Health Communication: An Overview
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Also, despite recent advances in health communication, it is important for researchers and practitioners to keep in mind the fact that not all groups benefit equally from improved information flow. The ability to determine what health information is worth paying attention to and what is from a non-credible source appears to depend on the educational and socio-economic background of the audience. Those who are well-off with education, income, and interpersonal contacts with high education tend to be less likely to be confused – as opposed to groups that are not endowed with similar advantages in education or income. Efforts in health literacy and media literacy can reduce the knowledge gap between groups or at least prevent further widening. Health literacy will enable patients and non-patients to access and process information in a manner that can minimize confusion and allow them to take the necessary steps. Media literacy teaches audiences to be sophisticated and critical consumers of media content. Lastly, increasing the public’s understanding of the scientific process (and the inherent contradictory results in new areas of studies) will help them understand how to deal with scientific information presented in the media. References
[Page 3 of 3]
Also, despite recent advances in health communication, it is important for researchers and practitioners to keep in mind the fact that not all groups benefit equally from improved information flow. The ability to determine what health information is worth paying attention to and what is from a non-credible source appears to depend on the educational and socio-economic background of the audience. Those who are well-off with education, income, and interpersonal contacts with high education tend to be less likely to be confused – as opposed to groups that are not endowed with similar advantages in education or income. Efforts in health literacy and media literacy can reduce the knowledge gap between groups or at least prevent further widening. Health literacy will enable patients and non-patients to access and process information in a manner that can minimize confusion and allow them to take the necessary steps. Media literacy teaches audiences to be sophisticated and critical consumers of media content. Lastly, increasing the public’s understanding of the scientific process (and the inherent contradictory results in new areas of studies) will help them understand how to deal with scientific information presented in the media. References
- Hiatt, RA & Rimer BK. (1999). A new strategy for cancer control research. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 8, 957-64
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2000). Healthy People 2010: Chapter 11 – Health Communication. http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume1/11HealthCom.htm#_Toc490471360. Accessed January 10, 2006.
- Viswanath K. (2005). Science and society: the communications revolution and cancer control. Nat Rev Cancer. 5(10):828-35.
