There is an increasing recognition of the role social and technological factors play in shaping the health and well-being of individuals. Communication, from the personal to mass and social media, have been demonstrated to have both beneficial and harmful effects on health and well-being. This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of health communication and behavior change. It will cover the definition and history of health communication, the role of media and technology, social scientific theories used in health communication and behavior change, as well as how these theories can be applied to the real-world. The course will aim to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world examples, and is suitable for students with varying interests, especially those who are interested in harnessing communication, design, and technology for better health and well-being in society.
Understanding how and why facets of communication influence health outcomes is essential for students interested in developing effective technological and design solutions that improve health and well-being. Some questions we will tackle include: What social, environmental, and technological factors are effective in influencing people’s behavior? How should they be designed and molded? Can stories help people engage in healthier behaviors? How can technology and design help to foster better health and well-being in society?
Learning Objectives
- Identify and describe different health communication and behavior change theories
- Discuss, assess, and evaluate existing global or local health communication efforts targeted at different health issues, using insights from health communication and behavior change theories
- Design a health-related intervention, technology, or campaign based on health communication and behavior change theories
Measureable Outcome
- Explain the basic assumptions behind social scientific understanding of human behaviour
- Describe multiple theoretical approaches to understanding human behaviour in the context of health
- Apply social scientific theoretical lenses to critique real-world health interventions
- Utilize and translate theoretical insights into design choices for the development of various health interventions
Course Requirements
| Assessment | Percentage |
| WEC – Class participation | 10 |
| WEC – Weekly quiz | 10 |
| WEC – Individual essay | 30 |
| WEC – Group presentation | 10 |
| WEC – Final group report | 40 |
Weekly Schedule
Week 1 – Course introduction: Definition, History, and Value of Health Communication
Week 2 – What drives behavior? An overview of psychological and communication theories in health
Week 3 – Normative influences on behavior
Week 4 – Attitude and consistency in behavior change
Week 5 – Message features: Persuading through entertainment & fear appeals
Week 6 – Dual-process theories and nudging behaviors: A look at choice architectures
Week 7 – Recess week
Week 8 – Interpersonal communication
Week 9 – Technology in health communication
Week 10 – Planning and developing health interventions
Week 11 – Measuring the impact of health interventions; Group discussion andconsultation
Week 12 – Ethics of health communication and persuasion; Group discussion and consultation
Week 13 – Group presentations
Week 14 – Group presentations; Final report due
Instructor
Andrew Yee