Health Communication (5cr)

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessed assignments in the course: one pair assignment and one group assignment.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

The course is conducted as online studies: 28.10.2025 klo 8.30–11.30 11.11.2025 klo 8.30–11.30 2.12.2025 klo 8.30–11.30 The student knows the basis of health communication as well as the essential research subjects and concepts, understands the importance of communication in promoting health and well-being and in various interactions. After completing the course, the student can implement and develop health communication appropriately for different target groups (individual, group, organization), can analyze and evaluate the application possibilities of health communication in different operating environments. The course is aimed at Master School students nationally, and its content corresponds to the EQF 7 level. Contents: • Theories and methods of effective communication • Target group-oriented health communication in different channels • Health literacy • The connection of communication to health and well-being • Methods of speaking and influencing in favor of health promotion • Mass communication in health communication • Online environments, social media, and health promotion campaigns • The role of the expert in health communication • Development and evaluation of health communication

Objective

Terveysviestintä-opintojakson käytyään opiskelija tuntee terveysviestinnän lähtökohdat sekä keskeiset tutkimuskohteet ja käsitteet. Hän ymmärtää viestinnän merkityksen terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin edistämisessä sekä erilaisissa vuorovaikutussuhteissa. Opintojakson suoritettuaan opiskelija osaa toteuttaa ja kehittää terveysviestintää tarkoituksenmukaisesti eri kohderyhmille (yksilö, ryhmä, organisaatio). Lisäksi opiskelija osaa analysoida ja arvioida terveysviestinnän soveltamismahdollisuuksia erilaisissa toimintaympäristöissä.

Content

• Vaikuttavan viestinnän teoriat ja menetelmät • Kohderyhmälähtöinen terveysviestintä eri kanavissa • Terveydenlukutaito • Viestinnän yhteys terveyteen ja hyvinvointiin • Terveyden edistämisen puolesta puhumisen ja vaikuttamisen menetelmät • Joukkoviestintä terveysviestinnässä • Verkkoympäristöt, sosiaalinen media ja terveyden edistämisen kampanjat • Asiantuntijan rooli terveysviestinnässä • Terveysviestinnän kehittäminen ja arviointi

Materials

Järvi, U. 2022. Terveysviestinnän tiedontuottajat. Teoksessa Patja, K; Asbetz, P & Rautava, P (toim.) Terveyden edistäminen. E-kirja Duoadecim oppiporttipalvelussa.  Järvi, U. 2022. Onnistunut terveysviestintä. Teoksessa Patja, K; Asbetz, P & Rautava, P (toim.) Terveyden edistäminen. E-kirja Duoadecim oppiporttipalvelussa. Knuuti, J. 2020. Kauppatavarana terveys – Selviydy terveysväitteiden viidakossa. Helsinki: Minerva kustannus oy.  Roberts, M., Callahan, L. & O’Leary, C. Social media: A path to health literacy. Informal services& use. June 2017. Vol. 37. Nro. 2. p. 177-187. The other learning material and the research articles used in the course are listed in Itslearning.

Teaching methods

The course uses a variety of learning methods.

International connections

TThe course employs a variety of pedagogical models and methods, including expert-led learning, collaborative and self-directed learning, as well as online learning. Teaching consists of lectures by the instructors and guest experts, group and individual assignments, and interactive online activities.

Completion alternatives

No alternative completion methods.

Student workload

The totality of the course is 5 credits. The course is divided into three main sections: 1) Basics of health communication, 2) Target groups and targeting of communication and 3) New methods of communication and evaluation of effects. The course consists of online teaching, independent assignments, and individual and group assignments. The course includes one pair assignment, one written group assignment and one written individual assignment. The student must participate in the teaching and pass all the tasks of the course to receive a credit mark. If the student is absent from the lesson, he does a replacement assignment for the lesson, which the teachers define and inform after each lesson separately. The student cannot complete the course with substitute assignments alone. The course is evaluated on the scale fail/1-5.