Health Comm Final

Chapter 8: What is problematic integration

Problematic integration: the difficult process of combining what we think might happen, or probabilities, with how we feel about those possible outcomes. or value judgments

Chapter 8: What is health self-efficacy and how is it influenced by an internal and external locus of control?

Health self-efficacy: refers to a person's belief in their ability to manage their own health.

Someone with an internal locus of control believe they can influence their health outcomes through their own actions.

Someone with an external locus of control believe that outside forces, such as fate, luck, or other people, control their health.

Chapter 8: What is the buffering hypothesis?

The buffering hypothesis: suggests that social support is especially valuable during times of stress or in crisis situations. when people know that others care for them and are available to help, it can cushion, or buffer, them from feeling overwhelmed or helpless.

In essence, social support acts as a protective layer that helps people cope more effectively with stress.

Chapter 8 Essay: Give an example (real or hypothetical) of when someone was facing a health crisis (themselves or a close friend/family member). Explain the scenario and offer three suggestions of what you could do (be specific in your recommendations) and two suggestions of what you shouldn’t do using Communication Skill Builder’s: Do’s and Don’ts of Comforting.

Scenario: best friend just found out their father has been diagnosed with a late-stage terminal illness. They are overwhelmed with emotions, unsure of how to help their family, and worried about the future.

offer specific forms of support that acknowledge their emotional state while also helping them manage daily tasks.

To Do:

Instrumental support: such as offering to bring over meals for the week or watching their younger siblings so they can spend time with their dad.

Emotional support: Simply being there to listen and saying something like, “I can’t imagine how hard this must be, but I’m here for you no matter what,” can make them feel less alone in their grief.

Esteem support: by reminding them of their strengths and resilience can help them feel more capable of handling the situation.

To Not Do:

Minimizing their feelings by saying things like “At least he’s still alive” or “It could be worse” can be invalidating and hurtful.

Do not to force positivity or quick solutions, these statements, though often well-intentioned, can come across as dismissive.

Chapter 9: Explain what the digital divide is and two factors that affect the digital divide.

Digital divide: refers to the disparity between individuals who have regular reliable access to digital technologies and those who do not.

Factor 1: Socioeconomic status- people with lower income may lack access to smartphones, computers, or a stable internet connection, limiting their ability to engage with online resources

Factor 2: Education level- lower levels of education may cause difficulty navigating digital platforms or interpreting medical information, which can affect making informed health decisions

Chapter 9: List two advantages of online health information.

Ad 1: Rich array of content- allows users to explore wide variety of topics and become knowledgeable in health, can be empowering

Ad 2: Practical advice- online health information often helps people manage symptoms, understand treatment options, and prepare for medical appointments

Chapter 9: List two disadvantages of online health information.

Disad 1: Potential for encountering unreliable content, spreading misinformation or disinformation.

Disad 2: Overall quality and clarity of online health information- it is overwhelming and difficult to determine what sources are trustworthy and evidence-based

Chapter 9 Essay: Using the Theory of Motivated Information Management to analyze a situation where someone is deciding to seek health information about a health condition. Describe the situation and use at least the ideas from the theory to analyze the situation.

Scenario: a college student, begins experiencing persistent stomach pain and fatigue. Initially brushing it off as stress, they grow increasingly concerned when the symptoms worsen.

Jordan becomes aware of the gap between what they know and what they feel they need to know to manage a situation, This reflects their information efficacy—how confident they feel in their ability to find and understand health information.

As the discomfort continues, Jordan weighs their coping ability, asking themselves whether they’re emotionally ready to face potentially serious results. Should they feel supported, They then consider the channel through which they’ll seek information—whether to search online, ask a trusted friend, or consult a healthcare provider.

Chapter 10: Explain the inverted pyramid as it relates to a health care organization.

The inverted pyramid in health care organizations prioritizes the needs of patients and frontline workers by placing them at the top of the structure, while leaders and administrators serve in support roles at the base. This model emphasizes empowering those closest to patient care, encouraging shared decision-making and collaborative leadership.

Chapter 10: Explain Theory X and Theory Y

In Theory X, managers believe employees are naturally lazy and require close supervision, while in Theory Y, managers view employees as motivated and capable of self-direction.

Chapter 10: Distinguish between corporate identity, image, and reputation.

Corporate identity is the organization’s core values and enduring characteristics. Corporate image is the public’s perception of the organization, often shaped by marketing and can be fleeting. Reputation is a long-term judgment based on consistent behavior, credibility, and trustworthiness.

Chapter 11: What are the third-person and the illusory truth effects?

The third-person effect: the belief that mass media messages affect other people more than oneself. This can lead individuals to underestimate how much they’re personally influenced by media content.

The illusory truth effect: the tendency for people to perceive repeated messages as more credible simply because they’ve encountered them before. Can cause individuals to believe misinformation just because it's familiar.

Chapter 11: Explain the basic premise of cultivation theory.

Cultivation theory: suggests that people's beliefs about the world are shaped over time by media exposure.

This influence is strongest when media portrayals are consistent, when individuals consume large amounts of media, and when they have limited personal experience to compare with what they see or hear.

Chapter 11: What is social comparison

Social comparison: the process by which individuals evaluate themselves in relation to others. According to social comparison theory, people often judge their own worth, appearance, or success based on how they measure up to those around them, or those they see in media.

Chapter 11 Essay: Imagine that you are developing a media literacy program related to harmful marketing/advertising or misinformation (e.g., alcohol advertising, vaccine misinformation). Explain the topic and target audience for the program. Discuss what your program would include using the stages of media literacy instruction. Give specific examples of what you would have participants do at each stage.

1. The goal of the program would be to help high school students critically evaluate vaccine-related content they encounter and to empower them with the tools to identify credible health information.

2. In the informative stage, participants would learn to distinguish between different types of messages—such as persuasive vaccine advertisements, scientific public health announcements, and misleading social media posts. They would also be introduced to the various media channels where vaccine misinformation is spread, like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and even messaging apps. For example, students might be asked to bring in screenshots of vaccine posts they've seen online and classify them as informative, persuasive, or misleading.

3. In the analytic stage, students would work in groups to deconstruct several real-life examples of vaccine messages. They would analyze who created the message, the message’s purpose, any implied meanings, and the techniques used to capture attention or gain trust—such as emotional appeals, vivid storytelling, or the use of so-called “experts.” We would also introduce the concept of the illusory truth effect to help them understand how repeated misinformation can start to feel true, even if it's false.

4. In the experiential stage, students would create their own public health campaigns that promote vaccine literacy. This might include making TikTok videos debunking common vaccine myths, designing Instagram infographics with verified facts, or writing short skits that model conversations between someone unsure about vaccines and someone offering accurate information. The goal here is to give students a hands-on understanding of how media messages are crafted and to demystify the process behind both harmful advertising and trustworthy health communication.

5. By the end of the program, participants would not only be more media-literate, but also better equipped to evaluate health claims and resist the influence of harmful marketing or misinformation.

Chapter 12: Explain the difference between risk and crisis communication.

Risk and crisis communication differ in timing and purpose.

Risk communication: is ongoing and focuses on informing people about potential hazards before they occur, encouraging awareness and preparation.

Crisis communication: happens during or after a crisis, aiming to help people make the best possible decisions quickly, despite uncertainty. It emphasizes clarity, empathy, and guidance under stress.

Chapter 12: Explain three factors of the health belief mode.

1. perceived risk (how likely a person thinks they’ll be affected)

2. perceived severity (how serious they believe the consequences are)

3. belief in effectiveness of recommended actions

Chapter 12: What are three of the components of the IDEA model? (name them and explain)

The IDEA model highlights four parts of effective risk communication:

1. Internalization is how personally relevant the message feels.

2. Distribution refers to how the message is shared (e.g., social media, TV).

3. Explanation focuses on the clarity, accuracy, and credibility of the message to ensure it’s understood and trusted.

Chapter 12 Essay: Using the CERC model, explain the different messages that people might need at various stages of a crisis. Identify a crisis (e.g., measles outbreak, natural disaster) and imagine that you are a public relations specialist in an organization that will help deal with the crisis (e.g., health department). What messages would you create for each stage?

Scenario: Let’s say there’s a measles outbreak in a major city.

In the pre-crisis phase, I would build trust by forming partnerships with schools, hospitals, and local media, while sharing general vaccine education and encouraging people to check their immunization records.

During the initial event, I’d issue clear, empathetic messages confirming the outbreak, explaining symptoms, and listing nearby vaccination and testing sites. These messages would aim to reduce fear and promote self-efficacy.

In the maintenance phase, I’d provide updates on case numbers, correct misinformation, and reiterate steps to reduce spread, like staying home if sick.

During the resolution phase, messaging would focus on recovery—sharing how the outbreak is being managed, what worked, and where to get help if affected.

Finally, in the evaluation phase, I would help the department assess the communication process and share lessons learned to improve future responses.

Chapter 13: What is the difference between a primary and tertiary prevention campaign?

Primary prevention campaigns: aim to encourage healthy behaviors before problems arise, helping people avoid future health risks, like promoting regular exercise or vaccinations.

Tertiary prevention campaigns: target people already engaging in unhealthy behaviors and aim to reduce the severity or consequences of those actions, such as encouraging smokers to quit to prevent long-term damage.

Chapter 13: What are three of the first four steps of a health promotion campaign?

1) Defining the situation and potential benefits, which involves understanding current behaviors, motivations, and communication preferences

(2) Analyzing and segmenting the audience, where you gather data to identify relevant subgroups and tailor messages effectively

(3) Establishing campaign goals and objectives, which means clearly defining the desired behaviors and setting measurable outcomes to evaluate success.

Chapter 13: Identify two methods of gathering data to learn about the audience?

1. interviews: can be structured or open-ended to explore people’s experiences and motivations

2. questionnaires: collect data through fixed or open-ended questions to analyze trends and preferences across a wider group.

Chapter 14: What are the last three steps of a health promotion campaign?

(4) Designing campaign messages, which involves creating tailored messages using logical, emotional, or narrative appeals

(5) Piloting and implementing the campaign, where a small group from the target audience reviews the materials, and gatekeepers assist in spreading the campaign

(6) Evaluating and maintaining the campaign, which includes using pretest-posttest designs, efficacy studies, and effectiveness studies to measure the campaign’s reach, specificity, and overall impact.

Chapter 14: According to the Theory of Planned Action, what determines the strengths of behavioral intentions?

The strength of behavioral intentions is influenced by beliefs about positive outcomes, social pressure, and perceived behavioral control (confidence in the ability to perform the behavior).

Chapter 14: What is the difference between a gain-frame and a loss-frame?

A gain-frame appeal highlights the benefits of engaging in a behavior, while a loss-frame appeal emphasizes the negative consequences of not doing so.

Chapter 14 Essay: Describe a target audience and the purpose of a health campaign. Explain how you would design a message based on theory and/or research findings from the textbook. Be very specific and descriptive concerning your message and use terminology from the textbook when explaining your choices.

1. The target audience for this health promotion campaign is college students aged 18-24 who are experiencing high stress due to academic pressures and life transitions. The campaign’s purpose is to encourage students to adopt stress-reduction behaviors, such as mindfulness, exercise, and time management, to improve their well-being and academic performance.

2. To design the message, I would draw on Social Cognitive Theory, focusing on role models to show students how to manage stress through positive behaviors, using peers, upperclassmen, and campus counselors as examples. The Theory of Planned Behavior would guide me in addressing attitudes, social norms, and perceived control. I’d emphasize the benefits of stress management with gain-frame appeals, like “Feel more focused and energized with a 10-minute mindfulness break!” Testimonials from peers would reinforce positive social norms, while simple, actionable steps like “Try a 5-minute guided meditation” would help students feel confident in their ability to take action.

3. Using the Health Belief Model, I’d highlight the risks of unmanaged stress, such as burnout and anxiety, to motivate students to take action. Additionally, I’d personalize messages with tailored content addressing specific challenges students face, like “Overwhelmed by exams? Try this 5-minute breathing exercise to stay calm.”

4. Lastly, the Extended Parallel Process Model would help balance fear appeals with solutions. Messages would warn about the consequences of chronic stress while offering practical solutions, such as “Prevent burnout—join our mindfulness group today!” By combining these theories, the campaign would offer clear, actionable steps for managing stress while raising awareness of its risks.