Webinar: Increasing Publications in Developing Nations

"Over the last few decades, health communication theory and practice have been progressing and embracing new directions. However, there are still many silos that need bridging. There are many great experiences in developing countries that are never published or shared with the international community."

This webinar, presented on July 28 2015 by the Journal of Communication in Healthcare: Strategies, Media and Engagement in Global Health, took the form of presentations and a question and answer (Q&A) session with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom (UK) and the Journal. Its purpose was to initiate conversation on how the global health community can increase publications from countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, whose communication models, experiences, and results could inform interventions in other countries. There were over 90 people in attendance.

Key topics included:

• The importance of this kind of exchange on experiences and research from developing countries within the contest of the broader global health community.
• How to encourage submissions from developing nations, including new case study-friendly formats and guidance developed by the Journal of Communication in Healthcare.

For example, one speaker focused on the impetus of the webinar, which is grounded in the global scope of the Journal. The interest is in innovative approaches, the interconnection/integration of different communication areas and media, and the role of different groups, communities, and stakeholders in engaging in and influencing health communication processes. The Journal focuses on fostering a multi-sectoral community of researchers and practitioners from healthcare, public health, global health, and development - with an emphasis on fostering scientific and programme exchange across fields and country settings. The Journal also seeks to contribute to global debates and help build capacity through initiatives such as this webinar.

There was discussion of health communication as a growing field that features strategies such as a people-centred approach to intervention design, new and integrated planning frameworks (e.g., social and behaviour change communication, or SBCC, communication for behavioral impact, or COMBI, and communication for development, or C4D), the use of new media and technology, a stronger emphasis on behavioural and social results as key outcomes of communication interventions, and a resolve to address health and social issues within the context of their many determinants. Other speakers focused on emergency risk communication (ERC) models and publication needs, or on how research from developing countries could shape global health development.

In terms of publication strategies, participants in the conversation shared suggestions such as, in terms of criteria for selection, the importance of the research issue or specific intervention/programme being of global interest - either because of the subject or because it used innovative research or programme methodologies/strategies that might be applied elsewhere. It is noted that quality is important: Resources to support a clear writing style may help increase publication.

The Q&A session picks up on many of these points, such as how to translate publications on research data or specific programme interventions into policy and widespread practice. Some next steps and upcoming webinars by the Journal were also highlighted.