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Health communication: Lectures and readings summary
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Lecture 1 - The ChallengeCurrent Health Crisis:
● General Overview:
○ We are facing unprecedented levels of depression, obesity, disease, stress,
lethargy, medication usage, and general unhappiness.
○ Referenced Preface from R. Roll's "Finding Ultra".
Key Statistics on Dutch Health (CBS, 2024):
● Overweight Adults:
○ 51% of Dutch adults are overweight.
○ This rate has tripled over the last 40 years, primarily affecting younger people.
● Physical Activity (PA):
○ 60% of the population does not engage in enough PA.
○ Lower educational attainment correlates with lower levels of PA.
○ Higher body weight correlates with less PA.
● Youth Loneliness:
○ 40% of Dutch youth report feeling lonely.
○ Younger individuals tend to report higher levels of loneliness.
● Comparison with European Standards:
○ Despite these issues, these statistics are relatively favorable compared to
other European countries.
Key Points to Memorize:
● Overweight rate among Dutch adults: 51%.
● PA engagement: 60% do not get enough exercise.
● Youth loneliness rate: 40%.
Health Communication
Definition and Scope:
● Field Definition:
○ Health communication involves the exchange of health-related information
with various populations to change or sustain health behavior, aiming to
improve public health outcomes (Schiavo, 2013).
● Media Evolution:
○ Transition from old media (traditional) to new media (digital) (Ho & Yu, 2023).
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,Importance in Public Health:
● Focus Areas:
○ Treatment
○ Prevention
Personal Reflection:
● Health Information Sources:
○ Reflect on your sources of health information.
○ Consider the tools you use to monitor or improve your health.
Health Consciousness:
● Definitions Over Time:
○ 1990s (Krafft & Goodell, 1993):
■ Voluntary participation in health promotion activities.
■ Compliance with health clinicians.
○ 2010s (Hong, 2011):
■ Engagement in health behaviors.
■ Physiological attention to one's health.
■ Information seeking and usage.
■ Personal responsibility and health motivation.
● Aspects of Health Consciousness:
○ Psychological:
■ Thinking about health.
■ Attention to new health information.
■ Motivation to stay healthy.
○ Behavioral:
■ Engaging in health behaviors.
■ Actively seeking health information.
● Creating an Upward Spiral:
○ Positive reinforcement of health behaviors can lead to continuous
improvement in health (Dutta-Bergman, 2005).
Preventing Boomerang Effects:
● Communication Strategy:
○ Use careful wording to avoid reactance.
○ Reactance occurs when individuals feel their freedom is threatened and
respond by engaging in the constrained behavior (Sprenghotz et al., 2023).
Key Points to Memorize:
● Health communication definition.
● Key focus areas: treatment and prevention.
● Aspects of health consciousness: psychological and behavioral.
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,Casus (Case Study)
Focus on Ph.D. Student Burnout:
● Issue:
○ Increasing prevalence of burnout among Ph.D. students.
○ Symptoms include emotional exhaustion, physical drain, and lack of
motivation.
● Objective:
○ Design a persuasive health communication intervention to encourage Ph.D.
students to seek help.
○ Follow the first four steps of B.J. Fogg’s eight-step design process (2009).
Literature Insights for Lecture 1: Introduction to Health Communication
1. Ho, S. S. and Yu, P. (2023). Science Communication
Key Points:
● Scope and Definition:
○ Science communication involves sharing scientific information with
non-experts.
○ In health communication, it is crucial to convey complex health information in
an accessible manner.
● Media Evolution:
○ Transition from traditional media (print, TV) to digital platforms (social media,
websites).
○ Digital platforms allow for interactive and personalized health communication.
● Strategies for Effective Communication:
○ Tailoring messages to the audience’s level of understanding and cultural
background.
○ Using storytelling and relatable examples to make information engaging.
● Barriers to Effective Communication:
○ Misinformation and disinformation can undermine public trust.
○ Health literacy levels vary widely, requiring tailored approaches.
Imagine you're a health communicator tasked with conveying complex scientific information
to the public. Your goal is to make this information understandable and engaging for people
who might not have any background in science. This is the essence of science
communication within health communication.
Traditionally, health information was shared through print media, television, and radio. These
methods were effective but limited in their reach and engagement. As digital platforms
emerged, they transformed how health information could be disseminated. Now, social
media, websites, and apps allow for interactive and personalized health messages. You can
target specific audiences, tailoring your message to their level of understanding and cultural
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, background. For example, using relatable stories or examples makes the information more
engaging and easier to understand.
However, there are challenges. Misinformation and disinformation can spread easily,
undermining public trust in health messages. Additionally, varying levels of health literacy
among the audience mean that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work. Effective science
communication requires you to consider these barriers and adapt your strategies
accordingly.
2. Acharya, L. and Lee, H. (2023). Health Consciousness
Key Points:
● Definition and Evolution:
○ Health consciousness refers to the degree of awareness and proactive
behavior individuals have towards their health.
○ Initially focused on compliance and participation in health activities (1990s).
○ Evolved to emphasize proactive engagement, information seeking, and
personal responsibility (2010s).
● Components of Health Consciousness:
○ Psychological Aspects:
■ Awareness and consideration of health information.
■ Motivation to seek out and process health information.
○ Behavioral Aspects:
■ Active engagement in health-promoting behaviors.
■ Routine actions taken to maintain or improve health.
● Impact on Health Outcomes:
○ Higher health consciousness is linked to better health outcomes.
○ Encourages preventive behaviors and timely medical intervention.
Think back to the 1990s. Health consciousness primarily meant following doctor's orders and
participating in health promotion activities. It was more about compliance than personal
initiative. Fast forward to the 2010s, and the concept has evolved significantly. Now, health
consciousness involves a proactive approach to one's health.
Health consciousness today encompasses both psychological and behavioral aspects.
Psychologically, it means being aware of health information and being motivated to seek out
and understand new health knowledge. Behaviorally, it involves actively engaging in
health-promoting behaviors, like regular exercise and balanced nutrition.
Consider someone who reads up on the latest health trends, regularly visits their doctor for
check-ups, and actively seeks ways to improve their well-being. This person exemplifies high
health consciousness. Their proactive approach leads to better health outcomes because
they're more likely to engage in preventive behaviors and seek timely medical intervention.
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