Abstract
This discussion will focus on ways to move citizens to action on a public health issue. The issue we address specifically is Type 2 Diabetes, although we are interested in generating ideas concerning citizens’ participation in public health issues and policy more broadly. We will start the discussion by presenting a matrix of factors relevant to community readiness to engage in action related to public health issues. This matrix was developed from analysis of qualitative and quantitative data gathered from over twenty mainly rural communities across a Southern state in which high rates of Type 2 Diabetes prevail statewide. This matrix includes factors such as the intersection of community literacy with health literacy, the ability to visualize a different collective future, and citizens’ perceptions of the salience and importance of the issue being addressed. Specific data from our study will be presented to illustrate the usefulness of the matrix followed by a wider discussion of its potential to inform how to engage citizens more broadly on public health issues. Traditionally, the burden of noncommunicable diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, has fallen solely to the individual that is diagnosed. Understanding factors that inhibit both individual and collective action related to these diseases can inform practitioners in regard to best ways to set realistic expectations for health promotion and education.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Health, Health Literacy, Community Literacy, Community Readiness, Responsibility, Accountability, Visualized Future, Action
Digital Media
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