in health communication education and practice.