Health officials estimate that the 2014 Ebola crisis disproportionately victimized women, who made up 75% of the disease's victims. This interdisciplinary study has two main goals. The first is to evaluate the news media's performance in relation to their representation of women caught up in the Ebola crisis because the media play an important role in influencing public responses to health. This study sought to understand the information behavior patterns of journalists who covered the Ebola crisis by analyzing how job tasks influence a journalist's information behavior. This study employed qualitative methods to study the perceptions of journalists who covered the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Liberian and American journalists who covered the outbreak to understand the choices that guided their reporting of the Ebola crisis. A content analysis of The New York Times, The Times, and The Inquirer was also conducted to examine the new media's representation of women in an outbreak which mostly victimized women. The findings suggest that covering a dangerous assignment like Ebola affected the information behavior patterns of journalists. Audience needs, the timing of coverage, fear, and the accessibility of sources, were some of the factors that influenced the news gathering decisions taken by the reporters. The findings also suggest that women were mostly underrepresented by the media as sources, experts and subjects.

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Syftet med studien är dels att undersöka hur Min Doktor och 1177 kommunicerar via sina webbsidor och applikationer, dels hur användaren upplever kommunikationen. För att uppnå studiens syfte kommer en sociosemiotisk multimodal analys tillämpas för att undersöka hur semiotiska resurser skapar betydelse för användaren. Tre fokusgrupper i olika åldrar kommer även intervjuas för att få kunskap kring användarens upplevelse av kommunikationen. De teoretiska utgångspunkterna för undersökningen är digitalisering, digital hälsokommunikation och sociosemiotik. Genom ett sociosemiotiskt perspektiv undersöks hur aktörerna skapar en kommunikativ relation till användaren samt vad som presenteras som mest relevant på deras webbsidor och applikationer. Dessa kommunikativa praktiker kan sedan spegla sig i vad aktörerna använder för strategiska val inom hälsokommunikation.  Undersökningen påvisar att det finns en stor medvetenhet hos användarna hur aktörerna kommunicerar. Till exempel uppmärksammades kontraster, bilder och tilltal och vad det i sin tur ger för betydelse till användaren. En av de mest intressanta faktorerna som uppkom i studien är att samma kommunikationsstrategier ofta används av aktörerna. Det gäller både när det kommer till att uppmärksamma något speciellt och hur de skapar en relation till användaren. Dock skiljer sig syftet bakom dessa. Min Doktor använder olika kommunikationsstrategier för att få människor att använda deras tjänster, medan 1177 arbetar med samma typ av strategier men för att främja hälsa. Användarens uppfattning av aktörernas kommunikativa praktiker har ofta varit samstämmig. Dock visar resultatet att det också kan finnas skillnader i hur budskap tolkas i relation till aktörernas intentioner. / The purpose of the study is partly to investigate how Min Doktor and 1177 communicate via their web pages and applications, and partly how the user experiences the communication. To achieve the purpose of the study, a sociosemiotic multimodal analysis will be applied to investigate how semiotic resources create meaning for the user. Three focus groups of different ages will also be interviewed to gain knowledge about the user's experience of communication. The theoretical starting points for the investigation are digitization, digital health communication and sociosemiotics. Through a sociosemiotic perspective investigates how the actors create a communicative relationship with the user and what is presented as most relevant on their web pages and applications. These communicative practices can then be reflected in what strategic choices in health communication the actors use.    The survey shows that there is a great awareness among users of how the actors communicate. For example, attention was paid to contrasts, images and appeals and what that in turn mean for the user. One of the most interesting factors that emerged in the study is that the same communication strategies are often used by the actors. This applies both when it comes to drawing attention to something special and how they create a relationship with the user. However, the purpose behind these differs. Min Doktor uses different communication strategies to get people to use their services, while 1177 works with the same type of strategies but to promote health. The user's perception of the actors' communicative practices has often been consistent. Yet the results show that there can also be differences in how messages are interpreted in relation to the actors' intentions.

This study examined women's health messages found on ten endometriosis websites. Qualitative research methods were used to investigate messages available via Internet media about causes and treatments of endometriosis, particularly as they relate to the suggestion that hysterectomy and pregnancy are effective treatments. Messages about infertility, physician-patient communication, and accessibility were also examined. Findings indicate that the websites provided similar messages regarding the symptoms, causes, and treatments of endometriosis; results pertaining to infertility were mixed. Little information was available on methods of improving physician-patient communication. Most websites provided additional low-cost information while requiring minimal technological competency or additional software of site patrons. The results of this study have implications for future research in medical science and communication and reflect the importance of research on women's health communication. A detailed discussion of findings and suggestions for further research are offered. The author's own experiences with endometriosis are incorporated into the analysis.

Technology is a promising means for increasing rural individuals’ access to behavioral healthcare. However, the range of technology use in rural areas is currently unknown. The aims of this study were to examine the use of technology in rural areas, the relationship between technology use and willingness to access pediatric mental health services via videoconferencing, and this relationship within the context of other critical variables linked to service uptake. Data were collected at 2 pediatric primary care clinics. While no significant relationship was found between technology use and willingness to use videoconferencing, a significant relationship emerged between previous service seeking and willingness to use videoconferencing. These findings indicate the need for more research examining other variables’ relationships to willingness to seek help via technology, such as general help-seeking attitudes, unfamiliarity with videoconferencing services, or other variables included in previously established models of technology adoption.

Mental illness and language disorders are rarely linked together as a way of making a comparison. In this study, a comprehensive scoping review was initiated to discuss the differential diagnostic characteristics of expressive language in Schizophrenia and Wernicke’s Aphasia (WA). This study will examine the domains of language where there are overlaps between the characteristics of expressive language. Semantics, pragmatics, and discourse will be further examined while comparing what aspects of expressive language are key in each domain. Schizophrenia being classified as a mental illness and WA being classified as an acquired language disorder, there are fundamental properties of language that are synonymous; however, the terms used can be different. This study will discuss the process and reasoning behind a scoping review. The results of this scoping review will identify the gaps in the literature addressing similarities between the patterns of expressive language use in these two diagnoses.

The video-sharing platform TikTok has gained popularity over the last few years. During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, TikTok was implemented in health communication strategies to target a younger audience. The platform's humorous and entertaining jargon is somewhat contradictory to the intentions of health communication. The purpose of this study was to provide insights into how TikTok has functioned as a forum for health communication during the Covid-19 pandemic, and whether the humorous jargon has affected users’ trust. The intention is that the results will be useful guidance for health communicators if similar occurrences are to happen in the future. To fulfil the purpose, the main question “How is the perceived credibility of health communication affected by the humorous jargon on TikTok?” was formulated. Two sub-questions were added to provide a further understanding of how the platform has functioned as a forum for health communication, and how it can be refined; “What do users think of the platform as a forum for health communication?” and “How can health communication on TikTok be improved?”. The theoretical framework consisted of two related theories which are vital in the evaluation of reliability in communication. Firstly, the theory of source credibility concerns the audience’s trust in a communicator. Secondly, message credibility refers to the audience’s trust in a message. Qualitative interviews were considered a suitable method to apply to arrive at answers to the research questions. The method allowed to gather material on TikTok users’ experiences and motives concerning the subject of study. The results from eight interviews with Swedish users aged between 19-25 revealed that the humorous jargon on TikTok lessens the perceived credibility in health communication which is presented in a serious way. However, credibility is heightened when humour is used in health communication on the platform. Moreover, the study showed that TikTok is a valuable platform to implement in health communication strategies, especially to target younger people. Additionally, the potential for improvement concerning TikTok as a forum for health communication involves a greater presence of expert sources, further implementation of humour, and platform-tailored presentation of information. / Den videobaserade sociala medieplattformen TikTok har ökat i popularitet under de senaste åren. Under coronapandemin användes TikTok i hälsokommunikationsstrategier för att nå ut till en yngre publik. Den humoristiska och underhållande jargongen på plattformen kan ses som något motsägande i relation till syftet med hälsokommunikation. Denna studie syftade till att bidra med insikter till hur TikTok har fungerat som en plattform för hälsokommunikation under coronapandemin, samt hur den humoristiska jargongen har påverkat användares tillit till informationen. Förhoppningen är att hälsokommunikatörer kommer kunna använda resultaten som guidning om liknande händelser skulle inträffa i framtiden. Till hjälp för att uppfylla studiens syfte användes forskningsfrågan ”Hur påverkas den upplevda trovärdigheten i hälsokommunikation av den humoristiska jargongen på TikTok?”. För att bidra till ökad förståelse för hur TikTok fungerat som ett forum för hälsokommunikation, och för att ta reda på vad som kan förbättras, formulerades ytterligare två forskningsfrågor; ”Vad tycker användare om plattformen som ett forum för hälsokommunikation?” och ”Hur kan hälsokommunikation på TikTok förbättras?”. Det teoretiska ramverket bestod av två relaterade teorier som anses vara viktiga i bedömningen av trovärdighet i kommunikation. Den första teorin innefattar källtrovärdighet, och handlar om publikens förtroende till källor så som kommunikatörer eller avsändare. Den andra teorin innefattar även den trovärdighet, men handlar i stället om publikens förtroende till meddelanden eller information. Den metod som ansågs mest lämplig för att kunna besvara forskningsfrågorna var kvalitativa intervjuer. Metoden tillät att samla in TikTok-användares uppfattningar och motiv gällande det studerade ämnet. Resultaten från åtta intervjuer med svenska användare mellan 19–25 år visade att den humoristiska jargongen på TikTok minskar den uppfattade trovärdigheten gällande hälsokommunikation som är presenterad på ett seriöst sätt. Vidare visade det sig dock att trovärdigheten ökar när humor är involverat i själva hälsokommunikationen. Utifrån studiens resultat kan slutsatsen dras att TikTok är en värdefull plattform att dela hälsokommunikation på, i synnerhet när det gäller att nå en ung publik. Slutligen finns en del förbättringspotential gällande TikTok som forum för hälsokommunikation. Detta innefattar större närvaro av källor som besitter expertis, mer användning av humor, samt plattformsanpassad framställning av information.

It has been estimated that one third of the world's population does not have access to "adequate" health care. Some 1.6 billion people live in countries experiencing "concentrated" acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemics. Many countries in Africa--and other low-income countries--are in dire need of help providing adequate health care services to their citizens. They require more hands-on care from Western health workers--and training so more African health workers can eventually care for their own citizens. But these countries also need assistance acquiring and implementing both texts--the body of medical information potentially available to them--and technology--the means by which that information can be conveyed. This dissertation looks at these issues and others from a multi-faceted approach. It combines a survey of the developers of Web sites designed for use by health workers in low-income countries and a proposal for a novel approach to communication theory, which could help improve health communication and other social marketing practices. It also includes an extensive review of literature regarding a number of topics related to these issues. To improve healthcare services in low-income countries, several things should occur. First, more health workers--and others--could visit African countries and other places to provide free, hands-on medical care, as this researcher's group did in Uganda. Such trips are ideal occasions for studying the cultural differences between "mzungu" (white man) and the Ugandan people. A number of useful medical texts have been written for health workers in low-income countries. Others will be published as new health information becomes available. But on what medium will they be published? Computers? Personal digital assistants? During the past 10 years the Internet became an ideal venue for conveying information. Unfortunately, people in target countries such as Uganda encounter cultural differences when such new technologies are diffused. This dissertation looks at cultural and technological difficulties encountered by people in low-income countries who attempt to diffuse information and communication technologies (ICT). Once a technology has been successfully adopted, someone will look for ways to use it to help others. There are hundreds of sites on the Internet--built by Web developers in Western countries--that are designed for use by health workers in low-income countries. However, these Web developers also experience cultural and technological differences, based on their knowledge of and attitudes toward best practices in their field. This research includes a survey of Web developers which determined their attitudes toward best practices in their field and tested this researcher's hypothesis that there is no significant difference among the developers' attitudes toward the content on their sites, their audience's cultural needs and the various technological needs their audience has. It was found that the Web developers agree with 17 of 18 perceived best practices and that there is a significant difference between Web developers' attitudes toward their audience's technological needs and their attitudes toward quality content and the audience's cultural needs. Creation of the survey herein resulted in this researcher generating a new way of thinking about communication theory--called digital research cycles. The survey was based on a review of literature and is rooted in the belief that any successful communication of a computer-mediated message in the information age is a behavior which is influenced by the senders' and receivers' attitudes and knowledge about textual style, the audience, technology and the subject matter to which the message pertains.

Successful client care depends on effective nurse-client communication. It is essential in meeting clients' needs, providing quality care, and maximizing positive client outcomes. The intent of this thesis was to explore nurse perceived barriers to effective nurse-client communication. A literature review was conducted and nine articles were identified as addressing nurse perceived barriers to communication. Four major barriers were identified: nurse comfort and knowledge, environment, time, and culture and language. Research on interventions to address nurses' perceptions of barriers to effective nurse-client communication may provide a better understanding of communication barriers and address issues created by ineffective communication with clients.