This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
How do we create messages that are accurate, understandable, and culturally competent?
Supporting NHLBI’s heart health education and research information dissemination
Challenge
Heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death in the U.S. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI’s) Office of Science Policy, Engagement, Education, and Communications must break through the clutter of health information people receive with evidence-based health education programs that engage stakeholders and deliver messages that are accurate, understandable, and culturally competent.
Solution
Westat is working with NHLBI to:
- Provide NHLBI guidance and a framework to guide the development of the Institute’s health education programs on a range of topics
- Assess existing program efforts, messaging, and communication strategies and recommend a process for updating and/or expanding based on research, trends, and best practices
- Identify and engage key stakeholders and partners that can be called upon to amplify messaging and/or share resources
- Provide resources and support to community health workers to increase heart health education at the local level
Results
Westat developed The Healthy Hearts Network of national partner organizations to help NHLBI amplify the reach and impact of heart health messages and programming. To date, we’ve helped NHLBI recruit 40+ partners as part of the Network.
We launched a creative and engaging campaign for American Heart Month called #OurHearts are Healthier Together that has resonated with the public, health advocates, and partners to encourage people to join together to be heart healthy. For 4 consecutive years, NHLBI has selected the campaign as its theme for American Heart Month. In 2021 the campaign garnered 92 million+ impressions on Twitter.
Westat used research with key target audiences to update and expand NHLBI’s seminal heart health education program, The Heart Truth̶®. We are currently exploring young women’s declining awareness of heart disease and how The Heart Truth can develop programming that fits their needs.
Westat launched The Heart Truth Community Subcontract Program to support organizations in executing projects that will reduce the burden of heart disease and encourage healthy behavior change to improve heart health.
Focus Areas
Health Communications Public HealthCapabilities
Communications Research and Strategy Traditional and Social Media Outreach-
Issue Brief
Young Children’s Consumption of 100% Fruit Juice by Racial-Ethnic Characteristics of Their MothersMarch 2023
Congress authorized the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a pilot program in 1972 and made WIC permanent in 1974.…
-
Perspective
CDISC Conformance and Compliance: So Many Resources, So Little Time!February 2023
Implementing the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) standards required for data management, programming, documentation, and eCTD data submission can be challenging for many reasons…
-
Expert Interview
How Will the Marine Corps Integrate Men and Women at Recruit Training?January 2023
Marine Corps recruit training is every bit as intense as it looks. Each morning starts hours before sunrise with a chorus of screaming drill instructors…