Identifying the field of health communication

Extending the Roots of Memorable Messages: A Comprehensive Review and Forecast of Memorable Message Literature and Theory

Five years ago, we reviewed the state of memorable message scholarship in communication, with special attention to the utility of memorable message research in health communication. Since then, works advancing the theoretical and practical applicability of the construct have continued to emerge. In this article, we discuss the trends in published memorable message research over the last five years. Since 2017, thirty-four additional peer-reviewed articles focusing on memorable messages as a central concept have been published. Health communication as a subset of the field (as well as the journal Health Communication) see a higher concentration of these publications than other areas. In this review, we concentrate on the use of theory within recent memorable message work. Although much of the memorable message research continues to be atheoretical, more work utilizing control theory, the theory of memorable messages, and communicated narrative sense-making characterize the recent literature. Additionally, more research has emerged that highlights the theoretically driven investigations about the nature of memorable messages. We review the scholarship utilizing these and other theories and suggest avenues for future research.

Public health agencies' use of social media for communication during pandemics: a scoping review of the literature

Public health agencies (PHAs) have increasingly incorporated social media into their communication mix during successive pandemics in the 21st century. However, the quality, timing, and accuracy of their health messages have varied significantly, resulting in mixed outcomes for communication, audience engagement, and pandemic management. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the effectiveness of pandemic-related health messages shared by PHAs on social media and to report their impact on public engagement as documented in the literature. A scoping literature review was conducted following a predefined protocol. An electronic search of 7 relevant databases and 5 grey literature repositories yielded 9,714 papers published between January 2003 and November 2022. Seventy-three papers were deemed eligible and selected for review. The results underscored the insufficiency of social media guidance policies for PHAs. Six themes were identified: message source, message topic, message style, message timing, content credibility and reliability, and message recipient profile. These themes encompassed 20 variables that could inform PHAs' social media public health communication during pandemics. Additionally, the findings revealed potential interconnectedness among the variables, and this study concluded by proposing a conceptual model that expands upon existing theoretical foundations for developing and evaluating pandemic-related health messaging.

Fifteen Years after a 10-year Retrospective: The State of Health Mass Mediated Campaigns

In 2006, a 10-year retrospective of successful mass mediated health communication campaigns reviewed the field and highlighted strategies for successful campaigns. In the 15 years since the retrospective, there have been dramatic changes in the media environment and advances in health communication research. In this article, we describe changes in the health communication media landscape and in our understanding of mass mediated health communication campaigns in the 15 years since the retrospective. Although the media environment has shifted, we argue that effective principles of health communication have remained relatively constant. We note significant advances in technology since the previous retrospective that can further advance health communication campaigns, with new technologies offering promise as channels for health communication campaigns as well as for campaign planning. We also recommend that campaign researchers report in detail on their use of theory, audience segmentation, channel selection, and the role of formative research when describing campaign efforts; that communicators continue to develop frameworks that integrate principles of effective campaign design; and that additional research focus on understanding how technology can be effectively incorporated into campaign planning, distribution, and evaluation.

Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Instrument to Evaluate Nurses' Attitudes Toward Communication With the Patient for Nursing Students

Communication is essential to the quality of care and patient satisfaction. It has been linked to positive patient outcomes, increased engagement, improved health outcomes, and safe practices. Given these benefits and the association between attitudes and behaviors, as behaviors can be predicted by studying attitudes, assessing attitudes of nursing students toward patient communication is critical for future nursing professionals. For this purpose, the main aim of this study was to adapt and validate an instrument to measure nurses’ attitudes toward communication (ACO) for nursing students. The ACO with patients was analyzed. Then, differences in the dimensions of the instrument (ACO) for nursing students according to an academic course and the correlations were calculated. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a convenience sample of 1,417 nursing students from five universities in the Valencian Community (Spain) during the 2018/2019 academic year and 83.8% (1,187) were women. The reliability was analyzed by using Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR). Analysis of construct validity was performed with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The instrument adapted from nurses to nursing students was composed of 25 items grouped in three dimensions: affective, cognitive, and behavioral. The psychometric properties suggested that the instrument ACO for nursing students was reliable and valid. The ACO of nursing students was positive with high levels in cognitive and behavioral dimensions, while scores were worst in the affective component. The second-year nursing students showed more positive attitudes in the affective dimension, while in the cognitive and behavioral dimensions, the most positive attitudes were found in the first year. In the correlations, the behavioral and cognitive dimensions showed a significant, positive, and very high correlation. These findings should be considered in developing academic plans to improve the effectiveness of the communication education process of the students to increase the quality of patient care and well-being of nursing students.

Humanization of the hospital: participatory construction of knowledge and practices on care and ambience

OBJECTIVE

To identify and implement care and ambience strategies, with a view to hospital humanization.

METHOD

Action-research study, whose investigation process occurred between January and March 2019, with the participation of employees in strategic functions of a medium-sized hospital, through a focus group and strategic focal analysis. The implementation of care and ambience strategies started in May 2019 and remains in progress, with the responsible and multiplying participation of professionals and patients.

RESULTS

18 employees participated in the study. It was found that investigative processes accompanied by practical interventions, especially those related to the promotion of interactive, inclusive, care spaces and the creation of a ludic, attractive and interactive environment favor multi-professional actions, mobilize innovative knowledge and practices, and contribute to the (re)signification of the being and doing of the health professional.

CONCLUSION

Care and ambience, with a view to hospital humanization, include the implementation of strategies designed with the responsible and multiplying participation of all actors (professionals and users) of the hospital. It is important that, in this process, everyone feels they are protagonists of new ways of being, living and doing in health.

The state of health communication research: A content analysis of articles published in Journal of Health Communication and Health Communication (2010-2019)

This study presents data from a content analysis of original research articles published in Journal of Health Communication (JOHC) andHealth Communication (HC) from 2010 to 2019. The authors coded 2,050 articles using categories that identified health topics, theory, population characteristics, and methods used in each study. Distinctions between the published research in JOHCand HCare highlighted. Across both journals, articles are primarily conducted within the United States, most frequently use college student samples, often lack explicit theoretical frameworks, heavily rely on online survey methods, and most commonly use quantitative methodologies. The most frequently utilized theory across both journals wasSocial Cognitive Theory and the most studied health topic were behaviors related to smoking, tobacco, and e-cigarette use. The journals were significantly different in several areas, with HC containing more articles explicitly guided by theory and publishing more qualitative research, while JOHC had more racial diversity in its study samples. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for future research. Increased diversity in methodology and samples, as well as increased use of theory and continued use of interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers will allow for expanding and enhancing health communication knowledge going forward.

A concept analysis of health communication in a home environment: Perspectives of older persons and their informal caregivers

BACKGROUND

Health communication (HC) is a vast research field focusing on changing health behaviours, and rapidly evolving technology is creating different ways and possibilities to reach target groups and audiences. In the context of home care, a deeper understanding of HC is lacking, specifically for older persons with care needs and their informal caregivers. The aim of this concept analysis is to identify and construct the meaning of HC from the perspective of older persons in need of care in the home environment and their informal caregivers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study utilised Rogers' (2000) Evolutionary Concept Analysis Method (EMCA) to create and construct a meaning of the concept of HC. The EMCA was based on a systematic literature review of scientific articles, using CINAHL, Pubmed and Inspec (2000-2017). A total of 29 articles were retrieved and analysed.

RESULTS

The identified attributes of the concept were as follows: resources of the recipient, influence on decisions and advantages of tailored information. HC was described as both contributing to knowledge as well as being overwhelming where habits and resources influenced the use of information. The attributes led to the following descriptive definition of HC: 'Tailored HC, based on needs and resources of the recipient influence care decisions'. The home environment influenced HC by habits and interactions between older persons and their informal caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

The home environment influenced HC in terms of social aspects of interactions and habits and between the older person and the informal caregiver. Tailored information with the use of technology contributed to knowledge in care of older persons and their informal caregivers. HC was shown to contribute to improve care for older people in their home environment.

Assessment of Nursing Students' Communication Skills

ABSTRACT

Communication is vital in all areas of nursing: prevention, treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, education, and health promotion. This descriptive, longitudinal study aimed to assess nursing students' attitudes toward learning communication skills, perceived importance of nursing communication, and caring efficacy. A self-administered questionnaire was used with a convenience sample to collect data from nursing students and nurse interns. No significant differences over time were found for students' attitudes toward learning communication skills or perceived importance of communication; interns reported higher scores for caring efficacy. Nursing students need to be strong communicators in clinical practice to deal with patients' needs, anxieties, and concerns.

Office for the Study of Aging at the University of South Carolina: Promoting Healthy Aging Through Program Development, Evaluation, Education/Training, and Research for South Carolina's Older Adults

The Office for the Study of Aging (OSA) at the University of South Carolina was established in 1988 in conjunction with the founding of the South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry. Over the last 25 years, the Office for the Study of Aging has furthered its purpose through the development of research and programs for all of South Carolina's aging population. Examples include the Placemat Strength Training Program, the Dementia Dialogues education program, and the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian ad Litem program. The work of the office is sustained through a unique government-university-community partnership that supports innovative work and provides direct lines for dissemination, translation, and implementation of programs. The office's efforts have resulted in two state laws involving aging and older adults as well as recognition through awards and publications. The Office provides a partnership model that offers a dissemination and translation pipeline for programs to be developed, piloted, revised, and enacted into policy.