LESSONS LEARNED FROM PRODUCING HEALTH INFORMATION BOOKLETS FOR DEPLOYING US MILITARY PERSONNEL

Health information booklets deliver information to large groups quickl y and economically. Rapidly deploying soldiers are a group that needs such information. Military personnel responsible for the health of tro ops should know of the materials produced to meet this need so that th ey can facilitate booklet distribution. The Waiter Reed Army Institute of Research within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Comman d has produced health information booklets in support of deployments t o Southwest Asia, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, and the former Republics of Yugoslavia. This article describes these booklets' content, use during milltary operations, distribution, costs, and benefits. A discussion of lessons learned includes steps to develop and evaluate health infor mation and is followed by an explanation of the current situation. We offer suggestions to improve the booklet development process; our expe rience may be helpful to others developing health information material s for military personnel or civilians.