TOWARD A HEALTHY PUBLIC - MODELS, MESSAGES, AND MEANING

The leading causes of preventable disease, disability and premature de ath are primarily associated with lifestyle and behaviours. Future adv ances in health are likely to come from the social and behavioral scie nces rather than from the biomedical, and health communication can pla y an integral role in shaping those advances. Three foundation pieces are suggested that health communicators can build on to strengthen our contributions to a healthier future: adopting rigorous and scientific standards of professionalism, establishing communication systems that include rather than exclude the traditionally underserved populations , and improving our own capacity and willingness to hear the wisdom an d the wants of the populations we serve-the consumers.