Can community programmes promote heart healthy lifestyles?

Abstract

Community research and demonstration programmes for cardiovascular disease prevention have been developed and implemented to test the feasibility of increasing health-promoting behaviours over and above changes which occur in similar communities without specific interventions. The involvement of whole communities recognises that communication leading to learning flows through natural social networks. i.e., diffusion theory. The principles of social marketing are also applied, recognising the needs of different consumer groups and planning campaigns accordingly. Effective communication considers attitudes, knowledge and skills of the target audience. Messages are designed to move the group forward in the behaviour change process. Communication channels include mass media, education materials, community-based classes, etc., as appropriate to the messages which the sender wishes to convey.