ICML 9

9º Congreso Mundial de Información en Salud y Bibliotecas

Salvador, Bahia - Brasil, 20 a 23 de septiembre de 2005

BVS4

4a. Reunión de Coordinación Regional de la BVS

19 y 20 de septiembre de 2005

P96 - Poster as instrument of health communication

Health field in Brazil has adopted poster as one of its main modes of communication in congresses and other collective events – privileged moments not only for academic interchange but also for sharing scientific information between students, leaders and a number of social groups involved in public health. Considering that a large event usually receives between 2 and 4 thousand posters, we can say that this is the most democratic means of communication and disseminated among those who wish to publicize their researches, methods, processes or products related to health. On the other hand, a considerable part of those who make use of this means don’t use properly its communication potential, because they don’t take into consideration its nature and specific characteristics.
Here we present the results of a research we are carrying out on the use of poster as a means of communication in health área. We assess, among other aspects: the authors’ goal and the level of satisfaction with the results; the variety of uses; interference of space and location; the consequences for the authors, regarding technical and/or sientific interlocution; participation of graphic designers and other communication professionals; the role of colours, size/text volume and graph in attracting viewers and readers.
The research includes the use of graphic analysis, in depth interviews with the authors, interviews with potencial and actual readers, apart from interviews with the scientific committee of the event. The case study is the II Brazilian Symposium of Sanitary Vigilance, which happened in November 2004. Having started in October 2004, we envisage a conclusion in June 2005.