Promoting Health for All Kansans Through Mass Media: Lessons Learned From a Pilot Assessment of Student Ebola Perceptions.
We aimed to assess student knowledge of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and opinions about media coverage of EVD.



We conducted a pilot study with a cross-sectional survey and a convenience sample.



Sixty-five college students participated in the survey and reported a low level of basic knowledge of EVD, high health literacy levels, and Internet and health professionals as sources for health information.



This pilot study was an important first step to understanding students' knowledge of Ebola, common sources of health information, and health literacy levels. Results from this study highlight the need to improve health communication training and further evaluate the quality of health information dissemination via all communication sources. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:641-643).
1Department of Public Health Sciences,Wichita State University,Wichita,Kansas.
Amy K
AK
Chesser
1Department of Public Health Sciences,Wichita State University,Wichita,Kansas.
Nikki
N
Keene Woods
2Department of Biomedical Engineering,Wichita State University,Wichita,Kansas.
Jennifer
J
Mattar
3Department of Behavioral Sciences,Warner University,Lake Wales,Florida.
Timothy
T
Craig
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000592:standards; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration
Ebola; health literacy; public health; risk communication