2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES &
ENGAGEMENT
LEARN:
Participants will be able to understand the
empowerment framework
Participants will gain an introductory
understanding of how the research findings can
be translated into application.
DO: Participants will develop up to 3 Core Health
Messages using our template, so they will leave
with the capacity to develop health messages in
other group settings using the provided
template.
3. BACKGROUND: WORKING
WITH RURAL FAMILIES
Rural, low-income families experience
Poorer health outcomes
Limited availability and access to health services
Inadequate health insurance coverage
Low levels of health literacy
Studies focused on rural health disparities
Rural Families Speak (RFS)
Rural Families Speak about Health (RFSH)
Rural Health and Safety: Core Health Messages
4. KEY CONCEPTS:
HEALTH LITERACY
Health literacy principles suggest that health
information must be
Scientifically sound
Easy to understand and do
Culturally appropriate
Emotionally appealing
5. KEY CONCEPTS:
EMPOWERMENT THEORY
By playing an active role in the development of
health messages, mothers may gradually feel
empowered to make good health-related decisions
and perhaps extend to their outlook on life
Actively develop
health messages
Perceive control
over one’s life
Feel
empowered to
make good
decisions
Accomplish
goals
6. PARTICIPANTS
92 ethnically diverse mothers (African American,
Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, and
White) living in rural communities in eleven
states
Primary caregivers of at least one child between
the ages of 0 and 12
Income 185% or less than the federal
poverty line
7. DATA COLLECTION
Tested initial health messages in the areas of:
Physical health, dental health, and food security
Health care reform
Used learner-focused approach to test messages
using focus groups and interviews
8. RESULTS
Participants responded to questions about:
Their own health and their health literacy
Perceived sense of control
Appeal of test health messages
Preferences for receipt of health messages
Participants discussed what elements mattered
most to them in a health message
9. SO WE DEVELOPED THIS
TEMPLATE
FINAL MESSAGE
Empathetic about their busy life
Tells a short story or includes simple steps that the mothers find easy to do
Positive – what good can happen after you do the action
In mother’s voice citing an authority figure
Medium amount of content
10. WE TESTED IT WITH
CONTENT EXPERTS
EMPOWERMENT
MESSAGES
THEMES
Dental Health
Message Set
Food Security
Message Set
Health Insurance
Options Message Set
Physical Health
Message Set
DEVELOPED BY LINDA ALDOORY (2010) WITH BONNIE BRAUN AND ELISABETH MARING, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK.
11. HERE’S AN EXAMPLE:
DENTAL HEALTH MESSAGE
FINAL MESSAGE #2
I have two kids and I am always busy and pinched for money! I want my children to be healthy. I
don’t want my kids to have cavities like I did. Our dentist told me that my kids might get cavities
if they don’t drink water with fluoride and use toothpaste with fluoride. Because our rural water
doesn’t have fluoride, I’ve been buying bottled water and toothpaste with fluoride added to
prevent cavities.
Empathetic about their busy life
(“..I am always busy and pinched for money!”)
Tells a short story or includes simple steps that the mothers find easy to do
(“..I have been buying bottled water and toothpaste with fluoride..” )
Positive – what good can happen after you do the action
In mother’s voice citing an authority figure
(“Our dentist told me…”)
Medium amount of content
12. A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MESSAGE
FINAL MESSAGE #2
My doctor told me to be more active. He said it is okay to break the activity into small amounts
at a time, like walking to the street to get the mail or parking a distance away from the store and
walking. I have learned to use the time I am being active to be with my kids. They have a lot of
energy so going with them is a good way for all of us to be active and spend time together. Now
I feel calmer and it’s easier to deal with my kids, too.
Empathetic about their busy life
(“I have learned to use the time I am being active to be with my kids.”)
Tells a short story or includes simple steps that the mothers find easy to do
(“..break the activity into small amounts at a time...” )
Positive – what good can happen after you do the action
(“..is a good way for all of us to be active and spend time together.”
In mother’s voice citing an authority figure
(“My doctor told me…”)
Medium amount of content
13. A FOOD SECURITY MESSAGE
FINAL MESSAGE #3
Let me tell you about Maria/Mary. She is a busy mom of three. She’s always pinched for money
for food. A local health educator recommended that she keep a grocery list throughout the
week or month leading to a trip to the store to save time and so she doesn’t buy what she
doesn’t need.
Empathetic about their busy life
(“She is a busy mom of three.”)
Tells a short story or includes simple steps that the mothers find easy to do
(“..she keep a grocery list throughout the week or month...” )
Positive – what good can happen after you do the action
(“..to save time and so she doesn’t buy what she doesn’t need.”
In mother’s voice citing an authority figure
(“A local health educator recommended…”)
Medium amount of content
15. ACTIVITY: CREATE 3 HEALTH
MESSAGES
FINAL MESSAGE
Empathetic about their busy life
Tells a short story or includes simple steps that the mothers find easy to do
Positive – what good can happen after you do the action
In mother’s voice citing an authority figure
(e.g., “my dentist told me…” “My health educator told me…”)
Medium amount of content
16. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Sheila Mammen, Yoshie Sano, Swetha Valluri, and all the
mothers and state Project Investigators who dedicated their
time and expertise to better understanding rural families.
This study is funded by a Rural Health and Safety grant from
the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Partners include:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Washington State University
University of Maryland Extension
Rural Maryland Council
Maryland Rural Health Association
University of Maryland School of Public Health
Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy
And 14 Rural Families Speak state research teams
Editor's Notes
To reduce health disparities and improve health and well-being of rural, low-income families and the communities in which they live
Core health messages were developed using health findings from
Rural Families Speak (RFS)
Rural Families Speak about Health (RFSH)
Provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordability Act 2010
Individuals can take control of their health if they can get, understand, and use health information to make decisions and take action.
This is an example of a dental health message that was created using the template. You will see that most of the contents of the message have been captured in the final message.
Here we are sharing with you an example of physical activity message that was created using the template. The template helps you create messages in different domains like dental health, physical activity, and food security to name a few.
Here we are sharing with you an example of a food security message that was created using the template. You will notice that to in order to create the final message it is important to first think about the components of each message. The template helps you to focus on those components that will lead you to create a final story or a message. This message is in the form of a story.
