Health communication and its role in the prevention and control of communicable diseases in Europe : current evidence, practice and future developments

Health communication is integral to the effective public health response to the continuing threat posed by communicable diseases in European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States. Public health practitioners, programme managers and policymakers need to be aware of what is known about the strengths, weaknesses and costs of health communication interventions aimed at the prevention and control of communicable diseases so that impacts can be enhanced and opportunities maximised for strengthening evidence-informed action. The overall aim of the Translating Health Communication research project was to support the optimal use and development of health communication activities for the prevention and control of communicable diseases in EU and EEA countries. This project consisted initially of two main strands of work: primary information gathering and synthesis of evidence. The multiple outputs from these two strands were further analysed through a SWOC (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, challenges) analysis. Subsequently the results were developed via an online expert consultation process. Finally, all key project findings were considered against a Public Health Capacity Development Framework [1]. This final project component identifies the future strategic actions required for strengthening capacity in Europe to develop evidence-informed health communication for communicable diseases. Thus, a process of knowledge generation and translation was instigated such as that described in the Knowledgeto- Action Framework. This three-year research project funded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was undertaken by a Research Consortium of Universities.