Maria Elena Villar

Citizen science is recognized as an important tool to engage the public in important scientific and environmental issues that impact them. Mosquito surveillance-based citizen science in college curricula have not received much attention even though its usage has the potential to actively engage students in inquiry and elevate student support for science. FLAGG (Florida Aedes Genome Group) was a course-based internship where college students engaged in mosquito egg collections, learned about disease transmission, and gained an understanding of data collection in scientific research. This paper reports on a study comparing the outcomes of FLAGG participants with students in other college internships and students who had never done an internship. Findings show that participation in the citizen science mosquito control internship not only increased knowledge and skills in mosquito abatement, but also increased confidence and to a certain extent, sense of engagement, when compared to other groups. These results support the inclusion of citizen science methods in college-based curricula, where benefits extend beyond content learning.

This article analyzes communication and information regarding mental health in four public universities from four different countries, comparing the stigma towards mental health problems and its impact on the willingness to use university health services. It underscores the crucial challenge for universities to understand these complex issues and adapt their internal policies effectively. In this context, internal communication presents itself as a valuable tool to change negative representations, promote students' psychological well-being, encourage access to mental health services, and foster social integration and learning processes.

BACKGROUND Youth sexual assault and sexual abuse are particularly troubling with implications for public health, mental health, educational outcomes, the need for criminal justice intervention, and the likelihood of revictimization or perpetration. Despite receiving increased attention, the problem continues to exist with no clear sign of diminishing. In this regard, serious games create spaces of simulated interactions where people can practice behaviors without exposing themselves to risk in a supportive learning environment. At the same time, bystander interventions can contribute to promoting positive social norms, promoting empowerment, and providing support to victims. OBJECTIVE The goal is to promote bystander intervention to safely identify, report, and deter sexual violence. METHODS A total of 10 youths (aged 16-22 with parental consent for minors) attended 10 sessions over the course of 6 months for the development of the game. Youth and community partners were responsible for creating the rules of the game, selecting a name, developing the board game, and completing preliminary testing with youth in the targeted community. RESULTS The participants completed a pre- and post-game test to give feedback on the game. The majority (91%) of the participants increased their knowledge of how to report sexual violence from the bystander perspective. All these increases were maintained at the 30-day follow-up review. Overall, participants perceived that Cho!ces’ instructions were easy to follow, agreed that the facilitator established rapport, and that Cho!ces encouraged people to talk more about how to intervene when witnessing a sexual violence incident CONCLUSIONS The pilot test results confirmed that players gained knowledge of sexual violence. The results indicated that the game generated a positive outcome and increased the likelihood of adoption of behaviors. Also, involving communities made the game more representative and inclusive and allowed for the development of lasting partnerships. Youth were asked about the 3 most important things they learned in this process. From their responses, the most recurrent learning topics included how to start a discussion about difficult topics, the importance of being open, and how to deliberate about sexual violence situations. They also learned about what it means to be a bystander. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable

Este estudio analiza la comunicación y la información respecto de la salud mental en cuatro universidades públicas pertenecientes a cuatro países y compara las percepciones acerca de la prevalencia y la importancia de los problemas de salud mental y sobre la visibilidad de los servicios de salud universitarios. El objetivo general de este estudio es describir, estudiar y comparar el espacio otorgado por la universidad a esta problemática en sus diferentes territorios, las estrategias de comunicación adoptadas y presentar el uso de la comunicación como facilitador de la renovación del lazo social.

This perspective presents concrete examples of how community-based participatory research can be used effectively to decolonize health communication through the co-creation of health communication content specifically tailored to minoritized and underserved communities. The authors describe how community members and researchers partnered to conduct community listening, observation and co-create stories to be used in fotonovelas (graphic stories), radio stories, serious games and community theater. Community members are experts on their experiences and can best translate those experiences into stories that ring true for target audiences from similar backgrounds. Truly participatory research grounded in community values can be slow and take unexpected turns, but it is critical to create health communication content that resonates with audiences and contributes to influencing attitudes and behaviors. When Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is used in true collaboration with the community, marginalized communities, which were historically exploited by community researchers, can become the architects of their own health outcomes.

From a strategic communication perspective, for any communication to be effective, it must be audience-centered, with content and delivery channels that are relevant to its intended target. When trying to reach culturally specific communities or other groups that are not otherwise connected with science research, it is crucial to partner with community members to co-create content through media that is appealing and culturally competent. This commentary considers some examples including storytelling through ‘fotonovelas’ and radio stories, community drama and serious games.

Research shows that cultural aspects may contribute to obesity among Latinos; however, the role of fathers in the family’s health habits is largely unexplored. Padres Activos (PA) is an experientially-based behavioral intervention designed to address this gap by targeting Latino fathers and their children around issues of food consumption/preparation, physical activity, stress management through education, engagement, and direct experience. This paper describes how the curriculum for PA was developed through a participatory framework, and models the application of culturally competent approaches and experiential learning to improve health outcomes now and in the next generation.

Mass media is recognized in health communication as a gatekeeper, alerting the public to what is important with a focus on accuracy and relevancy. This is done through media framing, by which mass media sets the tone through which the public will view the message. Social media has emerged as a force in health communication with the same potential for media framing as mass media; however, with social media there is no formal gatekeeper. Looking at two major disease outbreaks, Ebola and Zika, this chapter examines the influence and effect of social media on health communication. The Zika outbreak in Miami was examined with social listening methods to determine both the effect of mass media on social media and of social media on the effectiveness of traditional health communication outlets to spread their message. The authors conclude that social media is both an asset and a liability during disease outbreaks, and its effect depends on audiences' cultural attitudes and trust toward authorities and the media.