Instructor: Antonis Gardikiotis
Course Description
The course provides a comprehensive overview of the topics and the areas of health communication research. It discusses on the theories employed in the field and focuses on the processes through which communication influences health outcomes. It reviews studies of campaign effects and discusses when and how media campaigns can be effective in changing attitudes and behaviors regarding health-related issues. It focuses on the application of theory and research to campaign design.
Course Objectives
- Understand the concepts and theories of health communication.
- Understand the processes through which media affect health behaviors
- Understand the design of health campaigns
- Understand the obstacles that health campaigns face
Learning Outcomes
- Define core concepts and theories of health communication.
- Identify different kinds of health communication effects.
- Explain the processes underlying health communication effects.
- Analyze and synthesize relevant research
- Write about health communication campaigns.
Class/Learning activities
Lectures, group work, in-class presentations, independent study, written assignments.
Workload
| Type of work | Description | Hours |
| Lectures | Thirteen 3-hours lectures | 39 |
| Independent study | Study of class materials and readings | 40-50 |
| Readings presentation | Presenting and leading a discussion on three relative topics | 45-60 |
| In-class presentation | Conference type presentation of final paper | 10-20 |
| Final paper | Design of a health communication campaign (3.000-3.500 words) | 110-120 |
| Total workload | 244-289 |
Assessment
| Type of assessment | Learning outcome | Impact on final grade | Date of assessment |
| Participation in group discussion | 1-2 | 10% | On a regular basis |
| Reading presentation | 1-3 | 30% (3X10%) | On a regular basis |
| Presentation | 1-4 | 10% | 12th week |
| Written assignment (final paper) | 3-5 | 50% | 13th week |
Required Reading
Hornik, R. (Ed.). (2002). Public health communication: Evidence for behavior change. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Rice, R. E., & Atkin, C. K. (Eds.). (2013). Public communication campaigns (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
National Cancer Institute. (2001). Making health communication programs work. Available online at: http://www.cancer.gov/pinkbook
Suggested Reading
Crano, W. D., & Burgoon, M. (Eds.) (2002). Mass media and drug prevention: Classic and contemporary theories and research. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.). (2004). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
McKenzie, J. F., Neiger, B. L., & Smeltzer, J. L. (2005). Planning, implementing & evaluating health promotion programs (4th Ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson.
Thompson, T. L., Parrott, R., & Nussbaum, J.F. (Eds.) (2011). The Routledge handbook of health communication. Mahwah, NJ: Routledge.
Witte, K., Meyer, G., & Martell, D. P. (2001). Effective health risk messages: A step-by-step guide. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
