Maria Brann

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About Maria Brann

Dr. Maria Brann, PhD, MPH, is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies in the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI and affiliate faculty with the Injury Control Research Center at West Virginia University. She explores the integration of health, interpersonal, and gender communication. Her translational focus and mixed methods approach are woven throughout her health vulnerabilities research, which advocates for more effective communication to improve people’s health and safety. Her primary research interests focus on the study of women’s and ethical issues in health communication contexts and promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors to improve personal and public health and safety. She researches communication at both the micro and macro levels and studies how communication influences relationships among individuals and with the social world.

Review: The novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) outbreak: Amplification of public health consequences by media exposure

This commentary suggests that repeated media exposure to public health crises can lead to negative acute and long-term health consequences; thus, government and health leaders must provide accurate information in responsible ways. During a health crisis, individuals need accurate andRead More
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Review: Coronavirus – how Twitter could more effectively ease its impact

This article highlights the importance of timely dissemination of information and participation and active engagement on social media to reduce the potential impact of disasters. Research has demonstrated that Twitter can be a successful social media platform for disseminating disaster-relatedRead More
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Review: Don’t get it or don’t spread it? Comparing self-interested versus prosocially framed COVID-19 prevention messaging

This study supports the use of prosocial framing to persuade individuals to engage in behaviors to slow the rate of COVID-19 transmission. Many messages exist to try to convince people to engage in preventive behaviors, such as social distancing andRead More
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Review: Amid coronavirus pandemic, what information should be public?

In this news article, lawmakers discuss the need for transparent communication while complying with privacy laws. Balancing informational needs with privacy expectations may be a tricky task during a crisis situation. Ultimately, safety and awareness must be emphasized with aRead More
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Review: Pennsylvania’s first-ever CDO must adapt to an evolving crisis

In this report, advice is given about types of real-time information to present to keep people informed of the effects of COVID-19. Pennsylvania’s first-ever chief data officer, David Partsch, offered guidance about how to communicate important evidence-based information during theRead More
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Review: How to fight an infodemic

This article discusses WHO’s newly launched platform to correct misinformation about COVID-19. Not only are we fighting a pandemic, we are also fighting an infodemic, which is a global epidemic of misinformation. Because of social media in particular, we areRead More
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Review: The PIERCE™ model’s “COVID-19 communications pallet” for government leaders, policy & healthcare professionals

This press release highlights a communication strategy to streamline critical data for stakeholders on how to marshal local resources and allow stakeholders in other locations to learn from standardized solutions that already work. The COVID-19 Communications Pallet provides governmental andRead More
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Review: COVID-19: Real-time dissemination of scientific information to fight a public health emergency of international concern

This editorial highlights the effectiveness of rapidly sharing scientific information to provide real-time guidance to clinicians and epidemiologists. Given the rapidly changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that scientific information be shared just as rapidly. By sharingRead More
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Review: Decision-making during a crisis: the interplay of narratives and statistical information before and after crisis communication

In this study, individuals were more influenced by information presented as a narrative than just by statistical information. This study explored how types of information influence people’s behaviors during a crisis situation. Presenting information as a narrative has a persuasiveRead More
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Review: COVID-19 pandemic response resources

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress provides guidance to health and community leaders about how to utilize effective risk communication principles to prepare and update people during stressful situations. How leaders communicate during stressful situations effects how peopleRead More
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