Table Of ContentTable of Contents
Cover
Title page
Copyright page
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1 Overview of Communication and Health
Arguments for the Need to Study Health Communication
Defining Health Communication
A Brief History of Health Communication Research
Current Challenges to the Healthcare System and the Role of Health Communication
Research
Overview of the Book
Summary
Part II: Interpersonal Perspectives
Chapter 2 Provider–Patient Communication
Provider and Patient Views of Health and Healthcare
Provider Perspective
Patient Perspective
Provider–Patient Interaction
Improving Provider–Patient Communication
Outcomes of Provider–Patient Communication
Communication and Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Other Challenges of Provider–Patient Communication
Summary
Chapter 3 Caregiving and Communication
Caregiving
Hospice and Palliative Care
Older Adult Health Concerns and Communication Issues
Attitudes Toward Death and Dying
Summary
Part III: Social, Cultural, and Organizational Contexts
Chapter 4 Social Support and Health
History of Social Support and Health Research
2
Types and Functions of Social Support
Models of Social Support and Health
Perceptions of Support Providers
Strong Tie Versus Weak Tie Support Networks
The Role of Communication in the Social Support Process
Communication within Social Networks, Social Support Processes, and Health
Support Groups for People with Health Concerns
Communication Processes within Support Groups
Support Group Participation and Health Outcomes
Social Support Interventions
Summary
Chapter 5 Culture and Diversity Issues in Healthcare
Patient Diversity and Issues with Healthcare
Cultural Differences in Concepts of Health and Medicine
Recognizing Cultural Diversity in Health Beliefs
Alternative Medicine
Spirituality, Culture, and Health
Social Implications of Illness
Changing Social Perceptions of Stigmatized Health Issues through Communication
Culturally Centered Health Campaigns
Provider Diversity
Summary
Chapter 6 Communication and Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare Organizations as Systems
Types of Healthcare Organizations
Communication within Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare Organization Culture
Influences on Healthcare Organization Communication
Provider Stress, Conflict, and Support within Healthcare Organizations
Summary
Part IV: Influences of Technologies and Media
Chapter 7 New Technologies and Health Communication
Health Information on the Internet
New Technologies and Patient–Patient Communication
New Technologies and Provider–Provider Communication
New Technologies and Provider–Patient Communication
New Technologies and Health Campaigns
Summary
Chapter 8 Mass Communication and Health
Two Perspectives of Media Influence
Needs Fulfilled by the Mass Media Concerning Health
3
Media Usage, Health Portrayals, and Health Behaviors
Health News Stories in the Media
Summary
Part V: Risk, Campaigns, Communities, and Teams
Chapter 9 Risk and Crisis Communication
Defining Risk Communication
Global and Large-Scale Health Threats
At-Risk Communities within the United States
Communication Strategies for Addressing Health Risks
Community-Based Health Initiatives for At-Risk or Marginalized Populations
Risk Communication Strategies at the Provider–Patient Level
Summary
Chapter 10 Health Campaigns and Community Health Initiatives
Campaign Goals
Theoretical Approaches to Health Campaigns
The Process of Conducting a Health Campaign
Formative Campaign Evaluation
Summary
Chapter 11 Interdisciplinary Healthcare Teams
Diversity of Healthcare Professionals
Importance of Interdisciplinary Teams
Continuum of Healthcare Teams
Model of Synergistic Healthcare Teams
Summary
Part VI: Contexts, Challenges, and Choices
Chapter 12 Political Issues and Health Communication
Politics and Health Communication
Message Framing Theory and Political Communication
Current Political Issues Surrounding Health and Healthcare
Health Literacy
Health Stigma, Discrimination, and Politics
The Medical Marijuana Debate
The Politics of Life and Death
Right to Life Issues in the Media
The Politics of Nutrition
International Health Communication Issues
Summary
Chapter 13 Epilogue: Looking Toward the Future of Health Communication
4
Research
Emerging Trends and Challenges in Health and New Communication Technologies
Emerging Trends and Challenges in Communication and Mental Health Issues
Emerging Trends and Challenges in Intercultural Health Communication
Emerging Trends and Challenges in Risk/Crisis Communication
Ongoing Theoretical, Methodological, and Dissemination Issues Surrounding Health
Communication Research
Summary
Index
5
6
This second edition first published 2013
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Edition History: Blackwell Publishing Ltd (1e, 2008)
Wiley-Blackwell is an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, formed by the merger of Wiley’s global Scientific,
Technical and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing.
Registered Office
John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK
Editorial Offices
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA
9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK
The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK
For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for
permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-
blackwell.
The right of Kevin Bradley Wright, Lisa Sparks, and H. Dan O’Hair to be identified as the authors of this
work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as
permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the
publisher.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not
be available in electronic books.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand
names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned
in this book. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the
subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering
professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent
professional should be sought.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wright, Kevin B.
Health communication in the 21st century / Kevin Bradley Wright, Lisa Sparks, and H. Dan O’Hair. – 2nd
ed.
p. ; cm.
Health communication in the twenty-first century
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-67272-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
I. Sparks, Lisa. II. O’Hair, Dan. III. Title. IV. Title: Health communication in the twenty-first century.
[DNLM: 1. Health Communication. 2. Communications Media. 3. Professional-Patient Relations. WA
590]
610.69'6–dc23
2012037008
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover image: Doctor with high-tech computer screen viewing patient data. © Luis Louro / Prisma.
Cover design by RBDA
7
8
Part I
Introduction
9
Chapter 1
Overview of Communication and Health
This second edition of Health Communication in the 21st Century provides an in-depth look at one of the
fastest growing and pragmatic areas of research in the communication discipline: health communication. Most
people would agree that our health and our ability to communicate are two central and very important aspects
of human life. Yet, at some point in your study of communication, you may be asked the same thing that
family members and friends frequently ask us: What exactly is health communication? Many people do not
understand how the concept of health is related in any way to the term communication. For most people, the
term health conjures up images that seem to have little or nothing to do with communication, including
doctors, laboratory tests, waiting rooms, dieting, and exercise regimes. Moreover, the term communication is
usually associated with things like interpersonal relationships, the Internet, and radio and television.
However, as we will see throughout this book, many different aspects of health and a variety of
communication processes are intertwined in complex and interesting ways. We will examine many contexts of
communication and communication-oriented topics, including communication and perceptions of health,
provider–patient relationships, everyday relationships and physical health, communication networks within
health organizations, intercultural communication and health beliefs, health risk messages, health campaign
message design and dissemination, health information and images in the mass media, and the use of new
communication technologies in healthcare. We hope that as you read this book you will be excited and
intrigued by the rich perspective the study of health communication can bring to our everyday understanding
of health and healthcare.
10
