The Pursuit of Positive Impacts

Translating Longitudinal Cancer Studies into Successful Health Communication Interventions

Bibliographic Data

ID21616785
AuthorsWayne A Beach (0000-0003-2168-6606, San Diego State University, corresponding author), D Dozier (0000-0003-0255-1159, San Diego State University), David M Dozier (San Diego State University), Kyle Gutzmer (San Diego State University), Kyle M Gutzmer (San Diego State University), Chelsea Chapman (0000-0002-3650-3289, Health Communication, Central Valley Community Foundation)
Year2024
Volume39
Issue14
Pages3520-3526
Publication date2024-12-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1041-0236 • E-ISSN: 1532-7027
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10410236.2024.2326252
PMID38465426
OpenAlexW4392660027
LanguageEN
References cited28

2010), 30 "impact" articles addressed how our collective research findings had been translated to make a positive difference for persons across diverse communities. It is laudable to develop projects helping others to enhance their awareness about healthy living, refine practical communication skills to promote behavioral change, and rely on findings to enact important practices and policies giving priority to how well and long we live in contemporary society. As a preview, however, an article entitled "Why is it so difficult to talk about impact?" raised a series of inherent challenges faced whenever we conduct our research to advance basic knowledge by pursuing meaningful translation opportunities. These efforts are constrained in various ways: A lack of motivation, ability, and training to envision and implement protocols beneficial for the public good; the need to procure adequate resources (e.g., time and money) for sustaining longitudinal investigations; dealing with misconceptions that "applied" communication research has less value than "basic" studies; and creating and managing cross-disciplinary collaborations necessary to achieve project goals. When designing interventions to change others' lives in meaningful ways, attention must also be given to balancing community outreach while avoiding unnecessary self-promotion and imposition of social scientific priorities

Discipline · Health communication · Outreach · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public relations · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Computer Science · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Global Cancer Incidence and Screening · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access