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.
What’s the best way to communicate health issues to underserved populations?
Improving Food and Drug Administration’s health communications to underserved and minority populations
Challenge
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to translate cutting-edge science and regulatory concepts into language that the general public, particularly the underserved, can understand and apply to their own health situations.
Solution
Westat has conducted nearly 400 interviews to test 2 dozen communication materials produced by, among others, FDA’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Office of Women’s Health, and Office of Clinical Policy and Programs.
We employ a variety of interview techniques to evaluate products ranging from websites and promotional storyboards to informational brochures and prescription guides. We partner with a wide variety of panel providers to successfully fulfill recruitment goals that focus on respondents with low education, women, and minorities.
Our innovative project structure ensures each message test—from initial request to final report approval—is completed within a few short weeks.
Results
FDA uses Westat’s recommendations based on the interview data to improve the communication materials. FDA is particularly interested in whether participants learn something new from the materials or would act on the calls to action.
Focus Areas
Health Communications Public Health Social ServicesCapabilities
Equity Partnership EngagementTopics
Equity-
Expert Interview
Circles of Reflection Toolkit: Improving Education for Native StudentsSeptember 2023
For decades, Native students have faced significant opportunity gaps that impede their academic achievement and trajectories. To close these gaps, the Native Education Collaborative, supported…
-
Perspective
Alcohol and Pregnancy: Ways Health Providers Can Better InterveneSeptember 2023
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities that can occur in an individual…
-
Expert Interview
How Can We Bridge Gaps in Public Health Knowledge?August 2023
In this age of media saturation and polarization, wrong information can flourish with a detrimental impact on public health. To learn why people believe unverified…