Tailored and Targeted Health Communication: Strategies for Enhancing Information Relevance
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To discuss tailored messages in the broader context of communication strategies designed to enhance the relevance of health information to a given audience. METHODS: Describe specific mechanisms through which tailored health communication can enhance message relevance and identify situations in which the use of tailoring is most appropriate. RESULTS: Overall, tailored messages appear to stimulate greater cognitive activity than do messages that are not tailored. However, non-tailored messages that happen to be a good fit for a given individual also have similar effects. CONCLUSION: Health communication programs and materials that succeed in making information relevant to their intended audience will be more effective than those that do not. Tailoring is a proven approach to enhancing message relevance, but not the only approach to do so, and under many circumstances may not be the preferred choice.
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Which characteristics can be used to tailor which messages depends largely on the target population's needs and preferences.
“Which characteristics can be used to tailor which messages depends largely on the target population’s needs and preferences [66,67].”
Designing chatbots with personalized messages can be more effective than non-tailored and standardized messages.
“For example, designing chatbots with personalized messages can be more effective than non-tailored and standardized messages [43, 44].”
From A systematic review of artificial intelligence chatbots for promoting physical activity, healthy diet, and weight loss (2021) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- Kreuter, M. W., & Wray, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Saint Louis University (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Health Behavior
- Publisher
- JCFCorp SG PTE LTD
- Published
- 2003-11-01
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 227-232
- ISSN
- 1087-3244 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7359
- OpenAlex
- W2152066760
- Cited by
- 1,095
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 54 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 67 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 49
- FWCI
- 200.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Health Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Keywords
- tailored health communication, message relevance, health communication strategies, cognitive processes
- MeSH terms
- Health Education, Health Promotion, Humans, Mass Media, Obesity, Persuasive Communication, Weight Loss, Health Behavior, Behavioral Research, Social Marketing
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