B9392 - INTRODUZIONE ALLA COMUNICAZIONE DELLA SALUTE

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will acquire the following skills:

• Ability to implement effective communication strategies in healthcare settings.

• Proficiency in using digital tools to disseminate health information.

• Skills in managing crisis communications in healthcare.

• Ability to analyze and interpret health information in the media.

Course contents

Introduction to Health Communication

Why communication is essential in medicine: impacts on care and society.

Health in the media: representations in traditional and digital channels.

Challenges and opportunities in health communication.

Readings/Bibliography

1. WHO. Infodemic management: infodemiology. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.
2. Seale C. Health and media: an overview. Sociology of Health & Illness. 2002;24(4):465–81.
3. Berry D. Health Communication: Theory and Practice. McGraw-Hill Education; 2020.
4. Chadwick A, Vaccari C, O’Loughlin B. Do social media undermine public health? COVID-19 vaccine communication. Social Media + Society. 2021;7(2):1–13.
5. Zarocostas J. How to fight an infodemic. Lancet. 2020;395(10225):676.
6. Suarez-Lledo V, Alvarez-Galvez J. Prevalence of health misinformation on social media: Systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(1):e17187.
7. Slovic P. Perception of risk. Science. 1987;236(4799):280–285.
8. Spinelli D, et al. Health influencers in the digital age: roles, risks and regulation. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1–12.
9. Rossmann C, Korn M, et al. Health professionals as digital communicators. Health Communication. 2023;38(4):562–573.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 1 CFU (lectures).

Three case studies exemplifying the dynamics analyzed in the lectures, useful for understanding how health communication is structured in traditional and digital media.

 

Assessment methods

Attendance at lectures and the ability to engage with the topics presented are prerequisites for achieving eligibility.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The teaching material presented in class will be made available on virtuale.unibo.it.

Office hours

See the website of Gianandrea Pasquinelli