Tailoring Health Messages: Customizing Communication With Computer Technology

Abstract

Through the use of new technologies researchers and practitioners in health education and health communication can now provide health information and behavior change strategies that are customized based on the unique needs interests and concerns of different individuals. These are examples of tailored health messages which can be highly effective in assisting individuals in understanding and responding to health concerns. This book discusses the process of tailoring and its use in health communication programs. Moreover it presents a theoretical and public health rationale for tailoring and supports its position with empirical evidence. It is noted that tailored health promotion messages are any combination of information and behavior change strategies intended to reach one specific person based on characteristics that are unique to that person related to the outcome of interest and derived from an individual assessment. Hence it measures a participants needs interests and concerns and uses that information to create health messages and materials to fit that person. The step-by-step approach in creating tailoring programs is described in this book.

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