Health communication research series

Fear-mongering and scare tactics are used in public health campaigns to drive behavioural changes. We see fear in headlines for online articles, food label warnings, pamphlets and brochures. But how effective are these fear-based messages?

A US research team aimed to determine the natural language indicators of uncertainty – and then understand how these indicators predict decisional conflict.

Health buzzwords like ‘protein’, ‘paleo’ and ‘organic’ are used by marketers as key selling points for many of today’s health products. Yet these words can also trick consumers into believing a product is healthier than it really is.

Motivational factors, text messages and more – browse the latest health communication research.

Eye movement patterns, health halo claims, genetic cancer risk information, pamphlets v online content and more: browse the latest health communication research.

As health writers, we need to recognise and understand the social factors that limit health literacy so we can help our readers understand our health information. We can do this by looking at the key outcomes from a range of health literacy research into both local and global communities.

As health writers, we need to identify the ideal medium to share our key messages to our target audience to ensure our writing influences health outcomes.

Low health literacy is a risk factor for potentially preventable emergency room visits, and vaccine info in comic form helps to make an impact. Those are just two of many new findings in the field of health communication.

Reactance, food labelling, HPV vaccines, and more – browse the latest in evidence-based health communication.

While quality medical evidence underlies accurate health writing, clear writing helps the information translate easily – enter the concept of ‘processing fluency’.

Natural cigarettes create a ‘health halo’. Preconception care as ‘the next frontier’. Friends don’t let friends smoke. There’s always plenty of new, interesting research in our field – and, there’s no shortage of writing strategies to try out, too.

Health risk information is better received when you ask your readers to identify their own values and beliefs before communicating the risks.

Could understanding more about selective exposure help us write engaging content? One study looked at how selective exposure influences attitudes towards health behaviours.

New research provides insight into how we can help high-school students understand health information and make better-informed health decisions.

Health literacy in school students, Instagram’s potential, reducing alcohol consumption through self-affirmation, and more – explore the latest findings in health communication.