Health communication/promotion, health equity, multicultural relations, social organization, applied research methods, health informatics, communication campaigns, global health, and social change
I am beginning my 19th year on the faculty at George Mason University, where I currently serve as a University Distinguished Professor of Communication and Director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication. I teach courses in Communication Research, Health Communication, Risk Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, Consumer-Provider Health Communication, Health Communication Campaigns, and E-Health Communication.
My active research program has been funded by many federal agencies, foundations, and organization. I examine the influences of strategic evidence-based communication programs and practices on reducing health risks and enhancing health outcomes, with a focus on promoting health equity in society. I am an expert in community-based participatory research, health information dissemination, and the effective design and use of health information technologies. My frequently cited publications are reported in more than 560 books, articles, and chapters. I've served on many federal advisory boards, including the national FDA Risk Communication Advisory Committee, the CDC National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media Advisory Board, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Brreast Cancer and the Environment Research Program Scientific Advisory Board, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Systems for Action: Systems and Services to Build a Culture of Health Expert Review Panel. I currently serve as a scientific adviser to the NIH, CDC, VA, HRSA, WHO, and many other international health agencies, research firms, and foundations.
I've received a number of major research honors, including the Research Laureate Award from the American Academy of Health Behavior, the Outstanding Health Communication Scholar Award from both the International Communication Association and the National Communication Association (NCA), the Dale Brashers Mentorship Award from the NCA, the Gary Gumpert Urban Communication Research Award from the Urban Communication Foundation, the Health Communication Centennial Scholar Award from the Eastern Communication Association, the Pfizer Professorship in Clear Health Communication, the Lewis Donahue Outstanding Health Communication Scholar Award from the University of Kentucky, the Future of Health Technology Award, the Distinguished Achievement Award in Consumer Health Informatics and Online Health, and the Gerald M. Phillips Distinguished Applied Communication Scholar Award from the NCA. I've been selected as a Fellow of the International Communication Association, Fellow of the American Academy for Health Behavior, as well as as a Distinguished Scholar of the National Communication Association.
Prior to joining the faculty at Mason, I had the pleasure of serving as the founding Chief of the Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute (NIH), where I planned, developed, and coordinated major new national research and outreach initiatives concerning risk communication, health promotion, behavior change, technology development, and information dissemination to promote effective cancer prevention, screening, control, care, and survivorship. I also served as the Founding Dean of the School of Communication at Hofstra University, Executive Director of the Greenspun School of Communication at UNLV, and in faculty and administrative roles at Northern Illinois, Rutgers, Indiana, and Purdue Universities.
For more detailed information about my career, research interests, publications, and accomplishments, please view my CV.
Developing and advising a cross-national research network of countries conducting the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS): The INSIGHTS (International Studies to Investigate Global Health Information Trends) Research Program:
Developing amd implementing a large multi-year community-based participative transdisciplinary national intervention research program testing the use of online communication tools delivered via social media platforms to identify and reduce suicide risks for transgender teens, Preventing Suicide Attempts in Transgender Teens. The research team is working in close collaboration with transgender teens, parents, health care providers, and avocates to design, implement, deliver, and evaluate this intervention. I am leading the design and implementation of the interactive multi-tool online educational and social support intervention programs. The research team is seeking funding for this research program from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
Conducting a program of studies investigating the influences of health literacy on access to and used of relevant health informtion by members of at-risk populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Influences of Health Literacy on Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am serving as both a mentor and collaborator on these studies with two early-career public health faculty members as part of the American Academy of Health Behavior research mentor program.
Established and co-direct the Global Advocacy Leadership Academy (GALA) research and intervention program to examine the health communication and information needs of health advocacy organization leaders and to develop evidence-based training programs for advocates around the globe (2014-present).
Advising the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax community-based collaborative to evaluate health needs among vulnerable populations in Fairfax County, Virginia and to develop evidence-based programs and policies to promote healthy behaviors, tobacco and substance abuse control, good nutrition, and the reduction of health risks (2017-present).
Chen, X., Ariati, J., Li, M., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Examining the Influences of COVID-19 information avoidance and uncertainty on perceived severity of the pandemic: Applications from the health belief model and Weick’s model of organizing, Health Behavior Research, 5(3).
Yang, Y., Yu, G., Pan, J., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Public trust in sources and channels on judgement accuracy in food safety misinformation with the moderation effect of self-affirmation: Evidence from the HINTS-China database. World Medical and Health Policy, 14(3).
Chen, X., Li, M., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Double burden of COVID-19 knowledge deficit: Low health literacy and high information avoidance. BMC Research Notes, 15, article 27, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-05913-8.
Kreps, G.L., Thackeray, R. & Barnes, M.D. (2022, in press). Chapter 5: Building a health communication framework. In R.J. Bensley & J. Brookins-Fishers (Eds.) Community health education methods: A practical guide (5th edition). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Kreps, G.L. (2022). Addressing challenges to effectively disseminate relevant health information. World Medical and Health Policy, 14(2), DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.528.
Otsuki, A., Saito, J., Yaguchi-Saito, A., Odawara, M., Fujimori, M., Hayakawa, M., Katanoda, K., Matsuda, T., Matsuoka, Y.J., Takahashi, H., Takahashi, M., Inoue, M., Yoshimi, I., Kreps, G.L., Uchitomi, Y., & Shimazu, T. (2022). Nationally representative cross-sectional survey for people-centered health INFORMation access for consumers in Japan: A protocol for the INFORM study. World Medical and Health Policy.
Bishop, J.M., Real, F.J., McDonald, S.L., Klein. M., DeBlasio, D., Kahn, J.A., Kreps, G.L., Rosen, B.L. (2022). Evaluation of HPV vaccine: Same Way, Same DayTM: A pilot study. Journal of Health Communication, DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2021.2021459, to link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2021.2021459 (2.781 impact factor).
Cingi, C.C., Eroğlu, E., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Communication with the infected child. In C. Cingi, Arisoy, S., & N.B. Muluk (Eds.). Pediatric ENT infections (pp. 123-130). New York: Springer Publishers.
Kim, D.K., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Immigrant and refugee health in the age of globalization: Cases, theories, and strategies. In D.K. Kim, & L. Kreps (Eds.). (2022). Global health communication for immigrants and refugees: Cases and strategies, pp. xviiii-xxii. New York, Routledge.
Oh, K. An, K., Lee, M., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Cultural factors influencing health literacy, health care access, and health behaviors among Korean Americans. In D.K. Kim & L. Kreps (Eds.). (2022). Global health communication for immigrants and refugees: Cases, theories, and strategies, pp. 15-34. DOI: 10.4324/9781003230243-2, New York, Routledge.
Chen, X., Li, M., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). The health communication needs of Chinese American immigrants. In D.K. Kim & L. Kreps (Eds.). (2022, in-press). Global health communication for immigrants and refugees: Cases, theories, and strategies, pp. 35-47. DOI: 10.4324/9781003230243-3, New York, Routledge.
Acharya, D., Devkota, D., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Does perceived susceptibility and severity of health problems serve as drivers to household enrollment in health insurance? A case study from Nepal. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 37(2), 839-853. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3377.
Cosavalente Garcia, H.P., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). South-South migration and the health communication concerns of Venezuelan refugees in Peru. In D.K. Kim & L. Kreps (Eds.). (2022, in-press). Global health communication for immigrants and refugees: Cases, theories, and strategies, pp. 208-220. DOI: 10.4324/9781003230243-14, New York, Routledge.
Chen, X, Li, M., & Kreps, G.L. (2022). Acculturation and health literacy among Chinese immigrants in the US. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 9(2), 489-497; https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-00979-9.
Acharya, D., Adhikari, R., Ranabhat, C., Paudel, R., Kreps, G.L., Bhandari, T.R., Bhattarai, R., & Pathak, P. (2021). Factors associated with intimate partner violence and the utilization of maternal health services: Findings from Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2016, Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 3(2): 65-71, https://doi.org/10.46405/ejms.v3i2.279.
Chen, X., Li, M., & Kreps, G.L. (2021). Health literacy and COVID-19 information avoidance among college students. Health Behavior Research, 4(3), 10-11, https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1121, (the official journal of the American Academy for Health Behavior.
Kim, D.K., Kreps, G.L., & Ahmed, R. (2021). Our future arrived: Diffusion of human-machine communication and transformation of the world for the post-pandemic era. Human-Machine Communication, 3. 7-10, https://doi.org/10.30658/hmc.3.1.
Kim, D.K., Kreps, G.L., & Ahmed, R. (2021). Communicative development and diffusion of humanoid AI robots for the post-pandemic health care system. Human-Machine Communication, 3. 65-82, https://doi.org/10.30658/hmc.
Acharya, D., Adhikari, R., & Kreps, G.L. (2021). Does exposure to mass media associate with utilization of ANC services? A trend analysis from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3285.
Kreps, G.L. (2021). The role of strategic communication to respond effectively to pandemics. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 16(1), 12-19; DOI: 1080/17447143.2021.1885417.
Kreps, G.L. (2021). Health advocacy and health communication for elderly health care consumers: Rationale and demand. Journal of Elder Policy, 1(2)m 113-138..
Real, F.J., Rosen, B., Bishop, J.M., McDonald, S., DeBlasio, D., Kreps, G.L., Klein, M., & Kahn, J.A. (2021). Usability evaluation of the novel smartphone application, HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same DayTM, among pediatric residents. Academic Pediatrics, 21, 742-749.
Acharya, D., Devkota, B., & Kreps, G.L. (2021). The association between media exposure and enrollment in health insurance in Nepal: Implications for health policy. World Medical and Health Policy.
Cingi, C.C., Eroğlu, E., & Kreps, G.L. (2021, in-press). Communication with the infected child. In C. Cingi, Arisoy, S., & N.B. Muluk (Eds.). Pediatric ENT infections. New York: Springer Publishers.
Rosen, B.L., Real, F.J., Bishop, J.M., McDonald, S.L., Klein, M., Kahn, J.A., & Kreps, G.L. (2021). School health service provider perceptions on facilitated interactive role-play around HPV vaccine recommendation. Journal of Cancer Education https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01949-1
Cingi, C., Eroğlu, E., & Kreps, G.L. (2021). Sneezing and nasal discharge as a barrier to communication during adolescence. In C. Cingi, N.B. Muluk, G. Scadding, & R. Mladina (Eds.) Challenges in rhinology (pp. 121-126). New York: Springer Publishers.
Kreps, G.L. (2020). Afterword: Digital Health Information Control. In D. Sen & R. Ahmed (Eds.). Privacy concerns surrounding personal information sharing on health and fitness mobile applications, pp. 224-225. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Kreps, G.L., Neuhauser, L., Sparks, L., & LaBelle, S. (2020). Promoting convergence between health literacy and health communication. In R.A. Logan & E.R. Siegel (Eds.), Health literacy in clinical practice and public health: New initiatives and lessons learned at the intersection with other disciplines. Amsterdam: IOS Press. pp. 526-543. DOI 10 3233/SHT1200060, ISBN print 978-1-64368-074-3.
Kreps, G.L (2020). Translating research into practice on a global scale: The Health Information National Trends Survey global research program. In D.S. Anderson (Ed.). Leadership in Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention: Insights from Long-Term Advocates (pp. 235-238). New York: Routledge.
Kim, D.K., & Kreps, G.L. (2020). An analysis of government communication in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations for effective government health risk communication. World Medical and Health Policy. Special symposium issue on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, DOI:1002/wmh3.363. (.87 impact factor).
Acharya, D., Adhikari, R., Ranabhat, C., Paudel, R., Bahdur Tapa, P, & Kreps, G.L. (2020). Does intimate partner violence influence the utilization of maternal health services? Research Square, (https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1513/v1/manuscript.pdf). doi 10.21203/rs.2.10538/v3 (no impact factor listed).
Kreps, G. L., Neuhauser, L., *Sparks, L., & Labelle, S. (2020). Promoting convergence between health literacy and health communication. Studies in health technology and informatics, 269, 526-543, doi: 10.3233/SHTI200025 (.44 impact factor).
Kreps, G.L. (2020). The value of health communication scholarship: New directions for health communication inquiry. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 7(2s), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2020.04.007, special issue on Medicine, Humanity and Media, (.88 impact factor). Pre-print copy of the article is available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352013220300570?via%3Dihub
Maguire, L., & Kreps, G.L. (2020). Hidden factors in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Neurology and Neurobiology, DOI: 31487/j.NNB.2020.01.06, available online at: https://www.sciencerepository.org/hidden-factors-in-diagnosing-alzheimer-s-disease_NNB-2020-1-106 (2.13 impact factor).
Ngenye, L. & Kreps, G.L. (2020). A review of qualitative methods in health communication research. The Qualitative Report, 25:3, 631-645, (.62 impact factor). (Full text of this article is available open source at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol25/iss3/5.
Acharya, D., Adhikari, R., Kreps, G.L. Gautam, K., Dhakal, K.P., Raikhola, P.S., & Bhattarai, R. (2020). Educational status of female youth in Nepal: A foundation for health and wellbeing. Where should programmes focus? South Asian Survey, 27(1), 7-18, https://doi.org/10.1177/0971523120907207 (.25 Impact Factor).
Kreps, G.L. (2020). Engaged communication scholarship: The challenge to translate communication research into practice. In D. O’Hair & M.J. O’Hair (Eds.) Handbook of Applied Communication Research, New York: Wiley, pp. 93-102, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119399926.ch6
Kreps, G.L. (2020). The emerging area of e-health communication research: Using data to enhance the effectiveness of health information systems. In D. O’Hair & M.J. O’Hair (Eds.) Handbook of Applied Communication Research, New York: Wiley Publishers, pp. 971-982, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119399926.ch53
Cingi, C.C., Eroğlu, E., & Kreps, G.L. (2020). Role of anosmia on personal communication. In C. Cingi & N.B. Muluk (Eds.). All around the nose (pp. 247-251). New York: Springer Publishers.
Rosen, B.L., Kreps, G.L., Bishop, J.M., & McDonald, S. (2019). Quality evaluation tool for clinician online continuing medical education. Health Behavior Research, 2:4, 20 https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1044 (the official journal of the American Academy for Health Behavior; 586 impact factor).
Gagen, D.M., & Kreps, G.L. (2019). An examination of the clarity of government health websites using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Clear Communication Index. Frontiers in Communication: Health Communication Section, 4:60. doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2019.00060 (Frontiers Journals have a combined 3.63 impact factor). (Full text of this original research article is available open source at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2019.00060/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Communication&id=493873).
Nambisan, P., Lyytinen, K., Stange, K., Kahana, E., & Kreps, G. L. (2019). A comprehensive digital self-care support system for older adults: A multidisciplinary framework. Innovation in Aging, 3(Suppl 1), S326 (no impact factor listed).
Terry, M.B., Michels, K.B, Brody, J.G., Byrne, C., Chen, S., Jerry, J., Malecki, K.M., Martin, M.B., Miller, R.L., Neuhausen, S.L., Silk, K., Trentham-Dietz, and the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP, including Kreps, G.L.). (2019). Environmental exposures during windows of susceptibility for breast cancer: A framework for prevention research. Breast Cancer Research, 21(96), https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-019-1168-2 (5.74 impact factor).
Rosen, B.L., Bishop, J.M., Anderson, R., Real, F.J., Klein, M.D. & Kreps, G.L. (2019). A content analysis of HPV vaccine online continuing medical education purpose statements and learning objectives. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 15(7-8), 1508-1518 (special focus issue on HPV Vaccines and Associated Cancers), DOI: -1080/21645515.2019.1587273 (HV&I has a 2.229 impact factor).
Desens, L., Kreps, G.L, & Su, Y. (2019). Online social support: Analysis of an online discussion forum for the significant others of deployed service members. Journal of Veterans Studies, 4(2), pp. 94-111 (no impact factor listed).
Kreps, G.L., *Burke-Garcia, A., & Wright, K. (2019). The use of digital communication channels to enhance environmental health literacy. In S. Finn & L. O’Fallon (Eds). Environmental Health Literacy (pp. 265-283). New York: Springer Publications.
Kreps, G.L. (2018). Promoting patient comprehension of relevant health information. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, DOI: 10.1186/s13584-018-0250-z.
Pan, J., Liu, B., & Kreps, G.L. (2018). Who says what: Attribution and efficacy in the public discourse of depression in Sina Weibo. BMC Public Health. 18:772 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5701-5.
Burke-Garcia, A., Kreps, G.L., & Wright, K. (2018). Perceptions about disseminating health information amongst mommy bloggers. Journal of Medical Internet Research-Research Protocols, doi:10.2196/resprot.7764.
Rosen, B.L., Bishop, J.M., McDonald, S.L., & Kreps, G.L. (2018). Quality evaluation of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine web-based educational interventions for clinicians. Journal of Medical Internet Research-Cancer, (JMIR Cancer 2018;4(1):e3) doi:10.2196/cancer.9114.
Kreps, G.L., Burke-Garcia, A., & Wright, K. (2018). The use of digital communication channels to enhance environmental health literacy. In S. Finn & L. O’Fallon (Eds). Environmental Health Literacy. New York: Springer Publications.
Cingi, C.C., Eroğlu, E., & Kreps, G.L. (2018). Role of anosmia on personal communication. In C. Cingi & N.B. Muluk (Eds.). All around the nose. New York: Springer Publishers.
399- Health Communication
400- Research Methods in Communication
600- Introduction to Graduate Studies
620- Health Communication
634- Interpersonal Communication Theory
635- Organizational Communication
705- Intercultural Health and Risk Communication
720- Consumer-Provided Health Communication
721- E-Health Communication
798- Communication Research Projects
820- Health Communication Campaigns
Dr. Kreps received his BA and his MA degrees in Communication from the University of Colorado, Boulder and his PhD degree in Communication from the University of Southern California.
Interviewed for Bloomberg Law, "Evolvine Covid Booster Guidelines Threaten to Widen Inequities," April 26, 2022.
Interviewed for the Boston Globe, "Scented Candles or Burnt Marshmallows - Which One Can Cause Cancer? The Answer Might Surprise You," April 7, 2022.
Interviewed for Yahoo News, "Public is Shell-shocked by the Latest Turn of the Pandemic, December 15, 2021.
Interviewed for the Pew Research Center, "Hopes About the Development In Ethical AI," June 16, 2021.
Interviewed for WebMD, "Misinformation, Disagreement Hinder COVID Messaging, July 29, 2020.
Interviewed for Pacific Standard, "What Health Ad Researchers Think about the White House's New Anti-Opioid Campaign, June 18, 2018.
Radio Interview, “Communicating About the Dangerous Seasonal Flu Epidemic in the United States,” Texas Standard Public Radio, January, 29, 2018.
Adebanke L. Adebayo , The Sociocultural Understanding of Climate Change and its Effects on Maternal and Prenatal Health Outcomes in Nigeria, West Africa. (2022)
Henri K. Huber , The Role of Communication in Informal Caregiving for Family Members with Alzheimer’s Disease (2022)
Elmira Hamidi, Diabetes Be Dur, A Type 2 Diabetes Mobile Application for Iranian Nationals in the U.S. (2021)
Kimberly S. Daniels, Male Body Talk: Investigating Fat Talk and Muscle Talk in a Romantic Context (2021)
Peter Susko , A Content Analysis of Social Media Campaigns in the 2016 US Presidential Election (2020)
Hilda Patricia Garcia Cosavalente, Reproductive Health Information Seeking Matters: Predictors and Perceived Barriers among Young Peruvian Women (2020)
Linda E. Maguire , Cognitive, Functional and Narrative Improvements After Individualized Singing Interventions In Dementia Patients (2020)
Joshua D. Murphy, Together, We Can: An Exploratory Analysis of Patient-centered Crowdfunding (2019)
Liza Ngenye, A Careful Relationship: A Narrative Study of Family Caregiving Relationships in Cancer Care (2018)
Joonwoo Moon , Smokers’ Perceptions of Using Mobile Applications for Smoking Cessation: A Comparative Analysis Across Three Countries, China, Korea, and The United States (2018)
Deion Hawkins , “I Thought I Was Going to Die. All I Could Do Was Turn on My Camera and Pray:” Trauma and Communication Surrounding Police Brutality in the Black Community (2018)
Jordan Alpert , Assessing the Communication Immediacy of an Online Health Portal: Analysis and Recommendations to Create a Communicatively Competent Health Information System (2015)
Denise K. Scannell, Communicating about Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Influences on Marriage and Caregiving (2014)
Suzanne Carmack, Making Sense of Well-being: A Mixed-Methods Study Applying Sense-making Theory to Explore the Role of Communication Competence and Social Support in Physical, Emotional, Mental and Comprehensive Well-being (2014)
Wonsun Kim, The Role of Social Support and Social Networks in Health Information Seeking Behavior Among Korean Americans: A Mixed Method Approach (2013)
Kelly Vandersluis Morgan, Individual Fitness: Creating a Tailored Fitness Message Assessment for Women Ages 25-70 (2013)
Lindsay M. Hughes, One in a Million: Navigating Health Information and Rare Diseases (2013)
Linda Desens, Online Social Support: Buffering Deployment Stress Among Marine Corps Spouses (2013)
Nicole M. Robinson, To Tell or Not to Tell: Factors in Self-Disclosing Mental Illness in Our Everyday Relationships (2012)
Christian JW Ledford, Improving Patient Outcomes Through Physician Communication: Message Frame and Presentation Mode Influence on the Walking Behavior of Type 2 Diabetes (2011)