eHealth: New Opportunities for Promoting Health
Today’s youth are surrounded by easily accessible computer technology including electronic devices and the Internet. Current technology permits seamless integration of entertainment and behavior change principles into fun programs
likely to attract and maintain attention.
eHealth is the use of communication technology (e.g., Internet, computers, personal digital assistants, CD-ROMs, DVDs, kiosks) to help people lead healthy lives. Examples include Internet-based comics and video games that promote healthy
behaviors.
Dr. Deborah Thompson, an ARS scientist at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, is a pioneer in eHealth. In a recent paper (November, 2006) in Evaluation and Program Planning, she highlights the importance of promotion and
outreach to increase participation in eHealth programs. Dr. Thompson states, “Recruitment is critical to any program’s success. If potential participants cannot be reached and given an opportunity to enroll in the program, even the most
theoretically elegant behavior intervention program will not be successful.”
She believes that program developers or intervention agents can work effectively with the media to increase participation in nutrition intervention and eHealth programs if they utilize a few key guidelines:
- Have a clear, concise message and make it interesting (e.g., speak in “sound bites”).
- Provide visuals if possible.
- In addition to news broadcasts, remember local radio and television programming that focus on topics of community interest.
Additional information about Dr. Thompson’s research can be found at www.kidsnutrition.org/faculty/thompson.htm .
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