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Promoting Health for All Kansans Through Mass Media: Lessons Learned From a Pilot Assessment of Student Ebola Perceptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2016

Amy K. Chesser ,
Nikki Keene Woods ,
Jennifer Mattar  and
Timothy Craig
Amy K. Chesser*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
Nikki Keene Woods
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
Jennifer Mattar
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
Timothy Craig
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Warner University, Lake Wales, Florida.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Amy Chesser, Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Professions, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-9700 (e-mail: amy.chesser@wichita.edu).
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Abstract

Objective

We aimed to assess student knowledge of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and opinions about media coverage of EVD.

Methods

We conducted a pilot study with a cross-sectional survey and a convenience sample.

Results

Sixty-five college students participated in the survey and reported a low level of basic knowledge of EVD, high health literacy levels, and Internet and health professionals as sources for health information.

Conclusion

This pilot study was an important first step to understanding students’ knowledge of Ebola, common sources of health information, and health literacy levels. Results from this study highlight the need to improve health communication training and further evaluate the quality of health information dissemination via all communication sources. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:641–643)

Keywords

Ebolahealth literacyrisk communicationpublic health
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 641 - 643
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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