Skip to main content

Transforming the understanding
and treatment of mental illnesses.

Communication, Dissemination, and Engagement Research Program for the Prevention, Treatment and Cure of HIV

Overview

This program supports research on communication, dissemination and engagement to advance HIV prevention, treatment and cure. Communication and dissemination science involves the study and practice of creating, sharing and receiving information. Early work in mass communications showed that the way in which health messages are shaped and delivered could significantly impact HIV awareness to affect behavior change. Ongoing efforts demonstrate that at each stage of the HIV care continuum, communication and dissemination science offers tools to inform the development of innovative health practices, meaningful provider guidelines, effective engagement strategies, and evidence-based decision-making with the goal of expanding uptake of effective approaches to improve health outcomes. New digital technologies, including the advent of social media, offer increased opportunities for raising HIV awareness and optimizing positive health outcomes. Findings from clinical care settings demonstrate the importance of high-quality communication between patients and providers, and its direct impact on client comfort, trust and how information on HIV prevention and treatment is shared and received. Communication and dissemination science also allows us to maximize the transdisciplinary benefits of basic, behavioral and clinical science in mental health and HIV - bridging the gap between scientific knowledge, collaborative partnerships and patient engagement. As such this program encourages the development of cost-effective, data and outcome-driven paradigms for sustainable learning, knowledge-exchange, and knowledge-utilization across a variety of disciplines, contexts, and settings. This program also supports the use of emerging data science and technological approaches and the development of new methods for optimizing effective communication.

Areas of Emphasis

  • Investigate and explore ways to improve public understanding, social marketing campaigns, and other forms of strategic health communication to support individual, organizational and community-level understanding of HIV prevention, treatment and cure efforts.
  • Develop and improve digital technologies and new media platforms to raise HIV awareness; support social interaction and learning; maximize reach and engagement; and promote accurate and timely health information.
  • Optimize effective communication and engagement practices between people living with HIV and healthcare providers, health systems, and other formal and informal care networks, in order to cultivate greater trust, support, and respect in care settings; facilitate enhanced information sharing and collaborative-decision making; and identify opportunities for effective, evidence­ based, and client-centered interventions aimed at overcoming barriers to successful treatment, and linkage to care.
  • Investigate how communication strategies, message framing, and information-dissemination approaches from other health communication efforts may inform current and future HIV-related communication efforts and vice versa.

Contact

Lori A. J. Scott-Sheldon, PhD

Lori A. J. Scott-Sheldon, PhD
Email: lori.scott-sheldon@nih.gov
Mobile: 301-792-2309
To schedule a meeting: Book time with Scott-Sheldon, Lori (NIH/NIMH) [E]