Communicating health messages

Pamela H. Wescott, MPP Director, Patient Perspectives

that people don’t expect to hear

Shared Decision Making

Programs based on medical evidence help people make decisions that are right for them

One example, back pain: whether to have surgery for a herniated disc?

What people expect to hear

There is one right answer

More treatment is better than less

The doctor knows best

What people don’t expect to hear

There can be more than one right answer

More treatment is not always better

The patient knows best about who they are and what’s important to them

How best to engage people in Shared Decision Making?

Animation

Two patients, a provider who describe their experience

SDM Animation

Attempt to create a universal character anyone can identify with

Produced by Karen McKeen, of Keen productions for the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making

SDM Animation

Two patients, one provider

Loretta, community activist in Los Angeles on being diagnosed with Diabetes Type II

Dr. Nuna Kim, medical director and pediatrician at the Charles Wang Community Health Center, NYC

Phil, former electrician, Raleigh, North Carolina, on having a second back surgery

Loretta

Dr. Nuna Kim

Phil

Q & A: what do you think?

How does animation compare with people speaking from experience?

Which do you prefer and why?

What would you create to communicate this concept?