What is the specific role that government agencies such as NCI have in communicating health information?
I think there has been steady but slow progress in the government about making both information resources and strategies more user-centered, whether through Web usability testing or surveying the public to identify needs and wants in terms of information. Cancer is a word that sparks fear, and our survey data continue to show that many people associate cancer with death. So the people who are communicating with the public about cancer need to be sure that the information they provide addresses both the need for facts and also the need to reduce fear. We should make a clear distinction between trying to persuade people and trying to inform them. Particularly for the government, transparency in this process is key. I think it’s important to clearly define information that is provided to be useful versus information that is part of a public relations campaign. If the priority is institutional self-promotion, as opposed to health promotion, this can undermine trust. NCI’s most precious and
