Health communication

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Health communication ( English Health Communication ) is an interdisciplinary research field, which results from the Health Science and Communication Sciences composed.

The main subject of research is general health topics such as health promotion , disease prevention and disease spread ( epidemiology ). In addition, there are communicative aspects that deal with the preparation and communication of health-relevant information in order to present it to an audience in a media-effective manner. The relevance of health communication - i.e. the overarching exchange on health-related topics - has increased significantly over the past 30 years and has now become an important part of health research.

Definition options

Bringing the complex terms health and communication together results in different definition options for health communication . Depending on which characteristics of health (e.g. only physical or only objective health) and communication (e.g. interactivity, media channels) are considered, the research field of health communication can be broadly or narrowly defined.

A broad definition describes all forms of human communication related to health as health communication: "Health communication refers to any type of human communication whose content is concerned with health" (p. 15).

Baumann and Hurrelmann (2014) also offer a very broad definition of health communication , but specify the various actors and communication channels : "Health communication refers to the transfer and exchange of knowledge, opinions and feelings between people who have questions about health and illness and public Interested in health policy and / or involved in the health care process as a professional service provider or patient / client. Mediation and exchange can be direct personal or mediated through technical media. Health communication includes all communication content that relates to health and illness or its determinants, and includes all forms of symbol-mediated social interaction that - regardless of the intention of the communication partner - are relevant to health, i.e. directly or indirectly influence health behavior or are initiated by it "(P. 13).

Narrower definitions of health communication denote only parts of the broad definition. For example, only the “more or less organized efforts” with the “use of as many targeted strategies as possible (advice, organizational development, awareness-raising and information campaigns)” to “avoid disease risks and strengthen health resources” (p. 39) are mentioned. This definition does not include unintentional (ie non-targeting) health effects of communication.

Historical background

The beginnings of health communication go back a very long time. Even pamphlets, almanacs and the first periodicals such as weekly and daily newspapers often contained texts about health and illness with possible causes and therapies. More recently, the establishment of the Therapeutic Communication Interest Group , which was established in 1975 by the International Communication Association in the USA, is noteworthy . The Therapeutic Communication Interest Group was later renamed the Health Communication Division and deals, among other things, with the doctor-patient relationship as well as health campaigns for education and health policy.

Since 1984 more and more books have been published dealing with the topic of health communication. In 1996, the Journal of Health Communication was founded as a specialist journal , which provides information on new findings in the field of health communication . It deals primarily with the topics of risk communication, social marketing and communication as a science that must be used to educate people about health-related topics. The National Cancer Institute established a research group in 1999 to study broader information about cancer prevention and intervention.

aims

  • Informing and educating the population about health-related issues,
  • Transfer and exchange of knowledge about different areas of health care,
  • Health-promoting behavior should be initiated, influenced and supported.

Starting points for health communication are in the areas of direct, personal communication in health care (doctor-patient), mass media ( radio , television , newspapers ) and interactive media ( Internet ).

Methods and procedures

In the field of health communication, employees in health professions as well as people with different academic backgrounds and special fields unite to form a professional group, such as sociologists, doctors, physiotherapists, experts in the environment, communication and business.

These specialists often have their own working methods. However, in order to be able to cope with the complex tasks, which in most cases entail health maintenance and health promotion, the combination of subject-specific methods is crucial. Such alliances can be observed, for example, in the development of health campaigns. Communication scientists, psychologists, graphic designers and other technical experts work together on a specific objective. This can be the education of a broad section of the population about a selected health science topic but also a preventive procedure. The most far-reaching and largest campaigns of this kind are carried out in Germany on behalf of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA).

Health communication in general has different effects on the recipient at different levels. On the one hand there is the individual level in which affective, cognitive, conative and physiological effects can be determined. On the other hand, health communication has effects on the meso level. Communication between people or institutions is suggested here. First and foremost, there are positive consequences, such as an increase in the health awareness of the recipient. However, negative consequences such as uncertainty can also emerge.

Teaching and profession

Health communication has developed from a strong practical and application orientation.

Bachelor courses

The Health Communication bachelor's degree has been offered at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Bielefeld University since 2002 . It combines the fields of health sciences and communication sciences. In addition to the basics of health and communication science, the following focuses are taught:

So far, this course has only been offered at Bielefeld University. However, other universities offer similar courses in which different priorities are set. For example, the health promotion and prevention course at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) places great emphasis on health communication .

Masters courses

The research-oriented master’s degree in health communication has been available at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Erfurt since 2017 . It is aimed at graduates with a bachelor's degree in psychology, communication science and public health. This interdisciplinary master's program is dedicated to the theory and practice of evidence-informed health communication. Contents of the course include a.

  • Health communication as an interdisciplinary research field (pillars: psychology, communication science, medicine, public health, methods, statistics)
  • Psychological explanation and change in behavior
  • Role and use of media in health communication and behavior change
  • social and psychological conditions, meanings and consequences of health-related and health-relevant, intended and unintended, intrapersonal, interpersonal, media and public communication.

At Bielefeld University, it is possible to study the Master in Public Health and European Public Health . The Master's degree in Public Health is offered both in Bielefeld and, for example, in Munich, Wilhelmshaven, Düsseldorf and Fulda.

Advanced training

The Postgraduate Center of the University of Vienna also offers systematic advanced training in the field of health communication with the part-time master's program in Health Communication . In addition to an introduction to the basics of health communication and the basics of health, the focus is on the following content:

Fields and areas of activity

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Everett M. Rogers: Up-to-Date Report . In: Journal of Health Communication . tape 1 , no. 1 , February 1996, ISSN  1081-0730 , p. 15-24 , doi : 10.1080 / 108107396128202 .
  2. ↑ Baumann, Eva; Hurrelmann, Klaus: Health Communication: An Introduction . In: Hurrelmann, Klaus; Baumann, Eva (Ed.): Handbook Health Communication . Verlag Hans Huber, Bern 2014, ISBN 978-3-456-85432-8 , p. 8-17 .
  3. ↑ Schnabel, Peter-Ernst: Target group-appropriate health communication . In: Roski, Reinhold (Ed.): Health communication tailored to target groups . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 3-531-15907-0 , p. 33-58 .
  4. ↑ http://www.ogk.at/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Medien-Journal-Wwissenschaftsjournalismus-Roloff.pdf
  5. ↑ Kreps & Thornton (1984), Sharf (1984), and Northhouse & Northhouse (1985).
  6. ^ GL Kreps, D. O'Hair, M. Clowers: The Influences of Human Communication on Health Outcomes. In: American Behavioral Scientist. 38, 1994, pp. 248-256.
  7. ^ EM Rogers: The Field of Health Communication Today. In: American Behavioral Scientist. 1994. 38 , 208-214.
  8. ↑ Hurrelmann / Leppin 2001, p. 11.
  9. ^ Degree in Health Promotion and Prevention
  10. ↑ Master in Health Communication . University of Erfurt. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ Schnabel 2006, p. 134ff.

literature

  • Constanze Rossmann , Matthias R. Hastall (Ed.): Handbook of health communication . Communication science perspectives. Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden 2019, ISBN 978-3-658-10948-6 .
  • Doreen Reifegerste, Alexander Location: Health Communication . Media & Communication course. Nomos, Baden-Baden 2018, ISBN 978-3-8487-3859-5 . (on-line)
  • Klaus Hurrelmann, Eva Baumann (eds.): Handbook on health communication. Verlag Hans Huber, Bern 2014, ISBN 978-3-456-85432-8 . (on-line)
  • Dietmar Jazbinsek (Ed.): Health communication . Westdeutscher Verlag, Wiesbaden 2000, ISBN 3-531-13427-2 .
  • Klaus Hurrelmann, Klaus Leppin (ed.): Modern health communication. Verlag Hans Huber, Bern, 2001, ISBN 3-456-83640-6 .
  • Peter Ernst Schnabel: Health communication on the way to work? In: Johanne Pundt (Hrsg.): Professionalization in health care . Verlag Hans Huber, Bern 2006, ISBN 3-456-84232-5 .
  • Gary Kreps et al: The History and Developments of the Field of Health Communication. Greenwood 1998.
  • Hans Strohner: Communication: cognitive basics and practical applications. 2006, ISBN 3-525-26534-4 .
  • Bettina Fromm, Eva Baumann, Claudia Lampert: Health Communication and Media. A textbook. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-17-020683-0 .

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