Emerging agendas in health communication and the challenge of multiple perspectives

As a global epidemic of the social media age, COVID-19 has also resulted in an ‘infodemic’, which means the uncontrolled spreading of false information about the health situation. Spreading of health information is a special intersection point of the freedom of speech, freedom of science, and the fundamental right to life and health. The paper analyses the European and Hungarian legal framework for health communication from multiple perspectives. Regulatory challenges and solutions differ for professional health communication, commercial communication and health communication by laypeople. As with all forms of misinformation, private regulations of platform operators have a significant regulatory role to play in relation to health disinformation. As a result of the analysis, the paper provides a detailed regulatory map that also covers private regulation solutions and explores the factors that need to be considered when designing a comprehensive future regulation.

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Effectiveness of social media for communicating health messages in Ghana

Health Education ◽

10.1108/he-06-2016-0024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 117 (4) ◽

pp. 342-371 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Richard Bannor ◽

Anthony Kwame Asare ◽

Justice Nyigmah Bawole

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

New Media ◽

Health Communication ◽

Health Professionals ◽

General Public ◽

Health Messages ◽

Multiple Perspectives ◽

Content Type ◽

Health Related ◽

Health Messaging

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an in-depth understanding of the effectiveness, evolution and dynamism of the current health communication media used in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a multi-method approach which utilizes a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. In-depth interviews are conducted with health promotion professionals in Ghana and 150 members of the general public were surveyed. Findings The paper finds that the general public sees social media as an effective place for health professionals to share health-related messages. They also view health-related messages on social media seriously. Health professionals see social media as an effective tool for sending health-related messages to the public and are concerned about the fact that traditional media are losing their effectiveness as means to share health-related messages. Research limitations/implications This study was conducted in Ghana. Future studies should be conducted across multiple countries to examine the conclusions developed in this paper and the possibility of multiple perspectives regarding the use of social media for sending health messages. Practical implications The results inform public health officials on developments in health communication and suggest prescriptions on how to adjust to the new media. Originality/value Health messaging is an area that has been relatively ignored in the literature and almost no research focusses on the effectiveness of social media and other health messaging technologies, particularly in developing countries. Although the study was conducted in Ghana, health professionals worldwide can use the findings to help improve their health messaging strategies.

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Health Communication: Implications for Diverse Populations

Perspectives on Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations ◽

10.1044/cds18.1.12 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 12-19

Author(s):

Amy Hasselkus

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Communication ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Linguistically Diverse ◽

Good Health ◽

The United States ◽

Poor Health ◽

Health Care Decisions ◽

Diverse Backgrounds ◽

Health Related

The need for improved communication about health-related topics is evident in statistics about the health literacy of adults living in the United States. The negative impact of poor health communication is huge, resulting in poor health outcomes, health disparities, and high health care costs. The importance of good health communication is relevant to all patient populations, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Efforts are underway at all levels, from individual professionals to the federal government, to improve the information patients receive so that they can make appropriate health care decisions. This article describes these efforts and discusses how speech-language pathologists and audiologists may be impacted.

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Multiple Perspectives on the Barriers to Identification and Management of Pediatric Voice Disorders

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp2.sig3.49 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 49-56

Author(s):

Jana Childes ◽

Alissa Acker ◽

Dana Collins

Keyword(s):

Academic Success ◽

Voice Disorders ◽

School Personnel ◽

Voice Disorder ◽

Multiple Perspectives ◽

Vocal Qualities ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Pediatric Populations ◽

Low Incidence ◽

University Settings

Pediatric voice disorders are typically a low-incidence population in the average caseload of clinicians working within school and general clinic settings. This occurs despite evidence of a fairly high prevalence of childhood voice disorders and the multiple impacts the voice disorder may have on a child's social development, the perception of the child by others, and the child's academic success. There are multiple barriers that affect the identification of children with abnormal vocal qualities and their access to services. These include: the reliance on school personnel, the ability of parents and caretakers to identify abnormal vocal qualities and signs of misuse, the access to specialized medical services for appropriate diagnosis, and treatment planning and issues related to the Speech-Language Pathologists' perception of their skills and competence regarding voice management for pediatric populations. These barriers and possible solutions to them are discussed with perspectives from the school, clinic and university settings.

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