| Dozent/in |
Prof. Sara Rubinelli, PhD |
| Veranstaltungsart |
Vorlesung |
| Code |
FS261022 |
| Semester |
Frühjahrssemester 2026 |
| Durchführender Fachbereich |
Gesundheitswissenschaften |
| Studienstufe |
Master |
| Termin/e |
Mi, 25.02.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 04.03.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 11.03.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 18.03.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 25.03.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 01.04.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 15.04.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 22.04.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 29.04.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 06.05.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 13.05.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 20.05.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 27.05.2026, 10:15 - 12:00 Uhr, E.508
Mi, 10.06.2026, 13:00 - 14:00 Uhr, HS 4 (Prüfung) |
| Umfang |
2 Semesterwochenstunden |
| Turnus |
weekly |
| Inhalt |
The list of main topics includes:
Health literacy, empowerment, and engagement: From patient education to participatory communication approaches that promote autonomy, critical understanding, and informed decision-making.
Patient–provider communication: Theoretical and empirical perspectives on empathy, trust, shared decision-making, and cultural competence in healthcare interactions.
Organizational and media communication in health: How institutions, systems, and media environments construct, disseminate, and frame health information and public narratives.
Risk and crisis communication: Frameworks and strategies for communicating uncertainty, addressing misinformation, and fostering public trust and adaptive behavior during health crises.
Digital and technology-enhanced health communication: The impact of digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic curation on health information, interaction, and equity.
Health influencers and public trust: The emerging role of social media influencers in shaping health discourse; examining mechanisms of influence, credibility, evidence-based communication, and ethical implications. |
| E-Learning |
All teaching material will be provided via the e-learning platform moodle. |
| Lernziele |
This course explores how communication shapes health, well-being, and healthcare systems in an era of complexity, digital transformation, and global health challenges. Students will learn to master the theories, methods, and practices that explain how messages influence health beliefs, decisions, and behaviors across interpersonal, organizational, and media contexts.
Bringing together insights from communication science, behavioral psychology, digital media, and public health, the course emphasizes critical thinking and creativity in analyzing and designing communication that truly makes a difference.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify and critically evaluate contexts where health communication becomes complex—such as low-quality information, cultural diversity, stigma, or digital overload.
• Analyze communication dynamics in clinical encounters, healthcare organizations, health promotion, and policy-making.
• Understand and apply theories explaining how people process, trust, and act upon health information.
• Evaluate the strengths and risks of different communication channels—from interpersonal conversations to social media, AI tools, and digital health platforms.
• Design and assess communication interventions that foster trust, empathy, and behavior change in diverse audiences.
• Translate scientific evidence into meaningful, ethical, and engaging communication for both professional and public audiences.
By mastering this course, students will:
• Develop a critical awareness of global trends shaping the future of health communication.
• Learn to navigate the intersection of science, media, and society with responsibility and creativity
• Acquire research and practical skills to become agents of change in healthcare, public health, and beyond. |
| Sprache |
Englisch |
| Begrenzung |
priority MSc Health Sciences students
Core course for all students with Major Health Communication. |
| Anmeldung |
Moodle: https://elearning.hsm-unilu.ch/course/view.php?id=998
|
| Leistungsnachweis |
written exam
IMPORTANT: In order to earn credits and participate at the exam registration via Uni Portal within the exam registration period is MANDATORY. Further information: www.unilu.ch/en/study/courses-exams-regulations/health-sciences-and-medicine/exams/ |
| Abschlussform / Credits |
written exam / 6 Credits
|
| Hinweise |
Teaching methods:
This course will be conducted through interactive classes (including presentations from both the lecturer and students and class discussions). |
| Hörer-/innen |
Ja |
| Kontakt |
sara.rubinelli@unilu.ch |
| Material |
The teaching material is based on PowerPoint slides, videos, scientific articles and selected sections of books. |
| Literatur |
Wright KB, Sparks L, O’Hair HD. Health communication in the 21st Century. Wiley – Blackwell 2013.
Do Kyun Kim et al. Health communication. Strategies for developing global health programs. Peter Lang 2013.
Martin LR et al. The Oxford handbook of health communication, behavior change and treatment adherence. Oxford University Press 2013.
Hyunyi Cho. Health communication message design. Theory and practice. Sage 2012.
Parvanta C., Nelson D., Parvanta S., Harner R. Essentials of public health communication. Jones & Bartlett Learning 2011.
Jerry et al. Health communication in the new media landscape. Springer 2008.
Apker J. Communication in health organizations. Polity 2011.
Glanz K et al. Health behavior and health education: theory, research and practice. Jossey-Boss 2008.
Cottrel et al. Principles and foundations of health promotion and education. Benjamin Cummings 2011.
Sharma M. Theoretical foundations of health education and health promotion. Jones & Bartlett Learning 2010.
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