832: PH Communication Outlook, Firearm Injury Prevention

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, january 30, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

ROBERT JENNINGS: 

My prediction is that we're going to be challenged in 2025 more than we've ever been challenged before.

SILVERS: 

Robert Jennings is the executive director of the National Public Health Information coalition, or NPHIC.

JENNINGS: 

But I think 2025 is going to present some particular challenges, and one, for example, is our ability to understand words we should be using, and words that we should lose. So, words to lose and words to use.

SILVERS: 

Jennings says misinformation and disinformation are words you might want to lose because they've become charged and the public, for the most part, doesn't understand what these words really mean.

JENNINGS: 

What we're talking about is inaccurate information or distorted narratives, or confusing communication or trust gaps. So, we just need to not use words that will put the public off once they hear them, and start using words that they can embrace and not feel defensive about when we're talking about public health communications.

SILVERS: 

Jennings adds, despite the public discourse, public health professionals need to let the public know they are here for them.

JENNINGS: 

At the heart of all of it is messaging that can protect your health and save lives. So, we have to find ways, more effective ways to communicate, breakthrough the clutter of information that's out there and get factual, science-based accurate information into the hands of people.

SILVERS: 

Hear more from Jennings on this subject, including the case for and against AI and public health communications on tomorrow's episode of Public Health Review, Morning Edition.

One of ASTHO's most popular resources of 2024 was a blog article focused on the prevention of firearm injury and death. ASTHO's Caitlin Langhorne Griffith helped write that article.

CAITLIN LANGHORNE GRIFFITH: 

We looked at three kind of different buckets on firearm injury and violence prevention to support safe storage practices, so one being child access prevention laws, another being safe storage education, and then finally, temporary transfer of firearms in a time of crisis to reduce the risk of firearm injury and death.

SILVERS: 

Langhorne Griffith says she believes this ASTHO blog was popular because it allowed multiple agencies to learn about best practices and strategies from other jurisdictions.

LANGHORNE GRIFFITH: 

I think ultimately, jurisdictions are trying to share ideas on what's working, what's most effective, and various approaches to addressing a highly politicized issue.

SILVERS: 

During the last few years, ASTHO has also added a firearm injury prevention forum.

LANGHORNE GRIFFITH: 

And the forum focuses on providing these health agencies with lessons learned through a dynamic, peer-led forum, and it aims to equip health agency leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to address and prevent firearm injury through a public health approach.

SILVERS: 

You can read that full blog article today, just use the link in the show notes.

Also, an ASTHO brief examines how states are working to address lead poisoning. See how three different states are collaborating across sectors to address this issue. Maryland, North Dakota, and Arkansas are highlighted. Click the link in the show notes to learn more.

Finally, this morning, sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly newsletter. Everything public health will be delivered to your inbox each and every week. There's a link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.