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Health Communication Message Design
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Health Communication Message Design
Theory and Practice

Edited by:


October 2011 | 296 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
The desire to impact positive changes in individuals and society motivates many students, practitioners, and researchers of health communication. This one-of-a-kind text offers guidance on how to design effective health communication messages. This book shows how to build theory-based messages and how to address the diverse characteristics of audiences. While integrating perspectives from public health and social marketing, this book clearly explains core health communication principles and processes for designing effective messages for health communication interventions and campaigns.

 
Theory-Based Message Design
Daniel O'Keefe
From Psychological Theory to Message Design: Lessons From the Story of Gain-Framed and Loss-Framed Persuasive Messages
Marco Yzer
The Integrated Model of Behavioral Prediction as a Tool for Designing Health Messages
Michael Basil, Kim Witte
Health Risk Message Design Using the Extended Parallel Process Model
Monique Mitchell Turner
Using Emotional Appeals in Health Messages
Bobi Ivanov
Designing Inoculation Messages for Health Communication Campaigns
Linda Larkey, Amy Hill
Using Narratives to Promote Health: A Culture-Centric Approach
 
Audience-Centered Message Design
Rachel Davis, Ken Resnicow
The Cultural Variance Framework for Tailoriing Health Messages
Michael Hecht, HyeJeong Choi
The Communication Theory of Identity as a Framework for Health Message Design
Cheryl Holt
Religiosity, Spirituality and the Design of Health Communication Messages and Interventions
Jakob D. Jensen
Addressing Health literacy in the Design of Health Messages
Lijiang Shen, Celeste Condit
Addressing Fatalism with Health Communication Messages
Seth Noar, Stephanie Van Stee
Deigning Messages for Individuals in Different Stages of Change
Susan Morgan
Designing High Message Sensation Value Messages for the Sensation Seeking Audience

This book is poorly organized, both among and within the chapters—though, some chapters are much better than others. The segmentation between “Part I: Theory-Based Message Design” and “Part II: Audience-Centered Message Design” seemed arbitrary. For example, Chapter 8, The Communication Theory of Identity as a Framework for Health Message Design, is listed under audience-centered message design. This reads more like a collection of informative chapters, rather than a cohesive, pragmatic textbook on health communication message design.

Mr Nate S. Brophy
Communication Dept, George Mason University
February 23, 2021

a clear and precise book with very good practical approach,

Dr Stephane Sanchez
Health , University of Lyon I - Claude Bernard
February 19, 2015

Liked textbook, but course assignment changed to Interpersonal Communication. Will consider this text for Health Communication Campaigns next time it is taught.

Ms Kristen Kiernicki
Communication Studies Dept, The College of New Jersey
December 4, 2013

Excellent for health promotion- poster and information design assignment

Miss Sarah Mobbs
Nursing , London South Bank University
November 20, 2013

This book has been adopted as as an essential text and provides an enormous range of ideas for students in designing health messages to match behavioural drivers and motivations.

Dr Vincent La Placa
Public Health, Department of Health Development, Greenwich University
March 1, 2013

Provides nice companion for Rice & Atkins text

Dr Steven Giles
Communication Dept, Wake Forest University
January 23, 2013

I'm not sure who is the intended audience for this book. In terms of my students, they are primarily public health practitioners and may not find much of the text relevant, although it is certainly an interesting read. I would be more likely to recommend indivual chapters to students than the whole textbook. This would be particularly suited to those studying modules in social marketing and behaviour change theory.

Dr Shelina Visram
Sch of Health,Community & Educ Studies, Northumbria University
September 7, 2012
Key features

Key Features

  • Theory-based message design links theory and practice for the reader by explaining how psychosocial theories of behavior change can be used to design effective health communication messages.
  • Audience-centered message design provides clarity on how diverse audiences' cultures, beliefs, barriers, and needs can be effectively addressed by using audience-centered principles and processes.
  • Suggested further readings guide students through supplemental theory and research and enhance readers' understanding and subsequent practice of health communication message design.
  • Questions for Theory and Practice at the end of each chapter encourage critical thinking about theory, research, and practice as they relate to health communication message design and evaluation.
  • A glossary serves as a ready reference for students: The reader will find descriptions of concepts all in one place.