lessons from pharmaceutical sales

The New York Times had an article today about how the New York City health department is taking a lesson from pharmaceutical sales forces. The health department sends health educators to clinics in under served areas to detail city health resources and educate physicians about health interventions. The educators come armed with posters, condoms, and yes, even pens, to reinforce their message. They also work to build on-going relationships with the physicians and clinics they serve.

What do you think? What other strategies can public health workers learn from other industries to make their message stick?

Health messages through song

The New York Times ran an article Saturday about Feliciano Dos Santos one of southern Africa's most popular singers, who writes and performs songs promoting sanitation and disease prevention. It is an interesting look at health promotion in a different culture and also examines the barriers to health promotion. Health promotion is about more than getting health messages to the people, but addressing the cultural and systematic barriers to changing behavior.

You can find the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/world/africa/25santos.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink.