Status of health communication activities for the prevention and control of communicable diseases across the EU and EEA/EFTA countries

Health communication activities to inform and influence individual and community decisions are increasingly being used to support the prevention and control of communicable diseases. Research shows that properly designed media campaigns can have a significant positive impact on health-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour. However, the extent and nature of the use of health communication activities for the prevention and control of communicable diseases across Europe is currently unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) commissioned a Research Consortium of universities to map current use and application of health communication activities, and to identify perceived needs for efficacious use of health communication, in particular in relation to the prevention and control of communicable diseases across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The purpose of this report is to present the findings from the mapping exercise and needs assessment gathered across the 30 EU and EEA/EFTA countries