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Park SY, Harrington NG, Crosswell LH, Parvanta C. Competencies for Health Communication Specialists: Survey of Health Communication Educators and Practitioners. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 26:413-433. [PMID: 34369290 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2021.1925785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For more than two decades, health communication educators and practitioners have been working toward establishing a competency model to guide health communication education. This article reports the results of a survey to identify competencies for health communication specialists with master's degrees. To prepare the survey, a working group drafted a competency list through reviewing the literature and soliciting feedback from attendees at a professional society meeting, resulting in lists of items reflecting 18 knowledge domains, 11 skill sets, and 14 application bundles labeled "abilities." The survey asked participants to rate the 43 items in terms of their importance and provide their opinions about the preparation of health communication specialists. The survey was disseminated online through professional associations and completed by 142 participants (74 educators and 68 practitioners). Nearly all of the 43 items were rated "somewhat important" or higher. The lists were reduced to 10 knowledge domains, three skill sets, and five abilities through factor analyses. Replication of the findings and triangulation with studies employing different research methods will help advance this line of inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Yeon Park
- School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Nancy Grant Harrington
- College of Communication and Information, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Laura H Crosswell
- Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Claudia Parvanta
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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Edgar T, Silk KJ, Abroms LC, Cruz TB, Evans WD, Gallagher SS, Miller GA, Hoffman A, Schindler-Ruwisch JM, Sheff SE. Career Paths of Recipients of a Master's Degree in Health Communication: Understanding Employment Opportunities, Responsibilities, and Choices. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2016; 21:356-365. [PMID: 26735802 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2015.1080332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of institutions offer a master's degree in health communication to prepare individuals for applied work in the field, but there is very little literature on the career paths graduates pursue. The current study reports the results of a national survey that targeted the alumni of five institutions that offer the degree. Of the 522 total graduates to whom the survey was sent, 398 responded (76.2% response rate). Results show that the degree recipients have found employment in a wide variety of organizations across the country, including jobs within very prestigious organizations, such as the National Cancer Institute. Common job titles include manager, coordinator, communication associate/specialist, and program/project director. The most common job responsibilities include research activities, the development of health communication materials, project/program management, communication management, and social media/website management. The results also include stories of graduates across programs that illustrate details of career paths. The discussion of the findings addresses implications for career preparation, curriculum development, and advising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Edgar
- a Department of Communication Studies , Emerson College , Boston , Massachusetts , USA
| | - Kami J Silk
- b Department of Communication , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA
| | - Lorien C Abroms
- c Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University , Washington , DC , USA
| | - Tess Boley Cruz
- d Department of Preventive Medicine , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA
| | - W Douglas Evans
- c Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University , Washington , DC , USA
| | - Susan Scavo Gallagher
- e Department of Public Health and Community Medicine , Tufts University School of Medicine , Boston , Massachusetts , USA
| | - Gregory A Miller
- a Department of Communication Studies , Emerson College , Boston , Massachusetts , USA
| | - Alice Hoffman
- b Department of Communication , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA
| | | | - Sarah E Sheff
- b Department of Communication , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA
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Edgar T, Gallagher SS, Silk KJ, Cruz TB, Abroms LC, Evans WD, Finley AM, Miller GA. Results from a national survey of health communication master's degree recipients: an exploration of training, placement, satisfaction, and success. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2015; 20:354-366. [PMID: 25668684 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2014.978514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The field of health communication has seen substantial growth in recent years, but existing health communication research literature contains little information on individuals who practice health communication in applied settings. This study reports the results of a national survey that targeted the alumni of 5 institutions that offer a master's degree in health communication. Of the 522 total graduates to whom the survey was sent, 398 responded. Survey results provided information in a number of areas including undergraduate education background; criteria used to determine what type of master's degree in health communication to pursue; strategies used to gain employment; employment sector of first job after graduation; salaries received after completion of a master's degree in health communication; satisfaction with career choice after completion of master's degree; satisfaction with type of master's degree in health communication received; satisfaction with career choice after completion of master's degree; and the degree to which respondents felt their master's program in health communication prepared them to meet core competencies in the field. These findings have significant implications for the health communication field and the programs that prepare individuals for a career as a health communication practitioner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Edgar
- a Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders , Emerson College , Boston , Massachusetts , USA
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McKeever BW. The status of health communication: education and employment outlook for a growing field. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2014; 19:1408-23. [PMID: 24884307 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2014.904024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Using an online survey of health communication practitioners and academics (N = 372), this study investigates the educational background (degrees, knowledge, skills, and coursework) perceived to be important for employment in health communication. It provides an update on what may be needed in terms of graduate education, as well as which areas may be emerging as most important in the field. The purpose is to inform students, educators, administrators, and practitioners about the current status and possible future trends in health communication education and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Weberling McKeever
- a School of Journalism and Mass Communications , University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA
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Edgar T, Hyde JN. An alumni-based evaluation of graduate training in health communication: results of a survey on careers, salaries, competencies, and emerging trends. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2005; 10:5-25. [PMID: 15764441 DOI: 10.1080/10810730590904553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Published information about career options and the core competencies necessary for health communication professionals (HCPs) is limited. Although the number of graduate programs in health communication continues to grow, no formal assessment of the success of this type of training has been conducted. The current study presents the results of an evaluation of the Master's Program in Health Communication offered collaboratively by Emerson College and the Tufts University School of Medicine. The program was one of the first of its kind and has graduated more health communication students than any other in the United States. To conduct the assessment of the program, the two schools collaborated on the development of an on-line survey for the alumni. Of the 131 graduates eligible to participate, 106 completed the survey. The survey yielded detailed information on the following: (1) career options for individuals with master's degrees in health communication; (2) value of graduate coursework for developing competencies in health communication; (3) salary expectations for individuals with graduate degrees in health communication; and (4) emerging trends in the field. These findings have important implications for the development of new programs and the refinement of existing ones in health communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Edgar
- Department of Marketing Communication, Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, USA.
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