Child-mediated health communication: A conceptual framework for increasing stroke literacy in hard to reach populations

Authors

Olajide Williams, Columbia University Medical CenterFollow
Ellyn Leighton-Herrmann, Columbia University Medical CenterFollow
Mindy F. Hecht, Columbia University Medical CenterFollow
Alexandra DeSorbo, Columbia University Medical CenterFollow
William Gerin, The Pennsylvania State UniversityFollow
Monique Hedmann, Columbia University Medical CenterFollow
Rachel Shelton, Columbia UniversityFollow
Benjamin Tolchin, Brigham and Women's HospitalFollow
James Noble, Columbia University Medical CenterFollow

Keywords

Stroke; child-mediated communication; health disparities; health communication; framework

Disciplines

Health Communication | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion

Abstract

Effectively engaging economically-disadvantaged ethnic minority communities for promoting health has proved to be challenging for a variety of reasons, including factors related to healthcare access, literacy, inadequate or ineffective cultural appropriateness of materials, and the relatively low priority for health due to competing demands related to economic hardship. We have developed a framework of Child-Mediated Health Communication (CMHC), which focuses on children as channels for carrying out health promotion interventions to parents and other caregivers. CMHC is an innovative, alternative strategy for engaging this underserved population, where traditional methods of health promotion have not been successful. We discuss the theoretical foundation, development, and effectiveness of a CMHC framework in our stroke preparedness communication intervention, Hip Hop Stroke.

Recommended Citation

Williams, Olajide; Leighton-Herrmann, Ellyn; Hecht, Mindy F.; DeSorbo, Alexandra; Gerin, William; Hedmann, Monique; Shelton, Rachel; Tolchin, Benjamin; and Noble, James (2016) "Child-mediated health communication: A conceptual framework for increasing stroke literacy in hard to reach populations," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 9: Iss. 4, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol9/iss4/7