PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 1 Overview of Communication and Health 3 Arguments for the Need to Study Health Communication 3 Defi ning Health Communication 5 A Brief History of Health Communication Research 6 Current Challenges to the Healthcare System and the Role of Health Communication Research 8 Overview of the Book 11 Summary 12 PART II: INTERPERSONAL PERSPECTIVES 15 2 Provider Patient Communication 17 Provider and Patient Views of Health and Healthcare 18 Provider Perspective 18 Patient Perspective 25 Provider Patient Interaction 30 Improving Provider Patient Communication 33 Outcomes of Provider Patient Communication 36 Communication and Medical Malpractice Lawsuits 38 Other Challenges of Provider Patient Communication 39 Summary 46 3 Caregiving and Communication 55 Caregiving 56 Hospice and Palliative Care 63 Older Adult Health Concerns and Communication Issues 69 Attitudes Toward Death and Dying 77 Summary 82 PART III: SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXTS 91 4 Social Support and Health 93 History of Social Support and Health Research 94 Types and Functions of Social Support 94 Models of Social Support and Health 98 Perceptions of Support Providers 103 Strong Tie Versus Weak Tie Support Networks 105 The Role of Communication in the Social Support Process 108 Communication within Social Networks, Social Support Processes, and Health 110 Support Groups for People with Health Concerns 111 Communication Processes within Support Groups 114 Support Group Participation and Health Outcomes 116 Social Support Interventions 116 Summary 117 5 Culture and Diversity Issues in Healthcare 124 Patient Diversity and Issues with Healthcare 125 Cultural Differences in Concepts of Health and Medicine 127 Recognizing Cultural Diversity in Health Beliefs 131 Alternative Medicine 133 Spirituality, Culture, and Health 135 Social Implications of Illness 139 Changing Social Perceptions of Stigmatized Health Issues through Communication 143 Culturally Centered Health Campaigns 145 Provider Diversity 146 Summary 148 6 Communication and Healthcare Organizations 156 Healthcare Organizations as Systems 157 Types of Healthcare Organizations 161 Communication within Healthcare Organizations 163 Healthcare Organization Culture 165 Infl uences on Healthcare Organization Communication 167 Provider Stress, Confl ict, and Support within Healthcare Organizations 173 Summary 177 PART IV: INFLUENCES OF TECHNOLOGIES AND MEDIA 181 7 New Technologies and Health Communication 183 Health Information on the Internet 184 New Technologies and Patient Patient Communication 189 New Technologies and Provider Provider Communication 191 New Technologies and Provider Patient Communication 196 New Technologies and Health Campaigns 201 Summary 202 8 Mass Communication and Health 208 Two Perspectives of Media Infl uence 209 Needs Fulfi lled by the Mass Media Concerning Health 210 Media Usage, Health Portrayals, and Health Behaviors 214 Health News Stories in the Media 222 Summary 226 PART V: RISK, CAMPAIGNS, COMMUNITIES, AND TEAMS 233 9 Risk and Crisis Communication 235 Defi ning Risk Communication 236 Global and Large-Scale Health Threats 240 At-Risk Communities within the United States 245 Communication Strategies for Addressing Health Risks 248 Community-Based Health Initiatives for At-Risk or Marginalized Populations 252 Risk Communication Strategies at the Provider Patient Level 254 Summary 255 10 Health Campaigns and Community Health Initiatives 259 Campaign Goals 261 Theoretical Approaches to Health Campaigns 262 The Process of Conducting a Health Campaign 270 Formative Campaign Evaluation 279 Summary 282 11 Interdisciplinary Healthcare Teams 285 Diversity of Healthcare Professionals 285 Importance of Interdisciplinary Teams 286 Continuum of Healthcare Teams 288 Model of Synergistic Healthcare Teams 289 Summary 302 PART VI: CONTEXTS, CHALLENGES, AND CHOICES 307 12 Political Issues and Health Communication 309 Politics and Health Communication 311 Message Framing Theory and Political Communication 313 Current Political Issues Surrounding Health and Healthcare 314 Health Literacy 317 Health Stigma, Discrimination, and Politics 320 The Medical Marijuana Debate 322 The Politics of Life and Death 323 Right to Life Issues in the Media 323 The Politics of Nutrition 324 International Health Communication Issues 327 Summary 327 13 Epilogue: Looking Toward the Future of Health Communication Research 331 Emerging Trends and Challenges in Health and New Communication Technologies 331 Emerging Trends and Challenges in Communication and Mental Health Issues 332 Emerging Trends and Challenges in Intercultural Health Communication 333 Emerging Trends and Challenges in Risk/Crisis Communication 334 Ongoing Theoretical, Methodological, and Dissemination Issues Surrounding Health Communication Research 335 Summary 336 Index 337.