Top 3 Pop Health Trends in 2013

Wrapping up 2013 has given me a great opportunity to reflect on what I have been writing about over the past year.  Looking back over 35+ posts, here are the trends that caught my eye:

1.  Social Media & Public Health:  The intersection of these two topics continues to intrigue us in the public health field and the application of social media is being explored in everything from preparedness to health education.

Pop Health Favorites From 2013:

• Facebook Is Revolutionizing The Search For An Organ Donor, But Is It Fair? (September 27, 2013)
• #RoyalBaby Offers Public Health A Unique Opportunity To Advocate For Maternal & Child Health (July 23, 2013)
• Instagram It! Using Instagram For Public Health (June 26, 2013)
• How And Why Should We "Pin" Public Health? (June 18, 2013)
• Emergency Response To The Boston Marathon Bombings: Looking To Social Media For Information, Resources, and Connections (April 16, 2013)
• Using Twitter To Track Disease: Weighing The Advantages and Challenges (March 5, 2013)
• Downton Abbey: A Mountain Of Viewer Tears Leads To An Incredible Online Discussion About Maternal Health (January 29, 2013)

2.  Celebrities & Public Health:  This is not a new topic by any means.  For decades, celebrities have been health advocates and/or the topic of discussion for a number of public health issues.  However, I highlight it as a trend in 2013 for two reasons.  (1) With the help of social media, celebrities are weighing in constantly on health issues and current events in real time. These opinions can come quickly and casually through Twitter or Facebook...they no longer speak exclusively through publicists and press releases.  (2) Public health is putting an emphasis on evaluating the impact of celebrities on health issues.  *I hope we see more of this in 2014!!

Pop Health Favorites From 2013:

• Research Notes: The Angelina Effect (December 23, 2013)
• Celebrities Aim To Silence The Sounds Of Pertussis (November 1, 2013)
• Let's Give Paris Jackson Some Privacy And Revisit Safe Reporting On Suicide (And Attempts!) (June 5, 2013)
• Angelina's "Medical Choice" Dominates The Internet (May 14, 2013)

3.  Crowdsourcing & Public Health:  While I haven't written about it as much as I would like, I have been fascinated by the creative use of crowdsourcing in 2013 that has helped advance public health dialogue.  [For those not familiar with the term, "crowdsourcing" is the act of obtaining ideas, content, etc. by soliciting contributions from a large group of people- like Twitter users!]  Specifically I'd like to acknowledge Slate for utilizing this strategy in the #NotDeadYet story I link to below and more recently in their analysis of gun death data.  I think we in public health can learn a lot from the crowdsourcing strategies that Slate has used to engage readers.

Pop Health Favorite From 2013:

• #NotDeadYet: Slate Sparks An Awesome Online Discussion Of Life, Medicine, and Public Health (September 12, 2013)

2014:  I anticipate that each of these three topics will continue to grow and appear in many Pop Health posts in 2014.  I hope that we see more and more evaluation studies of social media/celebrities/crowdsourcing and their impact on public health initiatives.  I hope these studies are widely disseminated and made accessible to many of us- even if we lack comprehensive access to peer reviewed journals.  If you see such studies, pass them along!  I am hoping to expand my "Research Notes" posts in the upcoming year and would love to highlight such studies on the blog.

What Do You Think?

• What other 2013 trends in health communication/social media/public health did you see in your work?
• What new/expanding trends do you anticipate in 2014?

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Beckham, Celebrity Babies, Cruz Beckham, David Beckham, Romeo Beckham

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Research Notes: The Angelina Effect

The second most popular Pop Health post of 2013 was "Angelina Jolie's 'Medical Choice' Dominates the Internet" (May 14, 2013).  In that post, I highlighted several public health implications of her op-ed that were being discussed in the media coverage-

(1) Angelina as a "champion" for breast cancer prevention: would her celebrity status help or hurt the cause?
(2) Legal and policy issues with BRCA genetic testing.
(3) Health communication (specifically regarding risk perception).
(4) Reviewing the evidence base for recommending BRCA testing or preventative mastectomies.

When celebrity health stories such as this are publicized, I always keep my eyes peeled to see if any evaluation research or subsequent stories follow.  So I was thrilled to see a peer-reviewed paper released last week that examined the impact of her op-ed.  Authors of "The Angelina Effect: Immediate Reach, Grasp, and Impact of Going Public", conducted a survey which asked participants to report their understanding, reactions, perceptions, and subsequent activities related to the story.  The researchers were especially interested in the public's ability to distinguish the genetic context of Angelina's risk of Breast Cancer from the lower risk that characterizes the vast majority of women who do not carry a BRCA mutation.

Some key findings:

• Approximately 75% of sampled adults were aware of Angelina's choice to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing Breast Cancer.

• Of those aware of her story, only 3.4% indicated that they had read her op-ed originally posted in the New York Times.  Instead, most became aware of the story through the national/local news (61.2%) or entertainment news (21.5%).

• Among respondents that correctly reported Angelina's risk of developing Breast Cancer, fewer than 10% had the information necessary to interpret her risk relative to a woman unaffected by the BRCA gene mutation.

• The majority of respondents (80%) did not report any health-related actions (e.g., speaking with a doctor or genetic counselor) in the 3 weeks between the op-ed's publication and survey completion.

The authors' conclusions have important implications for those of us that lead health communication efforts- especially those efforts that intersect with the popular media:

"While celebrities can bring heightened awareness to health issues, there is a need for these messages to be accompanied by more purposeful communication efforts to assist the public in understanding and using the complex diagnostic and treatment information that these stories convey."

What Do You Think?

• Are you surprised that Angelina's op-ed did not result in significant knowledge or behavior change among readers?
• Should we retire "awareness" as a public health goal since it often does not lead to knowledge or behavior change?
• Since most respondents were not able to distinguish Angelina's cancer risk from women who do not carry the BRCA gene mutation, could the op-ed do more harm than good?
• This survey was conducted within 3 weeks of the op-ed publication; are there questions you would like to see asked in a longer-term follow-up survey?

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pink hair IS BACK!

HAIR TRENDSETTER, SIENNA MILLER, IS BRINGING BACK PINK HAIR...

well, rose-gold-pink-peach hair!

She showed off her new hair colour at the 2013 British Fashion Awards last week and it's been trending ever since. The new colour isn't about bleaching and dyeing your hair a solid state of pink; now, it's all about the tint, it's reminiscent of 'the fade'.

to copy-cat: You could ask your colourist about going pink-gold-peach or you could try Kevin.Murphy's COLOR.BUG {which is available at Mana}, it's wipe on, wipe off colour! With a towel draped around your shoulders to protect your clothes, apply your styling hair product and then the COLOR.BUG to make it stick. The COLOR.BUG adds body to hair, you can keep this raw texture or add a fine mist of hairspray to lock on the colour.

CLICK HERE for more details

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Cristiano Ronaldo | Official celebrity websites | Facebook, Twitter

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Celebrities Aim To Silence The Sounds of Pertussis

This week I surprised myself when I tweeted:

I happened to catch a portion of last week's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.  While not usually a fan of the content/messages on that show, I was thrilled to see that Pertussis (Whooping Cough) was discussed.  Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that can be fatal when contracted by infants.  Research has shown that the majority of infants who get Pertussis get it from a family member.

Since Kim Kardashian would be staying at the family home with a newborn, her mother Kris brought their family physician in to vaccinate everyone who would come in contact with the baby.  That included the baby's grandparents and aunts/uncles.  What a great preventative health behavior to model on TV!

The show brought me back to a blog post I wrote last year to summarize my reactions to the PBS Frontline special "The Vaccine War".  One question I posed to readers was:

How can public health compete with the media and the internet?

One solution that I proposed:  Let's remember to share the spotlight with celebrities and other spokespeople that have influence over the public.  With anti-vaccine advocates often getting the spotlight (cough...Jenny McCarthy co-hosting The View), we often overlook that there are pro-vaccine celebrities.

This week, a colleague on Twitter shared the link to Jennifer Lopez's PSA for the Sounds of Pertussis campaign.  It was impressive.  First, for the selection of "JLo"- a mother of twins, who is known worldwide for her dancing, singing, and acting.  People are obviously interested in what she has to say- as evidenced by her 25+ million Twitter followers.  Second, her PSA includes the actual sound of a baby with Pertussis.  This is helpful because (1) it educates the public regarding what this cough actually sounds like and (2) without words it portrays the seriousness of the condition.  The baby on the recording is gasping for air.  As Jennifer points out, this sound is hard to hear for 60 seconds on the PSA...let alone coming from your own child.

The Sounds of Pertussis campaign is a joint effort between the March of Dimes and Sanofi Pasteur.  They have recruited other celebrities such as actress Sarah Michelle Geller and NASCAR Champ Jeff Gordon.  The campaign website includes both educational materials (e.g., information on transmission) and action oriented materials (e.g., a Grandparents' Guide to Pertussis that includes a pledge to get vaccinated).  The campaign has also expanded its use of social media to include a Facebook component called "Breathing Room".  This component allows new parents to educate their connections about Pertussis and invite them to take the pledge to get vaccinated.          

What Do You Think?

• Can these pro-vaccine celebrities compete with the anti-vaccine messages we often see in the media/internet?  Why or why not?
• Do you think that the Sounds of Pertussis campaign addresses some of the key barriers to adult vaccination (e.g., low perceived risk to self or baby?)

 

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hair crush: THE SHOULDER GRAZER

WE JUST LOVE JULIANNE HOUGH'S SIDE-SWEPT RAZOR-CUT BOB...

We love it because you can wash, comb and go - and that it looks best a little piecey and undone. 

(Perfect for summer!}

The razor cut keeps ends uneven (a good thing) and helps thin out dense hair so it's easier to manage.

Call 02. 8919 0146 to make an appointment

(Pic: Self)

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celebrity SIDE PARTS

THE BEAUTY OF A DEEP SIDE PART? IT'S AN INSTANT UPDATE FOR YOUR HAIR!

If you're looking for a new style that doesn't require the commitment of cutting or colouring, simply tousle, slick or brush over a dramatic side part for a '90s grunge meets new wave look. 

{Pics: Harper's Bazaar}

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{celebrity} fringe INSPIRATION

TO FRINGE OR NOT TO FRINGE?

Here's your celebrity visual inspiration!

Want to make an appointment to get a fringe? Call 02. 8919 0146

{Pics: Glamour}

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Let's Give Paris Jackson Some Privacy and Revisit Safe Reporting on Suicide (and Attempts)!

I always cringe when the announcement of a celebrity suicide or suicide attempt comes through my news feed.  First and foremost, because it is incredibly sad to learn that anyone is suffering enough to consider suicide.  Second, because the news coverage that will follow is often invasive and downright dangerous to the rest of us.  The way the media covers suicide can influence behavior negatively by contributing to contagion or positively by encouraging help-seeking.  I have often written on this topic for Pop Health and even as an op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer.  However, the message is so important that it bears repeating.

According to multiple news outlets, Paris Jackson (daughter of the late Michael Jackson) was hospitalized this morning after a suicide attempt.  The story was apparently confirmed by her biological mother Debbie Rowe- Paris was hospitalized with cuts on her wrists.  Now I was already concerned that a 15 year old girl was having these personal, medical details released to the media.  Then I saw the coverage on TMZ and just got plain angry.  I won't link to it here because (1) the irresponsible coverage could be dangerous to readers and (2) I refuse to drive traffic to their site.

As a journalist (or public health communication professional) working on this story, your first stop should be Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide.  Although the guide focuses on suicide, the recommendations are highly relevant for attempt stories as well. The recommendations were developed by leading experts in suicide prevention and in collaboration with several international suicide prevention and public health organizations, schools of journalism, media organizations and key journalists as well as Internet safety experts. The recommendations are based on more than 50 international studies on suicide contagion.  Based on their recommendations, here are some of my concerns with the Paris Jackson articles:

• Sensational headlines:  E.g., "Paris Jackson Attempts Suicide, Rushed to Hospital" (US Weekly)
• Oversimplification:  E.g., "A source close to the family tells Entertainment Tonight exclusively that the reason Paris attempted suicide is because she wasn't allowed to go to a Marilyn Manson concert".
• Including photos of the method of death (or in this case attempt):  TMZ has published multiple pictures of Paris (some undated) that zoom in on her wrists to identify possible cutting scars.  This is bad for several reasons:
• 1- Without any confirmation, the writers are suggesting that Paris has a history of suicide attempts.
• 2- The writers are suggesting that anyone who cuts their body is attempting suicide when in fact, some self harm behavior is non-suicidal.  A good resource for definitions of various forms of self-directed violence comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  There can be self harm behavior (like cutting) without the presence (whether implicit or explicit) of suicidal intent.  

A lot can be learned in public health by monitoring this media coverage, highlighting mistakes, and reinforcing safe messaging.  The Paris Jackson articles should:

• Inform without sensationalizing
• Provide valuable education to readers (including suicide warning signs, ways to help a friend/family member, and resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
• Seek advice from suicide prevention experts before reporting on data or making assumptions about Paris' intentions or medical history
• Be hopeful! Emphasize that mental illness is treatable and many local and national resources exist

Resources:

1.  Associated Press (New!) Stylebook Entry on Mental Illness
2.  Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide

3.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

What Do You Think?

• What was your reaction to the media coverage of Paris Jackson's suicide attempt?
• What other resources would you add to my list to support safe media reporting on suicide and attempts?

More about → Let's Give Paris Jackson Some Privacy and Revisit Safe Reporting on Suicide (and Attempts)!

colour inspiration: ANNE HATHAWAY

WE'RE LOVING ANNE HATHAWAY'S NEW BLONDE HAIR...

which she debuted last week at the MET Ball!
 'It's temporary,' she told reporters on the red carpet. 'But as soon as I did it, I thought I didn't want it to be temporary any longer. I know I have to dye it back for my work.'

If you're thinking about going this blonde, here are a few things to consider...

Don't rush it. First and foremost, is not to move up the colour spectrum too quickly. If you go too light, too fast, your hair can get dry and damaged, which isn't pretty regardless of your hair colour. You may need several visits to the salon to get the shade you're looking for. So be patient, heed your colourist's advice, and move at the pace they recommend.

Take a picture. This makes it much easier for your stylist to understand what you want and to tailor the colour to your particular hair and skin tone.

Get dirty. Make sure you haven't washed your hair the day you go to the salon. Having a little buildup of oil will create a natural barrier on your scalp, and will make it more comfortable for you when getting colour, especially if you are lightening up your base colour drastically.

Don't try this at home. Don't try going blonde by yourself, especially if you're starting with a dark base - give your colourist a call to make an appointment.

If you're thinking about going blonde, give Mana a call (02) 8919 0146 to make an appointment.

{Pic: InStyle}

More about → colour inspiration: ANNE HATHAWAY

short cut inspiration: CHARLIZE THERON

LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO STYLE YOUR SHORT CUT?

Take a tip from Charlize Theron: Just sweeping back the fringe transforms pixie cut into an elegant style that's equal parts stong and sexy. To get a similarly texturized effect, run a touch of pomade through hair.

{Pic: Allure}

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2012's most-requested HAIR TRENDS

TAKE A VISUAL CUE FROM 2012'S MOST-REQUESTED CELEBRITY HAIR COLOURS AND CUTS...

Brunettes will continue to rock the ombre trend into 2013 - think Jessica Biel's rose gold tips; it's a look for all seasons.

Karlie Kloss' low-manetenance cut looks great on all hair types. This choppy style adds volume to thinner strands while the long layers make coarse hair more manageable.

Gwyneth Paltrow's classic, coveted locks will never go out of style. Blondes continue to follow Gwyneth's lead by requesting a honey-golden hue.

Emma Stone's signature auburn locks are one of the most desired shades in Hollywood. Redheads will ring in the New Year with intense, vibrant reds - this look fits with all skin tones.

Blake Lively’s bronzy blond mane is the perfect complement to her tawny complexion and one of LA's most requested shades. If you’re olive, don't go too beige or ashy as it can make skin
and hair the same colour and look sallow.

 Anne Hathaway's layered short cut is popular for those looking for a short, natural colored 'do with lots of shine.

Loving a look here? Call Mana 02. 8919 0146 to make an appointment.

{Pic: InStyle}

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Rent The Runway Rocks Real Non-Airbrushed Models: Us!

Like many of you, I have tried ordering clothes online.  And it never goes well.  They are always too tight or too long.  They immediately make you feel bad about yourself.  And of course- it is a huge pain to have to pack it up again and mail it back.  And after all that- you still don't have anything to wear!!  Weird, right?  The clothes looked great in the pictures.

 

The frustration of online shopping is a symptom of a larger problem.  Many fashion lines are not made to fit the average woman.  Rader Programs, a group of  eating disorder treatment facilities, estimates that the average model weighs 117 pounds at 5'll and the average woman weighs 140 pounds at 5'4.  No wonder my purchases are too tight and too long!

 

However, I'm feeling optimistic about change being possible in the fashion world.  As of last week, Rent The Runway, an online service that lets users borrow current season high-fashion, has expanded their  use of real women as models on their site.  Users can upload pictures of themselves in the clothes, and include details about their height, weight, and chest size.  The site will also have the capacity to allow users to search for women of similar body type, so that they can see how the clothes actually fit.  I think this is fantastic.  Not only will it hopefully cut down on the dreaded returns, but women will see models that look like them.  It can reduce the shame and stigma that many women feel for lacking the 117 pounds at 5'll "ideal".

 

This initiative follows what I hope is a pattern of push back on pop culture for upholding women to unrealistic ideals that may lead to unhealthy body image.  For example, we are seeing opposition to magazine airbrushing.  Earlier this year, an ambitious eighth-grader put the pressure on Seventeen Magazine to review its policies on airbrushing and consider the impact it could have on young readers.  Her online petition led the magazine to sign an eight-point "Body Peace Treaty", which outlined a commitment to never change models' body or face shapes. 

 

We are seeing celebrities (especially recently!) disclosing their battles with eating disorders- often discussing the pressure they felt being in the entertainment industry.  Over the past few months, we've heard from Katie Couric, Nicole Scherzinger, and Stacy London.   Last year, Pop Health reviewed Portia De Rossi's book- Unbearable Lightness, which discussed her life-threatening eating disorder in much detail. 

 

I hope that we are continuing to see a shift.  I hope that there is less stigma in disclosing or discussing body image concerns and eating disorders.  I also hope that the public continues to make their voices heard...whether they are fighting the magazine airbrush or the high fashion gown that will look terrible on anyone under 5'10.

 

What do you think:  With the initiatives above and their predecessors (e.g., the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty)- do you see evidence of a shift in pop culture from "thin" to "real women"?  What else needs to change to keep this initiative moving forward?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More about → Rent The Runway Rocks Real Non-Airbrushed Models: Us!

colour/cut inspiration: OMBRE BOBS

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CALL MANA 02. 8919 0146

More about → colour/cut inspiration: OMBRE BOBS

frizz-free FRINGE

ZOOEY DESCHANEL ROCKS THE HEAVY FRINGE...

 To ensure your fringe is red carpet-ready like Zooey’s, work a small dab of smoothing serum into them while they are still wet, then blow-dry straight with a vented or round brush. While it may be tempting to dry the rest of your hair before tackling your fringe, try reversing the order instead. 

By starting with the front pieces of hair, you’ll get a better idea of how your style will look right away, letting your bangs act as almost a guide for the rest of your strands. Lock in the sleek texture by giving your fringe a quick pass with a flat iron, making sure to bend the ends inward for slight, natural-looking movement.

More about → frizz-free FRINGE

celebrity up-do WEDDING HAIR ideas

LOOKING FOR HAIR INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BIG DAY...

check out these celebrity pix - then give Mana a call 02. 8919 0146 to make an appointment!

{Pic: InStyle}

More about → celebrity up-do WEDDING HAIR ideas