Health communication

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Health Communication

Health Communication (pronunciation: /hɛlθ kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/) is a multidisciplinary field of study that explores the role of communication in the promotion and maintenance of health, as well as the prevention and treatment of illness.

Etymology

The term "Health Communication" is derived from the English words "health" and "communication". "Health" originates from the Old English word "hǣlth", which has the same root as the word "whole", indicating a state of being unharmed or undamaged. "Communication" comes from the Latin word "communicare", which means to share or make common.

Definition

Health Communication involves the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that enhance health. It links the domains of communication and health and is increasingly recognized as a necessary element of efforts to improve personal and public health.

Related Terms

  • Health Literacy: The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
  • Patient Education: The process by which health professionals and others impart information to patients and their caregivers that will alter their health behaviors or improve their health status.
  • Public Health: The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts of society.
  • Health Promotion: The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health.
  • Risk Communication: The exchange of information among individuals, community groups, and institutions about the nature, magnitude, significance, or control of a risk.

See Also

External links

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