You are the director of marketing for a regional hospital. The board of directors at your hospital has studied the 2011 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies. The alarming statistics quoted in the IOM report stated that “almost 10 percent of infants and toddlers carry excess weight for their length, and slightly more than 20 percent of children between the ages of two and five already are overweight or obese” (IOM, 2011, pg. 1). A survey conducted among the pediatricians who admit patients to the hospital validated that area children under the age of 5 years follow or exceed the national trend of being overweight or obese. The board is very concerned about childhood obesity rates for the children in the hospital’s marketing area. At the last meeting, the board directed the marketing department determine the demand for childhood obesity programs and to review the IOM report and propose a marketing campaign to provide information to parents and guardians concerning ways to prevent children from birth to 5 years of age from becoming overweight. Click here to access the IOM report.
Do you think the hospital needs to complete more marketing research before embarking on the campaign?
What advertising media would you suggest to be used during the campaign?
What products or services could the hospital offer to assist in reducing the number of infants and toddlers who are overweight?
Do you expect to generate any revenue for the hospital from the campaign?
How long will the campaign last? How long would you continue to measure the effectiveness of the campaign?
Yes, I think the hospital should complete more marketing research before embarking on the campaign. This research would help the hospital to better understand the needs of the community and to develop a campaign that is effective and relevant.
The marketing research should focus on the following areas:
The hospital could conduct this research through a variety of methods, such as surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
What advertising media would you suggest to be used during the campaign?
I would suggest using a mix of advertising media to reach the target audience. This could include:
The specific mix of media that is used will depend on the budget of the campaign and the target audience.
What products or services could the hospital offer to assist in reducing the number of infants and toddlers who are overweight?
The hospital could offer a variety of products and services to assist in reducing the number of infants and toddlers who are overweight. These could include:
The hospital could also offer other products and services, such as cooking classes, healthy grocery delivery services, and support groups for parents and guardians.
Do you expect to generate any revenue for the hospital from the campaign?
I do not expect the hospital to generate any direct revenue from the campaign. However, the campaign could have a number of indirect benefits for the hospital. For example, the campaign could help to improve the hospital’s reputation in the community and attract new patients. The campaign could also help to reduce the number of children who develop chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, later in life. This could save the hospital money in the long run.
In addition, the hospital could offer some of its products and services, such as nutrition counseling and pediatric weight management programs, on a fee-for-service basis. This could generate some revenue for the hospital.
Overall, the decision of whether or not to embark on the campaign is a complex one. The hospital should weigh the costs and benefits of the campaign before making a decision.