Journal of Health Communication 

About: Journal of Health Communication is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Public health & Health literacy. It has an ISSN identifier of 1081-0730. Over the lifetime, 2269 publications have been published receiving 86895 citations. The journal is also known as: Health communication & J Health Commun.

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication as an Integrative Model

Abstract: This article describes a model of communication known as crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC). The model is outlined as a merger of many traditional notions of health and risk communication with work in crisis and disaster communication. The specific kinds of communication activities that should be called for at various stages of disaster or crisis development are outlined. Although crises are by definition uncertain, equivocal, and often chaotic situations, the CERC model is presented as a tool health communicators can use to help manage these complex events.

A 10-Year Retrospective of Research in Health Mass Media Campaigns: Where Do We Go From Here?

Abstract: Mass media campaigns have long been a tool for promoting public health. How effective are such campaigns in changing health-related attitudes and behaviors, however, and how has the literature in this area progressed over the past decade? The purpose of the current article is threefold. First, I discuss the importance of health mass media campaigns and raise the question of whether they are capable of effectively impacting public health. Second, I review the literature and discuss what we have learned about the effectiveness of campaigns over the past 10 years. Finally, I conclude with a discussion of possible avenues for the health campaign literature over the next 10 years. The overriding conclusion is the following: The literature is beginning to amass evidence that targeted, well-executed health mass media campaigns can have small-to-moderate effects not only on health knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes, but on behaviors as well, which can translate into major public health impact given the wide reach of mass media. Such impact can only be achieved, however, if principles of effective campaign design are carefully followed.

Health literacy: what is it?

Abstract: The concept of health literacy evolved from a history of defining, redefining, and quantifying the functional literacy needs of the adult population. Along with these changes has come the recognition that sophisticated literacy skills are increasingly needed to function in society and that low literacy may have an effect on health and health care. We present a brief history of literacy in the United States, followed by a discussion of the origins and conceptualization of health literacy. Increased attention to this important issue suggests the need to review existing definitions of the term "health literacy," because despite the growing interest in this field, one question that persists is, "What is health literacy?"

A Prospective and Retrospective Look at the Diffusion Model

Abstract: In this article we discuss how the diffusion model originally was created, some of the most important ways in which it has evolved over the past 30 years, and its future prospects.

Predicting risk behaviors: development and validation of a diagnostic scale.

Abstract: The goal of this study was to develop and validate the Risk Behavior Diagnosis (RBD) Scale for use by health care providers and practitioners interested in promoting healthy behaviors. Theoreticall...