Changing behavior to maintain a healthy home.

Multidimensional strategies involving interpersonal interaction, strategic alliances and targeted use of the media have been shown experimentally to be the most effective behavioral change programs. Health providers need to communicate with schools and community groups, as well as work with product manufacturers and consumer and health organizations. Together these groups can collaborate with the media to communicate accurate information and guidance to the public. Planning effective public health and behavioral change campaigns involves diagnosis and identification of the target behavior. The intervention message must be focused, tested and refocused. Effective communication, crucial to public health campaigns, uses multiple channels and provides frequent repetition of the message.