Health communication as a narrower of health differences (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

The course begins with a pre-assignment, completion of which serves as proof of participation in the course.
Webinars
Learning circle work
Independent study

Objective

Purpose of the course
The purpose is to equip you with the skills to implement expert communication to promote health and well-being. In addition, the purpose is to increase your understanding of implementing effective communication and to identify communication forms suitable for different target groups and factors affecting communication.

Course competencies:
Learning to learn (You promote your own and your work community's continuous learning and competence development, utilizing knowledge from different fields and digitalization opportunities)
Acting in working life (You have the skills to develop and lead your work community and to renew working life)
Ethics (You are able to evaluate and present the implementation of professional ethical principles and values ​​in your work community, taking into account the principles of equality and non-discrimination)
Internationality and multiculturalism (You are able to develop and lead multicultural and international operating environments and networks)

Course objectives:
After completing the course, you will know what effective health communication by a health promotion expert includes. You will be able to evaluate and apply different approaches, theories and communication channels of effective health communication based on the target group. You will be able to speak for health promotion and argue for it based on evidence. You will be able to act as a health promotion expert, taking into account the ethical issues of health promotion.

Content

You will learn to understand what health communication is as part of health promotion and the competence of a health promotion expert. You will become familiar with the starting points of health communication, target group orientation in communication, different forms of health communication, communication channels and sub-areas. You will learn to utilize theories and methods of effective communication. You will learn to recognize the importance of health literacy and health information literacy as part of health communication.
You will practice utilizing the social marketing framework when planning, implementing and evaluating health communication. You will increase your understanding of mass communication and health promotion campaigns.
You will learn to recognize the importance of multiculturalism in health promotion and increase your understanding of ethical issues in health promotion.

Location and time

On-line course. Moodle online learning platform is open 25.8.2025.

Webinars at Zoom:
1. Mon 8.9.2025 13-16
2. Mon 6.10.2025 13-16
3. Mon 27.10.2025 13-16
4. Mon 24.11.2025 13-16

Materials

Green, J., Cross, R., Woodall, J. & Tones, K. 2019. Health Promotion. Planning and strategies. 4th edition. SAGE. (as applicable)

Patja, K., Absetz, P. & Rautava, P. (Eds.) 2022. Terveyden edistäminen. Duodecim. (e-book) (as applicable)

Parvanta C. & Bass S. 2020. Health Communication. Strategies and skills for the new era. Jones & Bartlett Learning. (e-book) (as applicable)

Hopwood, T. & Merritt, R. (2011). Sosiaalisen markkinoinnin ABC. Edited into Finnish by H. Tukia, K. Wilskman & M. Lähteenmäki. 2012. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos. ISBN 978-952-245-513-0 101. https://www.julkari.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/90857/URN_ISBN_978-952-245-513-0.pdf?sequence=1 (e-book online)

WHO: Communication for Health (C4H). https://www.who.int/westernpacific/initiatives/Communication-for-Health-C4H

IUHPE Accreditation / Practitioners. www.iuhpe.org

Other relevant learning materials will be specified at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

The course is conducted entirely online. Moodle serves as the learning platform, and webinars are conducted via Zoom. The course includes four webinars and self-directed study.

Webinars involve pre-assignments, group work, and lecture-style learning. Self-directed study involves engaging in learning circles, familiarizing oneself with study materials, completing interim and learning assignments, and self-assessment.

The course includes interim assignments prepared within learning circles, a written learning assignment (individual work), and a written self-assessment.

Employer connections

The learning assignment of the course can be linked to workplace development activities. The webinars include lectures by communication experts.

International connections

In the course, some of the learning materials and literature are international. International (English-language) source materials are used partly for interim assignments and the learning assignment.

Completion alternatives

On this course you can use studification in accordance with JAMK's degree regulations.

Student workload

Webinars (4 sessions x 3 hours plus preparation) 1 credit (27 hours)
Independent study (familiarization with study materials, completing interim assignments within learning circles, completing the learning assignment individually, and self-assessment) 4 credits (108 hours)

Total 135 hours.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1
The student identifies some factors of effective health communication. They are aware of key approaches, theories, and communication channels in their area of expertise. The student can apply audience-oriented health communication within their area of expertise. They can act within their area of expertise while considering the ethical issues of health promotion.

Satisfactory 2
The student is familiar with key factors, approaches, theories, and communication channels of effective health communication, and can utilize them in their written work. They can apply and evaluate audience-oriented health communication within their area of expertise. The student can operate within their area of expertise while considering the ethical issues of health promotion.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
The student masters the key factors, approaches, theories, and communication channels of effective health communication within their area of expertise. They are capable of applying, evaluating, and developing them systematically within their area of expertise. The student operates within their area of expertise while paying close attention to the ethical issues of health promotion.

Excellent 4
The student masters and can apply, based on research evidence, the key factors, approaches, theories, and communication channels of effective health communication within their area of expertise in various situations. They can critically apply, evaluate, and develop them based on research evidence within their area of expertise. They can critically assess material related to health communication. The student operates within their area of expertise while commendably considering the ethical issues of health promotion.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
The student comprehensively masters and innovatively applies, based on research evidence, the key factors, approaches, theories, and communication channels of effective health communication within their area of expertise for health promotion. Beyond demonstrating commendable proficiency, the student shows capabilities in creating new or interdisciplinary perspectives in health communication. They independently advance their expertise in their field while exceptionally considering the ethical issues of health promotion.

Further information

The grade for the course is based on a written learning assignment, which is assessed on a scale of 0-5 according to the course assessment criteria.
Interim assignments are assessed as pass/fail (not included in the numerical assessment of the course, a passing performance is required). At the end of the course, the student prepares a written self-assessment, which is assessed as pass/fail (not included in the numerical assessment of the course, a passing performance is required).