Public Health Pronto: Module 3.1

Communication Skills

Module 3.1: Overview

In this module we provide background on the competency as well as context and information about our learning activities via a video podcast (see below). We also provide a context for you to Learn more about the competency and to start a conversation, so please Comment on what you have learned and Interact with others who have commented.

LEARN

Communication Skills focus on assessing and addressing population literacy; soliciting and using community input; communicating data and information; facilitating communications; and communicating the roles of government, health care, and others.

Effective communication is just as essential to public health as sound science. You can be doing good research on a public health issue, but if you can’t get the message across about what you are doing or why it’s important, much of that work will be wasted.

All of the staffing-level tiers (front line/entry-level; program management/supervisory; and senior management/executive-level) of this domain need to be able to communicate effectively with individuals, groups, and organizations using a variety of approaches -- from written reports, letters and emails to public presentations.

Key to this process is having a grasp of the literacy levels and health needs of the community or population you serve. The three tiers should work together to choose appropriate ways of getting their data and information to their intended audience. Staffers from Tiers 1 & 2 communicate that information in ways that influence behavior and improve health, and Tier 3 staffers evaluate those communication strategies.

Whenever possible, communication messages should include information about the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community.

So what subject areas should a person interested in evaluating and improving their skills within this domain study?

For starters, we suggest Health Literacy and Written, Verbal, and Electronic Communication. You also will want to make sure you understand Scientific Presentations, Group Dynamic Strategies, and The Role of Public Health in the Overall Health System.

In addition, you can explore the resourses below to learn more about this competency.

• Health literacy
• Written, verbal and electronic communication
• Organization and individual input
• Social media
• Scientific presentations
• Group dynamic strategies
• Role of public health in overall health system

COMMENT

Comment on the Presentation...

You can share your perspective on this competency with others in the field by entering your comments here. Tell us how you have personally applied this competency in your daily work, ask questions about the competency, or suggest additional trainings that can be used by others to support learning in this competency.

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If you can't see/access the form above, please email your comments to [email protected].

INTERACT

See What Others are Saying...

• As we receive comments, we add them to this page to begin a conversation. Check back often to see how the dialog progresses.

Tell us how you have used/integrated this competency into your daily work.

• Great material, wish I had more time and background knowledge.
• I particularly find the breakdown of resources by sub-competency to be particularly helpful. It gives a roadmap to the skills that are required for each competency. This really does become a learning course where we can pick and choose our own topics where we need some more background on.