Health Communication in the 21st Century

This popular and engaging text on health communication is now revised and updated in a second edition that incorporates recent research and boasts new material on topics such as crisis communication, social disparities in health, and systemic reform.

• Fully revised second edition of this popular and authoritative text

• Includes fresh material on topics such as crisis communication, health care reform, global health issues, and political issues in health communication

• New case studies, examples, and updated glossary keep the work relevant and student-friendly

• Provides effective strategies for healthcare organizations and individuals in communicating with patients

• Updated and enhanced online resources, including PowerPoint slides, test bank, and instructors manual, available upon publication at www.wiley.com/go/wright

Autorentext

Kevin Bradley Wright is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Saint Louis University, USA.

Lisa Sparks is Foster and Mary McGaw Endowed Professor in Behavioral Sciences at Chapman University, USA, and Full Faculty Member of the NCI-designated Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Irvine.

H. Dan O'Hair is a Presidential Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Oklahoma, USA.

Klappentext

Now in an updated second edition, this much-admired primer for students offers an accessible and reliable introduction to health communication. Health is such an important and complex topic that how and what we communicate to one another about it is of central concern. Integrating the latest thinking and covering a host of fresh topics, this fully revised text features new and enhanced material on risk and crisis communication, health issues of global significance, spirituality and health, disparities in health provision, and political issues in health communication. The diversity of content reflects the span of the subject from media campaigns to sensitive dialogue with terminally ill patients.

For this edition, the authors have added substantially to the content and reworked existing chapters to reflect new methods and results. They maintain their student-centered approach with fresh case studies neatly summarizing fundamental points, a full glossary, and chapter summaries with discussion questions. This engaging work guides students majoring in public health, communications or any healthcare discipline to a solid understanding of the intricate links between health and the processes of communication.

Inhalt

PART I: INTRODUCTION 1

1 Overview of Communication and Health 3

Arguments for the Need to Study Health Communication 3

Defi ning Health Communication 5

A Brief History of Health Communication Research 6

Current Challenges to the Healthcare System and the Role of Health Communication Research 8

Overview of the Book 11

Summary 12

PART II: INTERPERSONAL PERSPECTIVES 15

2 ProviderPatient Communication 17

Provider and Patient Views of Health and Healthcare 18

Provider Perspective 18

Patient Perspective 25

ProviderPatient Interaction 30

Improving ProviderPatient Communication 33

Outcomes of ProviderPatient Communication 36

Communication and Medical Malpractice Lawsuits 38

Other Challenges of ProviderPatient Communication 39

Summary 46

3 Caregiving and Communication 55

Caregiving 56

Hospice and Palliative Care 63

Older Adult Health Concerns and Communication Issues 69

Attitudes Toward Death and Dying 77

Summary 82

PART III: SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXTS 91

4 Social Support and Health 93

History of Social Support and Health Research 94

Types and Functions of Social Support 94

Models of Social Support and Health 98

Perceptions of Support Providers 103

Strong Tie Versus Weak Tie Support Networks 105

The Role of Communication in the Social Support Process 108

Communication within Social Networks, Social Support Processes, and Health 110

Support Groups for People with Health Concerns 111

Communication Processes within Support Groups 114

Support Group Participation and Health Outcomes 116

Social Support Interventions 116

Summary 117

5 Culture and Diversity Issues in Healthcare 124

Patient Diversity and Issues with Healthcare 125

Cultural Differences in Concepts of Health and Medicine 127

Recognizing Cultural Diversity in Health Beliefs 131

Alternative Medicine 133

Spirituality, Culture, and Health 135

Social Implications of Illness 139

Changing Social Perceptions of Stigmatized Health Issues through Communication 143

Culturally Centered Health Campaigns 145

Provider Diversity 146

Summary 148

6 Communication and Healthcare Organizations 156

Healthcare Organizations as Systems 157

Types of Healthcare Organizations 161

Communication within Healthcare Organizations 163

Healthcare Organization Culture 165

Infl uences on Healthcare Organization Communication 167

Provider Stress, Confl ict, and Support within Healthcare Organizations 173

Summary 177

PART IV: INFLUENCES OF TECHNOLOGIES AND MEDIA 181

7 New Technologies and Health Communication 183

Health Information on the Internet 184

New Technologies and PatientPatient Communication 189

New Technologies and ProviderProvider Communication 191

New Technologies and ProviderPatient Communication 196

New Technologies and Health Campaigns 201

Summary 202

8 Mass Communication and Health 208

Two Perspectives of Media Infl uence 209

Needs Fulfi lled by the Mass Media Concerning Health 210

Media Usage, Health Portrayals, and Health Behaviors 214

Health News Stories in the Media 222

Summary 226

PART V: RISK, CAMPAIGNS, COMMUNITIES, AND TEAMS 233

9 Risk and Crisis Communication 235

Defi ning Risk Communication 236

Global and Large-Scale Health Threats 240

At-Risk Communities within the United States 245

Communication Strategies for Addressing Health Risks 248

Community-Based Health Initiatives for At-Risk or Marginalized Populations 252 Risk Communication Strategies at the ProviderPatien...