Women’s Health Communication: Turning Digital Habits into Health Habits

Thursday, August 13, 2015: 8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Grand C/D
Given today’s primarily digital communication landscape, women are increasingly likely to turn to websites, mobile applications, or social media for trusted information on health issues affecting their daily lives. According to a 2012 Pew Research Center study, 64% of all women in the United States reported having looked up health information online in the past 12 months, compared to just 53% of men. Keyword data show that hundreds of thousands of searches per year pertain to women’s health topics, from healthy eating to pregnancy to breast cancer to sexually transmitted infections. Federal initiatives must stay out in front of the digital habits of women of all ages to engage this key audience. Several critical factors contribute to success, including: 1) leveraging women’s voices and digital conversations to educate and engage, 2) engaging influential digital media partners to target female audiences, and 3) utilizing timely visual and informational content that is contextually relevant to the channels women prefer. The purpose of this panel will be to discuss women’s health digital communication successes and lessons learned at the federal level. Three panelists representing different government entities will each bring case studies supporting the theme.
Moderator:

Engaging Women on Sensitive Health Topics through Social Media
Katie Rush, MA, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development / National Institutes of Health

Diverse Voices: The Office on Women's Health Blog
Valerie Borden, MPA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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