This course introduces the theories and practices behind the communication of health-related behaviors. Topics will include history and scope of health communication, health communication processes and theories, interpersonal and organizational communication involved in public health care, media campaign design and evaluation, health situation analysis, e-health and mobile technologies, and cultural and ethical concerns in health communication. This course is designed for students with varying interests: those who wish to work in public or non-profit health organizations that strive to enhance healthcare, media institutions that report and disseminate health and medical information, or other organizations related to disease control, health management, public recreations and fitness programs, and etc. The teaching and learning will pay particular attention to significant health issues and application examples in Hong Kong, such as infectious diseases, food safety, smoking, nutrition, obesity, and drug use. At the course's completion, students will have clear ideas about principles and practices for delivering health information through various communication means.

Course Aims

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' wellbeings 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.