Library Research Guides: * Health Sciences: Health Communication & Progams

Best Practices: Health Communication

Health Communication Playbook (2018)
Resources to help you create effective materials.
CDC Clear Communication Index Design Guides
These design guides are intended to help you create fact sheets in accordance with the Index. You will find two different design guides. The Fact Sheet Design Guide is to be used by staff when developing or revising a traditional fact sheet with the primary purpose of providing actionable information about a health topic. The Data Sheet Design Guide is to be used by staff when developing or revising a fact sheet with the primary purpose of conveying current data on a topic.
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Fact Design Sheet
Data Design Guide
Press Release Design Guide
CDC Clear Comunication Index
The CDC Clear Communication Index (Index) is a research-based tool to help you develop and assess public communication materials.
The Index has 4 introductory questions and 20 scored items drawn from scientific literature in communication and related disciplines.
The items represent the most important characteristics that enhance and aid people’s understanding of information.
CDC Every Day Words Index A-Z
Everyday Words for Public Health Communication offers expert recommendations from CDC's Health Literacy Council and other agency communicators on how to reduce jargon and improve reader understanding. You can search for public health jargon or plain language words and find alternatives and example sentences.
Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication
Emphasizes the importance of addressing all people inclusively and respectfully. These principles are intended to help public health professionals, particularly health communicators, within and outside of CDC ensure their communication products and strategies adapt to the specific cultural, linguistic, environmental, and historical situation of each population or audience of focus.

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Health Topics & Campaign Examples

Health Topics A - Z via CDC
Find diseases and conditions; healthy living; workplace safety; environmental health; injury, violence and safety, global health and more.
CDC Campaign Examples
Take a look at what CDC programs are doing to reach their target audiences. Explore these links to current campaigns, health communication and social marketing materials, and interventions. Knowing what has worked may help you develop your health promotion materials and campaigns.

CDC Web Resources

CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response
CDC Gateway to Health Communication
One-stop shop for health communicators. Whether you work in public health at a federal level, a state or local level, or in the healthcare arena, we will ensure you have the best we have to offer
CDC Clear Comunication Index
The CDC Clear Communication Index (Index) is a research-based tool to help you develop and assess public communication materials.
The Index has 4 introductory questions and 20 scored items drawn from scientific literature in communication and related disciplines.
The items represent the most important characteristics that enhance and aid people’s understanding of information.
CDC Every Day Words Index A-Z
Everyday Words for Public Health Communication offers expert recommendations from CDC's Health Literacy Council and other agency communicators on how to reduce jargon and improve reader understanding. You can search for public health jargon or plain language words and find alternatives and example sentences.
CDC Clear Communication Index Design Guides
These design guides are intended to help you create fact sheets in accordance with the Index. You will find two different design guides. The Fact Sheet Design Guide is to be used by staff when developing or revising a traditional fact sheet with the primary purpose of providing actionable information about a health topic. The Data Sheet Design Guide is to be used by staff when developing or revising a fact sheet with the primary purpose of conveying current data on a topic.
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Fact Design Sheet
Data Design Guide
Press Release Design Guide

CDC Publications

CDC A to Z List of Conditions, Materials, Chemicals
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Manual
Based on psychological and communication sciences, studies in issues management, and practical lessons learned from emergency responses. The CERC manual is intended for public health response officials and communicators who have a basic knowledge of public health communication, working with the media and social media, and local and national response structures.
Health Communication Playbook (2018)
Resources to help you create effective materials.
Health Communication Science Digest
The Digest provides access to journal articles and reports about health communication and marketing science.
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(2016 – present)
Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication
Emphasizes the importance of addressing all people inclusively and respectfully. These principles are intended to help public health professionals, particularly health communicators, within and outside of CDC ensure their communication products and strategies adapt to the specific cultural, linguistic, environmental, and historical situation of each population or audience of focus.

Learning Modules, Podcasts & Webinars

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) webinars
offer responders and public health professionals training and resources to communicate more effectively in an emergency. CERC trainings are based on lessons learned during public health emergencies, evidence-based practices from the fields of risk and crisis communication, and psychology.
Health Communication Podcasts
CDC podcast shows what it’s really like to be a health communicator. We take you behind the scenes, with practitioners from small local health departments, to large federal agencies, and in between. Listen to your colleagues talk about their recent campaigns, best practices, and more.
Public Health Emergency Law Online Training
Management of public health emergencies requires effective use of legal authorities. In these incidents, public health and emergency management responses must be coordinated under a complex set of federal, state, tribal, and local laws. CDC’s Public Health Emergency Law course prepares state, tribal, local, and territorial practitioners to make informed legal decisions related to emergency preparedness and response activities in their jurisdictions.
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PHEL consists of three competency-based units and covers legal issues to consider before, during, and after public health emergencies. Each interactive unit takes about 40 minutes to complete
Public Health Learning Navigator
High-quality, engaging public health learning opportunities.

Other Organizations

Society for Health Communication
The Society is a member-driven organization bridging the gap between public health, healthcare, digital health, academia, and research. By breaking down the silos and connecting health professionals at all levels, we’re building a powerful, connected community. By uniting our members, we're building a unified voice to shape and advance the field of health communication. We are an international organization, based in the USA, serving members from all countries.
Washington State Dept of Health Emergency Communications Toolkit
This toolkit was created to help you during a disease outbreak, natural disaster or other public health emergency. These templates, checklists and fact sheets are designed to give you a head start when planning an emergency response.
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Resources on this website were developed by the Washington State Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other trusted federal and local public health partners.

Important: You will need to customize materials with information about your agency or location, and real-time details about the emergency situation. Always work with your assigned public information staff on communication issues.