E-Cards Health Promotion Settings E-Card Review: Healthfinder.Gov's

E-CARDS Health promotion settings e-card review: HealthFinder.gov's personal health tools Which e-card category did you choose? "Let's Bike" Describe the card. Does it catch your eye because of color, message, and graphics? The first frame of the card depicts a smiling, Asian-American woman wearing a bike helmet and riding a blue, three-speed bike. The weather is nice, the sky is blue in the background, and she is poised on a bright blue three-speed bike, ready to ride across the grass.

She looks tanned and fit and wears an attractive pink tank top, blue denim capri pants, and red sneakers. In addition to the bright colors and attractive setting, the woman draws the eye of the viewer. She is both an 'everywoman' figure, yet also an aspirational figure a viewer might want to emulate because of her natural beauty and fitness. She projects an image of confidence and freedom. Q3.

What is the main message inside the card? The brochure is designed to promote riding bicycles as a healthy form of exercise and entertainment, particularly when the weather starts to improve in the spring. It also wants to encourage riders to engage in safe cycling practices. The inside message reads: "Spring bike riding checklist: Test the brakes. Always wear a helmet. Wear bright colors. Bring a friend! Get more safe biking tips at healthfinder.gov." Q4.

Do you think it would be effective? If so, for what audience? Who might you send it to? The image on the front of the card is effective in making people want to ride a bike, because of the carefree image of the attractive woman. The fact that she is wearing a helmet does make choosing to wear protective headgear seem less 'dorky' and confining (two of the foolish excuses adults often give for not wearing helmets). However, the other messages in the card are not reinforced.

There is no instruction on how to test the brakes of a bicycle. The woman is shown alone, not riding with a friend. And although the colors are bright in terms of the palette of the card, card, she is not wearing the orange or yellow fluorescent colors that are really necessary to be detected when riding at night. Having a bike light is also advised, which the card does not even mention.

I would send this card to someone I wanted to encourage to ride a bike for his or her health and entertainment, not to someone who I felt needed a reminder or information about bike safety. Q5. Which of the 3 strategies for promoting health does it address? The primary focus of the card is preventative.