The hottest Health Communication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

What I’m learning from MAHA

Your Local Epidemiologist • 3091 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Health Communication
  1. It's important to work with trusted voices in the community to make health information easier to understand. By collaborating, we can create better resources that respect people's choices.
  2. People want to have control over their health decisions, but they also need guidance. Public health should support individual choice while promoting community health.
  3. Public health is all about protecting people, not making profits like big companies. We need to clarify this to build trust and show how we can help communities thrive.

Pandemic Censorship Spurs Trump Research Nominees and Others to Create “Journal of the Academy of Public Health”

The DisInformation Chronicle • 885 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Research Ethics Censorship Health Communication
  1. A new journal aims to improve communication in public health and share a variety of expert opinions. This is important since many voices were silenced during the pandemic.
  2. The journal will pay peer reviewers for their work, making the process fairer and more efficient. This could help improve the quality of published research.
  3. By publishing peer reviews alongside articles, the journal hopes to promote openness in scientific discussions. This can help challenge the existing norms and biases in traditional scientific publishing.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Feb 10

Force of Infection • 269 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Epidemiology Disease Prevention Health Policy Health Communication
  1. The flu season is at a record high, with about 1 in 13 doctor visits now related to flu symptoms. This is the worst flu outbreak we have seen in over ten years.
  2. Young children are most affected by the flu, but older adults are at a greater risk for severe illness. It's important for everyone to take precautions to stay healthy.
  3. To prevent the flu, people should wear masks in crowded places, improve ventilation indoors, wash hands often, and get vaccinated. If infected, antivirals can help reduce illness duration.

Scientific American’s Purging of Laura Helmuth Is Only A Start

The DisInformation Chronicle • 1410 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🔬 Science Public Trust Health Communication Media Ethics
  1. Leaving behind hate-filled comments can lead to serious consequences, like getting fired or resigning from a job.
  2. Many science writers may share extreme political views that can affect the credibility of their journalism.
  3. To regain trust, media outlets need to clean up their practices and focus on reporting accurately, without political bias.

A week of chaos in public health

Your Local Epidemiologist • 3907 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Policy Changes Epidemiology Research Funding Health Communication
  1. There has been a major pause in public health communications and research, which could lead to delays in tackling important health threats like bird flu.
  2. The changes in public health leadership could have serious impacts on funding for research and the health safety systems that protect communities.
  3. Despite the chaos, local public health teams are still crucial and will keep working to ensure community health, showing that public health is about more than just federal leadership.
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Hope and camaraderie are stronger than fear

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1900 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Policy Changes Health Communication Community Engagement Mental health
  1. Hope helps us get through tough times, even when things seem scary. It reminds us that positive change is possible.
  2. Working together and sharing our stories makes us stronger. It shows the real impact of policies on people's lives.
  3. Even when problems feel overwhelming, small wins matter. Many people are fighting for better public health every day.

Here's what we're getting ourselves into

Your Local Epidemiologist • 2286 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Healthcare policy Epidemiology Chronic Disease Health Communication
  1. Many people think natural things are always good, but that's not true. Some natural things can be harmful, like germs that cause diseases.
  2. It's important to rely on science rather than just the appeal of nature. Some human-made medicines save lives, even when natural solutions sound better.
  3. We need policies that look at the real issues affecting health, not just ones that follow popular but incorrect ideas about nature. Ignoring the complexities can lead to more health problems.

Now what for public health?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 2790 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination policy Health Communication Health Misinformation Epidemiology
  1. We need to adapt to a new public health world because of unreliable leadership and misinformation. This means being more thoughtful in how we communicate and make decisions.
  2. Building bridges and finding common ground is essential for effective public health. Listening and showing empathy can help people trust the information provided.
  3. Fighting for the truth against falsehoods will be a major challenge. It's important to promote reliable sources of information to help individuals make informed health choices.

The Los Angeles Times’ Chief COVID Propagandist Is Back In Action

Unmasked • 73 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Critique COVID Policy Public Trust Health Communication Political Commentary
  1. The left-wing media has struggled to accept the reality of COVID after five years. Many people feel that the media should show some humility after being wrong about key issues.
  2. Experts like Anthony Fauci, who had significant influence during the pandemic, are seen as having caused harm without taking responsibility. There's a belief that these figures should be held accountable for their misleading advice.
  3. Research suggests that COVID restrictions did not effectively control the spread of the virus and resulted in significant financial and social damage. Many people are questioning the value of these measures.

Buckle up: Navigating the noise around routine vaccination

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1375 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Epidemiology Health Communication Health Policy
  1. Vaccination has had a huge impact on public health, eradicating diseases like smallpox and reducing cases of polio and measles to near-zero with high vaccination rates.
  2. Most people still trust vaccines, with a significant percentage of parents ensuring their kids are vaccinated, despite the loud voices questioning vaccine safety.
  3. It's normal to have questions about vaccines, but it's important to seek answers from trusted experts to separate fact from fiction.

The Chicken Little Problem: Are We About to Have a Bird Flu Pandemic, or Not?

OK Doomer • 136 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness Disease Prevention Public Health Health Communication Healthcare policy
  1. Bird flu is becoming a bigger concern as new cases and mutations suggest it might spread more easily among humans. This raises questions about a potential pandemic.
  2. There have been warnings for nearly three years about H5N1, indicating it may be getting closer to affecting people significantly.
  3. Governments have not adequately prepared for pandemics in the past, which increases the risk for future outbreaks like bird flu.

YLE Event Tuesday (December 10)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 485 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Health Communication Webinars Pandemic response
  1. There is a webinar on December 10 about communicating health in today's divided environment. It will be helpful for anyone interested in public health.
  2. Kyle McGowan, a former CDC Chief of Staff, will join the discussion to share useful strategies. This could provide valuable insights for health professionals.
  3. The event is free for subscribers and will include a live question-and-answer session. If you can't attend, a recording will be available afterward.

Evaluating Medical Literature: Patient Oriented Evidence vs. Disease Oriented Evidence

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 511 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Studies Patient Outcomes Health Communication
  1. When evaluating medical studies, focus on patient-oriented evidence that looks at outcomes meaningful to real people.
  2. Disease-oriented evidence is more common but may not provide helpful insights into patient outcomes.
  3. Be cautious of drawing conclusions about patient-oriented outcomes from disease-oriented evidence.

Health New Zealand seems allergic to using the word 'woman' - but not the word 'man'.

A B’Old Woman • 439 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🏥 Health Politics Women's Health Gender Issues Public Policy Health Communication Societal norms
  1. Health New Zealand often avoids using the term 'woman' in its communications, especially in discussions about maternity. This is surprising since it uses 'man' frequently, leading to feelings of discrimination.
  2. When discussing men's health, the language is very inclusive with terms like 'fathers' and 'brothers'. In contrast, women's health language seems limited, making it hard to identify who is being referred to in maternity contexts.
  3. Many people are concerned that avoiding 'woman' and 'mothers' while promoting language for men is problematic. This raises questions about how women's identities are represented in healthcare communications.

Outbreak Outlook - October 14

Force of Infection • 54 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Health Policy Health Communication
  1. Covid-19 cases are decreasing across the country, with many states reporting low activity, especially in the Western region.
  2. Norovirus is on the rise, particularly in the South, and it can cause stomach pain and vomiting. Good hand hygiene is important to prevent its spread.
  3. Colds and respiratory viruses are becoming more common as the cold season starts, so it's important to stay vigilant about hygiene and health.

Crisis Averted update & what’s next

Force of Infection • 40 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health Disease Prevention Health Communication Science Writing
  1. The new book, 'Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks,' has been released and is receiving positive reviews from major publications.
  2. The author appreciates reader feedback and encourages them to share their thoughts on the book after reading it.
  3. A new update will be shared on Monday regarding the Outbreak Outlook and future plans for regional editions.