An analysis of the interaction mechanism between the social history of medicine research and health communication from the perspective of mass communication

The mass communication model and interactive ritual chain theory,which serve as communication paradigms in the new media era,facilitate and enhance the synergy between the fields of social history of medicine and health communication.This study employs a comprehensive framework based on the five elements of the mass communication model:information source,communication subject,communication object,message content,and post-communication feedback.Additionally,it incorporates the interactive ritual chain theory to examine the evolving dynamics and developmental trajectory of research in the social history of medicine during the new media era.Conclusively,this paper acknowledges the existing interaction gaps in the interaction between health communication and the social history of medicine research while outlining the challenges for fostering collaboration and proposing strategic optimizations for effective integration.

Health communication campaigns: A brief introduction and call for dialogue

This article provides a brief introduction to health communication campaigns as an important method for health promotion.The general approach to campaign development is described and patterns of campaign effects across behavioral contexts are noted.Several high-profile campaigns in the United States are presented as examples and key learnings from each campaign are highlighted.The roles of theory,as well as major types of theories commonly used in campaign research,are also discussed.The article urges greater efforts to document and understand diverse campaign experience around the world.(c)2020 The author(s).Published by Elsevier B.V.on behalf of the Chinese Nursing Association.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Knowledge of Health Communications Management and Treatment Seeking-Behavior Regarding Malaria in Uganda

In Uganda, there is still insufficient comprehension of malaria as a lethal disease especially in rural areas despite universal bed-net distribution coverage and effective anti-malarial treatment. Aim: To get evidence-based knowledge to establish the contribution of an individuals’ knowledge from various health communications that could increase their active involvement in health care especially seeking timely appropriate treatment for malaria or suspected malaria. Method: A cross-sectional survey using a correlational design was employed on a clustered sample of 380 rural households in 05 sub-counties of Kanungu district. Data were corrected between October 2016-January 2017 using researcher-administered questionnaires, key-informant interviews and focus group discussions. Correlation analysis was done. Result: There is a significant positive relationship between knowledge of health communications and treatment-seeking behavior (r = 0.312;p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Exposure to consistent Behavioral Change Communications messages influences treatment-seeking behaviour. Thus, in malaria-prone communities, it appears that other factors including sufficient targeted persuasive health communication are lacking in influencing personal orientations towards treatment-seeking behaviour. Therefore, proper Health Communications management supplements efforts from other disciplines and players, against malaria in Uganda.

New journey,new mission: bolstering international communication about mental health

In the wake of the rapid economy and society development, phenomena such as industrialisation, urbanisation, marketisation and the ageing of the population have shown an accelerating trend. As a result, mental health issues due to these phenomena are increasingly serious, making mental health both concerning public health and societal issues that have a great impact on economic and social development.~1 In 2014, there were16 million persons with severe mental disorders in China. The prevalence of all mental diseases reached 13.47%, ranking number one in the overall burden of disease and accounting for 20%of the overall burden of disease. By the year 2020, the ratio of mental illness to the overall burden of disease was projected to rise to 25%.~2 Unfortunately,

How media empower the vulnerable: Using community structure theory to analyze relationships between demographics and health reporting

Instead of studying the impact of media on society,the traditional"top down"orientation of most communication studies scholars,this keynote presentation adopted the opposite perspective,exploring the"bottom-up"impact of"society"on"media".Unlike conventional"agenda-setting theory",which suggests that nationally prominent news media set issue"agendas"for other news media and public opinion,and also unlike the"guard dog"view that media essentially protect the interests of political and economic elites,the"community structure theory"explores links between different community(typically city or nation-state)demographics and variations in reporting on critical health concerns.Summarizing his scholarship on health communication presented and published over decades,the speaker outlined community structure theory's illumination of two overall patterns in US and cross-national coverage of health communication issues.In US coverage,broad measures of economically"buffered"privilege(educational,income,or occupational advantage)are linked to"favorable"or"government responsibility"coverage of health issues,and specific measures of"health"privilege(physicians,hospitals)are connected to"favorable"or"government responsibility"coverage promoting selected health issues.In cross-national coverage,specific measures of national"health vulnerability"(such as percent without improved water access,infant mortality rate)are linked to"government"responsibility coverage for selected health issues(human trafficking,water handling/contamination).In addition,broad measures of"macro"vulnerability conditions(agricultural dependence,political instability)are associated with"government"responsibility coverage for a wide range of health issues(genetically modified foods,drug trafficking,condom promotion,and food security).Overall,community structure theory's"bottom up"perspective reveals how the vulnerable are empowered by their demographic alignment with variations in health communication.

Free Media as the Social Determinants of Health: The Case of Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia

Background: For over a hundred thirty years, consecutive Ethiopian regimes have denied the Oromo people the right to develop free media. In this paper I explore how this denial has affected the development of public health conditions in Oromia. Methods: Using the “upstream” public health metaphor as the framework of thinking, in this paper I explore how the denial of free media has hindered the development of better public health conditions. Finding: Although media and public health are distinct social organizations, many of their functions overlap, with the former significantly supporting the development of the latter. Media informs, educates, entertains, molds opinion, advocates, provides a framework of thinking, connects people and ideas, and records events. The foundation of public health rests on the study of risks to population health and identifying health promotion as well as disease prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary) tools. Media facilitates knowledge construction and its dissemination. It supports the efforts societies make in establishing and maintaining the social conditions that will ensure the best public health outcomes possible. Conclusion: Since media facilitates knowledge construction and knowledge dissemination, it can help produce knowledgeable and critical citizens who are equipped with problem-solving skills. Denying the Oromo people the right to develop their own free media is hindering them from having people with skills who are critically needed in transforming their society and developing better public health conditions.

Reading Levels of Leaflets of Common Over-the-Counter Drugs in Ghana

Health communication is critical component of effective health delivery. While there are studies on the readability Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) around the world, so far, there is only one Ghanaian study that explored the language of patient information leaflets for malaria. The present study explores the language of PILs of seven common ailments in Ghana. In all, 68 leaflets were purposely sampled for the study. Using SMOG and Flesch Kincaid grade level readability formulae, the researcher measured the readability of PILs and discovered that the readability of all the PILs was difficult to read except the dewormer leaflets that scored standard reading score. Further statistical analysis reveal that the lexical and syntactic complexity of the leaflets were not statistically different. Finally, an interview with 20 patients confirmed that the leaflets are difficult to read due to the complex words and long sentence structures. It is recommended that the PILs be revised to make the leaflets readable.

A fundamental(often neglected)lecture skill:presenting with credibility

Being credible as medical speakers is a fundamental quality to achieve. Although there are many factors that determine the credibility of a medical presenter, the way presentations are delivered (the lecture’s structure, visual aids, and the lecturer’s communication skills and engagement with the audience) will influence the effect speakers have on their audience and how credible people consider the lecturer, which will ultimately affect students’ learning. This perspective provides recommendations to increase speakers’ credibility through applying common presentation and communication principles in four domains: expertise and competence (e.g., know your audience, organize your presentation, introduce yourself, hold your arguments with evidence, avoid information overload, be prepared to answer questions), authenticity (be an accessible and honest speaker), personal presence (rehearse your presentation, get organized early, enjoy the moment), and dynamism (engage your audience, do not read your slides, explain the data, use images rather than text, avoid distracting your audience, ask and encourage questions).

Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Children:Preventing the Silent Epidemic

Noise-induced hearing loss and related tinnitus are often unrecognized problems, especially in non-occupational settings. Research indicates that increasing numbers of children and adolescents have or are acquiring noise induced hearing losses. Noise induced hearing loss can almost completely be prevented with simple precautionary measures. Educational programs rarely exist outside of those mandated in occupational settings. Health Communication theory can be applied to hearing health for developing effective loss prevention programs. Dangerous Decibels is one example of an effective multi-disciplinary effort to develop and disseminated prevention strategies.

Diversity of Emergency Codes in Hospitals

Background: Hospitals must be prepared to deal efficiently and effectively with different emergencies. To accomplish this, several countries have standardized their hospital emergency codes to improve their response capability. This is particularly important in Puerto Rico given that many health professionals, particularly physicians and nurses, provide services in more than one hospital. This study examined the emergency codes and alerts utilized in Puerto Rican hospitals. Objective: To assess hospitals’ level of emergency preparedness and response capability related to the variability of emergency codes and alerts utilized to respond to a situation in Puerto Rico. Method: A survey was conducted to characterize hospital emergency department level of preparedness and response to a mass fatality incident. A total of 39 out of a sample of 44 hospitals participated in the study. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered by the research team to members of each hospital’s administrative staff to explore the following: general hospital characteristics, emergency plans, emergency department capacity, collaborative agreements, personnel training, emergency communications, laboratory facilities, treatment protocols, security, epidemiologic surveillance, equipment and infrastructure. Results: Some hospitals in Puerto Rico use color coded emergency alerts, while others use key words or codes. Single color emergency codes can have different meanings in different hospitals. Conclusions: The findings clearly show that there is a lack of uniformity and clarity in the emergency codes utilized by hospitals in Puerto Rico. Single color codes have diverse meanings in different hospitals. This could adversely affect hospitals’ efficient and effective emergency response.

Men with prostate cancer and the accessibility to information—a literature review

Objective: To explore possible consequences of short stays in hospitals, as these short contacts reduce the patients’ time for information and support. Method: A literature survey was carried out to get an insight in possible consequences by summarizing the state of knowledge on how men with prostate cancer undergoing prostatec-tomy surgery experience their contacts with the healthcare professionals. Results: A consequence is that often men with prostate cancer, treated with prostatectomy surgery, do not receive the individualized support, infor-mation, and dialogue they need, which leads to feelings of uncertainty, insecurity, and loss of control. The men use the Internet in their search for information and support, which makes them able to stay in control and be active, responsible partners in their own course of treatment. Conclusion: For men to feel secure and certain the accessibility of the healthcare professionals and the healthcare professionals’ ability to individualize information and support are important aspects. Practice Implications: It is relevant to provide male cancer patients with tools that can underpin their contact to the healthcare professionals. Utilizing Web 2.0 technologies, Internet based tools can support exchange-ability, towards dialogue-based contacts, between men with prostate cancer and healthcare professionals.

Health and Risks:Integrating Health into Disaster Risk Reduction,Risk Communication,and Building Resilient Communities

In recent years,‘‘health’’has been recognized explicitly as both a determinant and an outcome of the human dimension of disaster risk reduction(DRR).Every disaster creates significant public health needs that can exceed local capacity to respond,resulting in excess mortality and morbidity.The European Union report on Science

Emergence and Development of Health Risk Communication Networks Among Street-Level Health Bureaucrats During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis in Myanmar

Street-level health bureaucrats have actively contributed to implementing the COVID-19 prevention,control,and treatment policies of the Myanmar government.However,the need for bureaucrats on the frontlines of policy implementation to maintain a safe distance from others to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has posed challenges for the sharing and exchange of information related to health risks.In this context,this study examined what health risk communication patterns have emerged and developed among streetlevel health bureaucrats during the COVID-19 pandemic,and how this risk communication has been affected by streetlevel health bureaucrats'perceptions of client meaningfulness and willingness to implement COVID-19 policies.The results reveal that street-level health bureaucrats in the health risk communication network are embedded in reciprocally or transitively connected discussion relationships that sustain their health risk communication over time.Moreover,when specific healthcare staffmembers perceive more benefits of COVID-19 policies for their patients and are more willing to care for patients,other healthcare staffavoid them to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection.Due to their higher level of understanding of the adopted measures,healthcare staffmembers who are highly willing to implement COVID-19 policies are frequently approached by other staffmembers to communicate about COVID-19 issues.This study empirically contributes to the literature on street-level bureaucrats in times of pandemic crisis by examining the formation of health risk communications in the context of street-level health bureaucrats'responses to and participation in public healthcare policy implementation processes.