Report from a symposium on health communication to promote healthy lifestyles for the prevention of cancer (United States)

Abstract

On 25 January 2002, the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention and the Health Communication Core and Risk Reduction Program of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center co-sponsored a symposium in Boston, MA, on the use of health communication to more effectively promote healthy lifestyles for the prevention of cancer. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss past research developments in this area, and to identify practical steps for improving health communication strategies. Speakers presented some of the successes and considerations in implementating health communication interventions, and were followed by a set of panelists from the media, clinical, research, and public health communities who provided their perspectives. During the latter part of the symposium, symposium participants conceived of potential methods for integrating the areas of health communication research, policy, and practice to promote sustained healthy lifestyles.