How Web-Based Health Campaigns Can Be Used as Effective Tools

The past few years have shown how many people obtain health information through the Internet. Surveys reveal that approximately one-third of adults access health information through social media, and nearly 80% of physicians who go online use social media channels to produce, consume, and share medical information. Lay people who look for health information online read blogs, create blogs, and use social networking sites and status update services.

Public health specialists believe that social media or web-based health campaigns have a great potential as effective tools in promoting health. Social media, which consist of networking web sites like Facebook and Twitter, blogs, e-mail and video-sharing have been around only a few years, but their impact in educating people of all ages is remarkable. This is why many public health organizations use social media to circulate health information, counter rumors or correct misconceptions.  Some of the important health organizations that use internet-based health campaigns are the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several universities, hospitals, and other institutions. Social media allows health experts, scientists, and researchers to disseminate information quickly and at a wider scale than any other medium.

Experts warn, however, that inasmuch as the internet can be a rich source of information, it can also be used to spread wrong or harmful information, which can easily spread. It is therefore important for readers to check their sources of information, whether it is shared by a friend, coming from a company that is promoting or selling a product, or published by a public health agency. To search for useful information and tips regarding health, for instance, it is advisable to visit reliable websites, which offer information based on published research that has been reviewed by experts.

For example, the CDC offers the 5 A Day for Better Health, a campaign to encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables for health. The website also has a page, Healthy Weight - it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle! which contains links  on how to assess your body weight, how to lose weight, and how to prevent weight gain. On the other hand, the WHO invites people to join its WHO Nutrition Mailing List to receive information on vitamins and minerals. Aside from nutrition campaigns, many reliable websites promote physical activity, quit smoking campaigns, and other health-related advocacies.

See Also: Unhealthy Ways to Lose Weight

Researchers, public health specialists, and other health advocates can help young people live healthier through effective use of web-based campaigns. Regular use of social media campaigns can help people use information by encouraging them to modify certain behaviors that affect health. Finally, experts found that compared to traditional methods of surveillance, social media can be more efficient in gauging public opinion and sentiment as well as measuring action indicators such as self-reported behavior changes. For example, platforms such as Twitter have made it easier for people to report changes in their behaviors or health status. These advantages can help not only in the line of better communication, but in facilitating research as well.