pink-book

Overview: The Health
Communication Process
OVERVIEW
In This Section:
• How the approach used in this book will help your organization produce
and implement a health communication program
• Each stage in the health communication process
The Stages of the Health Communication Process
For a communication program to be successful, it must be based on an
understanding of the needs and perceptions of the intended audience. In
this book, we incorporate tips on how to learn about the intended audience’s
needs and perceptions in each of the program stages. Remember, these
needs and perceptions may change as the project progresses, so be
prepared to make changes to the communication program as you proceed.
To help with planning and developing a health communication program, we
have divided the process into four stages: Planning and Strategy
Development; Developing and Pretesting Concepts, Messages, and
Materials; Implementing the Program; and Assessing Effectiveness and
Making Refinements. The stages constitute a circular process in which the
last stage feeds back into the first as you work through a continuous loop of
planning, implementation, and improvement.
Planning and
Strategy
Development
4
Assessing
Effectiveness
and Making
Refinements
1
Health
Communication
Program
Cycle
3
Developing
and Pretesting
Concepts,
Messages,
and Materials
2
Implementing
the Program