Curricular Innovations: Linking Media Theory and Practice for Disease Prevention

Background: During a Media Spokesperson Training Workshop held in November 2009, a discussion point of particular interest included the importance of media education and training in health professions education and practice.  One workshop participant noted that due to lack training in this area, the requisite skills for distilling evidence-based health and wellness concepts for both media professionals and populations at large is often lacking.  Although disparate needs and values of media and health professionals have often been emphasized in both scholarly reports and in the popular press, there is emerging evidence on and interest in the potential benefits of creating viable media-health linkages. This notion provides the rationale for developing this curricular innovation.

Program background:  A Special Topics-Media course was created in the Winter 2010 term as a curricular option for Nutrition and Dietetics students at Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada.  The primary objective of the course was to provide students the core theoretical and practical underpinnings related to media, health and links thereof for health promotion and disease prevention.  A total of 13 students participated in this inaugural course.

Evaluation Methods and Results:  Process and outcome evaluations were carried out to support course modifications and enhance student learning outcomes.   Students were assigned individual and group projects aimed at acquiring an evolving comprehension and synthesis of the core course concepts over time, including: media and messaging; linking media and health theory and practice; multi-media campaigns and frameworks for chronic disease prevention; and ongoing review and reflection on contemporary media messages, channels and approaches for enhancing quality and quantity of life.

Conclusions: This curricular innovation elevated students' understanding of and appreciation for the knowledge, skills and confidence (competence) necessary for creating sound health messages for the masses.  Student participants also reported increased confidence and 'readiness' levels necessary for working with media professionals in the future. 

Implications for research and/or practice:  Future approaches aimed at fostering sustainable media-health linkages via education, research and practice innovations are recommended.