National Health Communication Project
HEALTHCOMM is situated within the field of Health Communication, an interdisciplinary and expanding specialty in Spain and internationally. As part of the Digital Transition work program, the project aims to explore digital health communication through research studies and field interventions. It will leverage new technologies and data management to support educational and cybersecurity policies, and combat misinformation in digital media. Led by Professors Carlos Elias and Daniel Catalan and funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation in Spain, HEALTHCOMM brings together 30 scholars from 20 universities across 7 countries to advance health communication research, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era, from 2024 to 2028.
Objectives of the project
Generally, the project is aimed at providing implementable recommendations, based on clear new multi-source knowledge and understanding of the role that health communication plays in digital settings, with a special focus on disinformation (fake news), education and cybersecurity to improve health and digital literacy and fight against misleading communications about health.
Health Information Patterns
Uncover previously unknown/unnoticed common patterns of influence and unexpected differences in the public in relation to the use and consumption of health information in digital platforms, including the variance in the influence of cultural and socio-cognitive factors on the persuasiveness
Approach and Method
This project utilizes a mixed-method, multidisciplinary design to deliver qualitative and quantitative insights aimed at journalists, media experts, secondary school students, and the general public. The team will identify digital media channels (websites, media platforms, and social networks) used by these groups to access health-related information and analyze how this knowledge influences their beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors towards health.
Methods employed include:
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In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with public health experts, journalists, and the public to identify effective digital health communication strategies.
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A national survey across Spain.
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Content analysis of online media publications.
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Analysis of national cybersecurity and regulatory policies regarding health content in digital media.
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Implementation and evaluation of educational interventions for secondary school students, along with the development of guidelines for journalists and media experts.