#605
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:15:00 -0400
From: "Prager, Iris" <prager.ij@PG.COM>
Subject: Re: HEDIR-L Digest - 18 Aug 2008 to 19 Aug 2008 (#2008-177)
The Tampax Health Education program UniquelyGirl has a free on-line program for middle school girls on puberty, growth and development and women's health issues. You can go register on the site www.uniquelygirl.com or go for a tour of the site at:
http://www.uniquelygirl.com/takeatour.do
For more information your can e-mail me at prager.ij@pg.com.
Iris Prager
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#606
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:15:00 -0400
From: "Prager, Iris" <prager.ij@PG.COM>
Subject: Re: HEDIR-L Digest - 18 Aug 2008 to 19 Aug 2008 (#2008-177)
The Tampax Health Education program UniquelyGirl has a free on-line
program for middle school girls on puberty, growth and development and
women's health issues. You can go register on the site
www.uniquelygirl.com or go for a tour of the site at:
http://www.uniquelygirl.com/takeatour.do
For more information your can e-mail me at prager.ij@pg.com.
Iris Prager
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#607
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:40:05 -0600
From: Lynda Ransdell <LyndaRansdell@BOISESTATE.EDU>
Subject: need syllabi for research methods and health and optimal aging
Hi Everyone: In my new role as faculty member (after serving as chair for 4 years), I'm teaching two new preps this year. This Fall, I'm teaching "Health and Optimal Aging." If you have any recommendations for textbooks, articles, and/or if you're willing to send me a syllabus and any assignments, I'd be truly appreciative!
In the Spring, I'm teaching Research Design. If you're willing to share any materials with me, I'd be forever grateful!!
My email is: LyndaRansdell@boisestate.edu and my mailing address is below.
THANKS AGAIN (in advance!)
Lynda Ransdell, Ph.D., FACSM
Professor
Dept. of Kinesiology
Boise State University
1910 University Dr.
Boise, ID 83725
Email: lyndaransdell@boisestate.edu
Phone: 208-426-4270
Fax: 208-426-1894
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#608
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:16:24 -0700
From: Kathleen Judith Young <Kathleen.Young@CSUN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Health Communication Course
We are trying to review a health communication course (revamp, etc.) Recognizing this, we have been encouraged to review what is "out" there; if you would be willing to send your syllabus that would help us greatly...this is a Health Communication course for graduate students (but we certainly can review undergrad as well...
thank you, Kathleen
Kathleen J. Young, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Public Health Education/MPH Program
Department of Health Sciences
College of Health and Human Development
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
818-677-4725
Fax: 818-677-2045
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#609
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:18:14 -0700
From: Mark Fulop <markfulop@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Health education or Brand Marketing
>>>The Tampax Health Education program UniquelyGirl has a free on-line
program for middle school girls on puberty, growth and development and
women's health issues.
====
On-line for sure. Free? Hardly. My opinion is that This Proctor and Gamble website is clearly an attempt at market segmentation and building brand loyalty. It is not a health education site. In teaching on-line media literacy, there are a number of principles related to assessing health information on the web. Some of these principles include:
1. Asking basic exploratory questions: Who runs the site? Why was it created, What do they want from you, Who does the site favor? In this case the answer is not to provide unbiased and credible information but it is using "education" to sell products:
2. Assess Credibility. Does the site list the authors and their credentials? Is the medical information dated and referenced? If the site contains advertising is it clearly labeled as such? Not this site. No authors, literature references, etc.. When I click on the product links it does not say it is an advertisement and the Girl gear kit is identified as providing information when it is actually providing product samples.
3. Is the site vetted by an external source ie: URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program http://www.urac.org/consumers/overview.aspx or Health on the Net Foundation (HON)http://www.hon.ch/index.html. Nope. again.
I would suggest contrasting this advertising website with the website included in the question kidshealth.org where there is a clear listing of editorial policies at http://kidshealth.org/parent/kh_misc/editorial_policy.html and accessible panel of experts vetting the information: http://kidshealth.org/parent/misc/reviewers.html. In addition the site is accredited by HON http://kidshealth.org/parent/kh_misc/hon.html
I bring this up only to remind us that as health educators have a role in helping the consumer, especially vulnerable consumers like kids, be savvy media health consumers.
m
===
Mark Fulop, MA, MPH
Portland, OR
Do your part: Join Zipcar & get $25
“The teenagers and college students who left their homes to march in the streets of Birmingham and Montgomery; the mothers who walked instead of taking the bus after a long day of doing somebody else's laundry and cleaning somebody else's kitchen — they didn't brave fire hoses and Billy clubs so that their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren would still wonder at the beginning of the 21st century whether their vote would be counted; whether their civil rights would be protected by their government; whether justice would be equal and opportunity would be theirs. . . . We have more work to do.” — Obama 08
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#610
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:24:02 -0500
From: Mark Kittleson <kittle@SIU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Health education or Brand Marketing
Regarding Mark Fulop’s comments about Tampax—he brings up some good points, but one also needs to realize that Tampax did hire an academically trained health educator for the development and marketing of the program (Iris Prager). Sure Tampax is in the market to make money (there’s nothing wrong with that) and there are many scrupulous companies that do tend to play on the insecurities of people…but I know that Iris plays a critical role in many of the items below and she wouldn’t allow even her employer to provide misinformation.
Mark
Mark J. Kittleson, PhD, FAAHB
Professor & Graduate Director, Health Education
Southern Illinois University
Phone: 618-453-1841
FAX: 618-453-1829
Skype: mark.j.kittleson
Graduate Programs Website: www.siu-salukis-hed.com
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#611
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:36:09 -0400
From: Michael Ludwig <Michael.J.Ludwig@HOFSTRA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Health education or Brand Marketing
Mark et al.,
I don't think it's a question of misinformation. It's a question of who pays the salary of Dr. Prager? And, how does hiring an "academically trained health educator" help deflect questions of marketing and advertising to young women and girls. Yes, it's the American way to make money, but one should raise questions of cost vs. benefit.
I think this could be a VERY fruitful discussion. Let the games begin!
Michael
Michael J. Ludwig <Michael.J.Ludwig@hofstra.edu> Associate Professor and Chair Hofstra University, Department of HPFS 220 Hofstra Dome, Hempstead, NY 11549
516-463-5885 (voice)
516-463-4810 (fax)
"Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens." --Epictetus
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#612
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:39:54 -0500
From: James Teufel <teufel@SIU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Health education or Brand Marketing
At least based on historical documentation of HEDIR membership, it appears that Iris Prager is (or at least was) a member of the HEDIR. It would be interesting to read her thoughts and beliefs on the issue. I am unfamiliar with her work, other than what I have seen due to the HEDIR correspondences. Inevitably, there will be some clearance or buy in issues that will bias works presented by a corporation such as Tampax. The questions are: what is the dissonance between Iris’ covert and overt beliefs relative to those publicly manifested by Tampax? How closely do Iris’ and Tampax’s expression of “facts” match the preponderance of evidence found in the remainder of the scientific community?
James
Director of Research and Evaluation
Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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#613
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:36:57 -0700
From: Mark Fulop <markfulop@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Health education or Brand Marketing
Yikes all.
Please do not misread my intentions. I am not making a content judgment of the website just a content observation. I was not willing to give up my personal information to Proctor and Gamble in order to assess the content. Nor am I trying to impugn the reputation of Dr Prager or any of my virtual colleagues because of their work with/for the private sector. indeed, in the past I have done work for Smith Kline Beecham helping them to figure out the marketing potential of Orasure to college health centers back when they briefly owned that product.
My point was twofold:
1. There are established principles of representing health information on the web and by any of the established objective criteria (as presented by many agencies such as NCI, NLM, MLA), the Proctor and Gamble site promoting feminine hygiene products would not pass the muster of being unbiased (even if the science is unbiased) because it co-mingles advertising with content.
2. I firmly believe that as health educators, one of the core "empowerment competencies" that we are obligated to teach our communities is media literacy, and the referenced website is an excellent case study of how "education" (valid or not) can be used to segment an audience and build brand loyalty. Immersing adolescent girls in the brands of Proctor and Gamble, over an extended curriculum where the brands and brand images are promoted by teachers (in authoritative positions) is a marketing strategy with secondary educational purposes.
Again, my apologies if I have inadvertently stirred up controversy or offense.
m
===
Mark Fulop, MA, MPH
Portland, OR
Do your part: Join Zipcar & get $25
“The teenagers and college students who left their homes to march in the streets of Birmingham and Montgomery; the mothers who walked instead of taking the bus after a long day of doing somebody else's laundry and cleaning somebody else's kitchen — they didn't brave fire hoses and Billy clubs so that their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren would still wonder at the beginning of the 21st century whether their vote would be counted; whether their civil rights would be protected by their government; whether justice would be equal and opportunity would be theirs. . . . We have more work to do.” — Obama 08
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#614
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:05:25 -0500
From: Mark Kittleson <kittle@SIU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Health education or Brand Marketing
Mark,
In no way did I think you were identifying anything inappropriate nor impugning Iris---you’re not that type of person…
You brought up some very good points that I was trying to respond to…yes, it is a company…yes they sell a product…my point was that they at least hired somebody (Iris) who knows how to provide health education. Is there a bias…perhaps.
Yes, we do need to educate students in media literacy…I’m curious how many of us in higher education are doing that and in what courses—consumer health, or is it mixed through a variety of courses.
Mark
Mark J. Kittleson, PhD, FAAHB
Professor & Graduate Director, Health Education
Southern Illinois University
Phone: 618-453-1841
FAX: 618-453-1829
Skype: mark.j.kittleson
Graduate Programs Website: www.siu-salukis-hed.com