Preface Communication plays an essential role in disease prevention and health promotion. Programs designed to promote changes in health behaviors and to encourage early detection and prompt treatment of illness have demonstrated that mass media and other communication strategies can be effective in reducing the risk of serious illness. Communicating effectively about health is a difficult task.
Health information is often complex and technical.
In addition, the information may be inconclusive, controversial, contradictory, and subject to change as new research findings are released. New health information may conflict with long-held personal beliefs. As a result, the potential exists for misdirecting or alienating the public. Careful planning and development of health communication programs are important to avoid these undesirable effects and to assure that communication activities have the greatest potential for success. For more than a decade the Office of Cancer Communications, National Cancer Institute, has been developing communication messages and programs for health professionals, patients, and the public.