Summary

In this study session you have learned that:

1. Communication is the process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings or impressions so that each person gains a common or mutual understanding of the meaning and the use of the message.
2. Health communication is the art and technique of informing, influencing, and motivating individuals, institutions and large public audiences about important health issues.
3. All health communication is aimed at achieving four objectives: to be received, understood, accepted and if possible to get action (a change of behaviour).
4. Health communication plays a significant role at all levels of disease prevention and health promotion.
5. Part of the role of health communication is to increase knowledge and awareness of a health issue and to influence beliefs and attitudes, as well as showing the benefits of behaviour change.
6. In order to bring about the desired behavioural changes, health communication should be targeted at several levels.
7. Health professionals should know the basic principles of communication. If the flow of information from the sender to the receiver is one-way the communication will be dominated by the sender’s knowledge.
8. Two-way communication, where information flows from the sender to the receiver and back again, is reciprocal and is therefore more appropriate for problem solving and probably for achieving behavioural change.