| Dozent/in |
Prof. Sara Rubinelli, PhD |
| Veranstaltungsart |
Vorlesung |
| Code |
HS261081 |
| Semester |
Herbstsemester 2026 |
| Durchführender Fachbereich |
Gesundheitswissenschaften |
| Studienstufe |
Master |
| Termin/e |
Do, 24.09.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 01.10.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 08.10.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 15.10.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 22.10.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 29.10.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 05.11.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 12.11.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 19.11.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 26.11.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 03.12.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 10.12.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508
Do, 17.12.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, E.508 |
| Umfang |
2 Semesterwochenstunden |
| Inhalt |
- Foundations and frameworks of public health communication
- Relationship between public health and science communication
- Public health and politics: trust, power, and ideology
- Media systems, digital platforms, and influencers
- Historical evolution of public health communication
- Message design: framing, storytelling, and persuasion
- Communicating risk and uncertainty
- Health equity and culturally responsive communication
- Ethics, responsibility, and accountability in information provision |
| Schlagworte |
Gender/Diversity ; Nachhaltigkeit |
| Lernziele |
How can public health messages inform, engage, and empower populations in a context shaped by disinformation, polarization, and digital complexity?
This course equips students with conceptual foundations and applied strategies to critically understand and design public health communication in contemporary society. It integrates perspectives from science communication, political communication, media studies, and behavioral sciences.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand core principles and objectives of public health communication
- Analyze the influence of political and institutional contexts on health messaging
- Evaluate the role of media, social platforms, and influencers
- Identify and respond to misinformation and disinformation
- Assess historical and contemporary communication successes and failures
- Design effective communication strategies for campaigns and crises
- Apply ethical reasoning in the dissemination of health information |
| Voraussetzungen |
No prior background in communication studies is required. An interest in public health, health policy, or communication is recommended.
To be noted: The course Applied Public Health Communication is complementary to both Health Communication and Social Marketing, with a strong emphasis on practical application. It focuses on how communication is designed, implemented, and evaluated in real-world public health contexts, including campaigns, policy environments, media dynamics, and responses to misinformation. While Health Communication provides a broader conceptual foundation across healthcare settings, and Social Marketing focuses on behavior change strategies and audience targeting, this course translates these principles into concrete public health practice. The courses are designed to enrich one another, with no repetition of content, yet each can be taken independently without prior knowledge of the others. |
| Sprache |
Englisch |
| Anmeldung |
Moodle: https://elearning.hsm-unilu.ch/course/view.php?id=1036
|
| Leistungsnachweis |
Group project, assessing conceptual understanding and the ability to apply communication principles to real-world public health scenarios.
Regular attendance is recommended both to engage in critical discussion in class and for project presentations, although not mandatory. It is important to note, however, that the exam is a group project so partecipants have to work with a group of colleague.
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 |
group project / 3 Credits
|
| Hinweise |
This course is particularly relevant for students interested in public health practice, policy, and the societal impact of communication. It emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reflection, and real-world applicability. |
| Hörer-/innen |
Nein |
| Kontakt |
sara.rubinelli@unilu.ch |
| Material |
Slide sets, handouts, case study materials, and structured exercises will be provided via Moodle. |
| Literatur |
Rubinelli, S. (2026). Institutional health communication in the information age. Cambridge.
Schiavo, R. (2014). Health communication: From theory to practice (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Larson, H. J. (2020). Stuck: How vaccine rumors start—and why they don’t go away. Oxford University Press.
Lee, N. R., & Kotler, P. (2019). Social marketing: Behavior change for social good (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Heath, C., & Heath, D. (2007). Made to stick: Why some ideas survive and others die. Random House.
Fischhoff, B., Brewer, N. T., & Downs, J. S. (Eds.). (2011). Communicating risks and benefits: An evidence-based user’s guide. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. |