Health and Organizational Communication Study Guide

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential concepts from Health Communication and Organizational Communication, including medical models, organizational structures, and communication directions.

Health Communication

The process of seeking, processing, and sharing health information.

World Health Organization (WHO) Definition of Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.

Biomedical Model

A model that views health primarily as the absence of disease and focuses on biological causes of illness, emphasizing physical symptoms and physician-led decision-making.

Biopsychosocial Model

A model that views health as influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors interacting together.

Biological Factors

Components of the Biopsychosocial Model including genetics, disease, physical health, age, and medical conditions.

Psychological Factors

Components of the Biopsychosocial Model including stress, emotions, mental health, coping skills, and attitudes.

Social Factors

Components of the Biopsychosocial Model including family, culture, relationships, income, and community support.

Social Determinants of Health

Conditions in the environments where people live, work, learn, and play that affect health outcomes, often outside an individual's control.

Patient Empowerment

A state where patients have considerable influence over healthcare decisions through shared decision-making, access to information, and autonomy.

Hippocratic Oath

An ethical code traditionally associated with physicians that serves as the foundation of medical ethics and encourages patient welfare.

Organizational Communication

The study of communication within organizations, focusing on the creation of meaning, information flow, and organizational functioning.

Organization

An organized collection of individuals working together toward common goals, consisting of people, goals, and structure.

Mutual Benefit Organizations

Organizations such as labor unions and professional associations that exist to benefit their members.

Business Concern Organizations

Organizations such as Chick-fil-A, Target, and Amazon that aim to generate profit.

Service Organizations

Organizations such as hospitals, universities, and charities that exist to provide services.

Commonweal Organizations

Organizations such as police departments and fire departments that benefit society as a whole.

Systems Perspective

A view that organizations operate as systems of interconnected parts where dependence exists among members and changes in one area affect others.

External Environment

Factors outside the organization that influence operations, including customers, competitors, vendors, stakeholders, and government regulations.

Inputs

Resources brought into the organization such as employees, information, materials, technology, and money.

Throughput

The processes that transform inputs into outputs, including communication, decision making, planning, and production.

Outputs

Products, services, or outcomes produced by an organization, such as goods, information, or community programs.

Open Systems

Systems that adapt to their environment, accept outside information, and are flexible for innovation and growth.

Closed Systems

Systems that ignore outside influences and resist change, often resulting in stagnation and reduced effectiveness.

Hierarchy

A ranking system where individuals or departments are arranged according to levels of authority and formal reporting relationships.

Stakeholders

Individuals or groups affected by organizational decisions, such as employees, customers, investors, and community members.

Upward Communication

Communication flowing from an employee to a supervisor, such as feedback, suggestions, and reports.

Downward Communication

Communication flowing from a supervisor to an employee, such as instructions, policies, and evaluations.

Horizontal Communication

Communication between coworkers for team collaboration and problem solving.

Outward Communication

Communication from the organization to external audiences, including public relations and advertising.

Mission Creep

A situation where an organization expands beyond its original purpose and loses focus.

Turf Problems

A situation where departments compete rather than cooperate, reducing organizational effectiveness.

Orientation Problems

A situation where employees understand only their own jobs and not how the larger organization functions.

Lack of Central Message

A situation where different departments communicate inconsistent messages, leading to confusion and a weak organizational identity.