The overall goal for the course is to help students discover how health and illness affects and is affected by communication. It has been consistently shown in research that public health outcomes can be improved through effective communication of timely, accurate health information. Clear communication is essential to successful public health practices at intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, organizational, and societal levels. Contemporary health care has demonstrated a strong need for communicating accurate and reliable information and promoting behavioral changes for the enhancement of the quality of life and individuals’ well-beings with in the community. Such need is highlighted within a global context where infectious diseases, food safety, nutrition and physical activities have become world-wide common concerns. In the contexts of Hong Kong and Greater China, population density and close proximity for interpersonal contact lead to aggressive spread of diseases. Low health literacy, environmental risks, limited resources, and poor governance and intervention also pose serious health threats to public health practices. Developing tailored health messages and communicating them with strategic media planning are particularly acute, give that there is an increased competition for attention in our information age. It is therefore theoretically critical and practically important for the students to develop a basic understanding of health communication.

Continuous Assessment: 100%