Improving Health Through Health Marketing

Mention the word marketing to employees at most companies, and they will understand how it relates to their business. Successful commercial marketing can mean the difference between a company’s profit and loss, jobs or layoffs, growth or bankruptcy. Mention the word marketing to public health professionals, and you may get blank stares, head shakes, or looks of confusion (and I’ve seen them all). Marketing is not well-known or understood in the public health community, in part because it is rarely taught in public health or medical schools. Nonetheless, the time has come to increase our awareness, training, and application of health marketing strategies and principles, because the field holds great promise for increasing the adoption of health promotion and protection information and interventions.