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Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Communication and Informatics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 15078

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Prof. Dr. Paolo Castiglia

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Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Interests: epidemiology; public health; vaccines; vaccine hesitancy; health communication; community outrage; meningococcal disease; infectious diseases; environmental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Marco Dettori

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Guest Editor

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Interests: public health; environmental health; urban health; indoor air quality; water quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Second Edition of the Special Issue entitled: “Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal in the area of public health. More information about the journal can be found on https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph.

Health Communication is key in virtually every aspect of health and well-being, such as the communicable and non-communicable disease prevention, health promotion and quality of life. In particular, Health Communication strategies are strongly required to provide guidance to protect the health of individuals and to address growing phenomena which could sharpen dangerous behaviors including the poor adherence to health programs (e.g., vaccine hesitancy).

In this context, a key role is played by the modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which allow to reach various population groups and to obtain better health conditions for all. In addition, the current pandemic, and the resulting social isolation imposed on the population, has further contributed to the increase in use of digital platforms.

Given the potential of ICTs in information searching and sharing processes, health institutions are now using online channels as tools for disseminating medical and scientific knowledge (e-health).

This Special Issue is looking forward to publishing evidence and observations in the field, regarding, but not limited, to: attitudes, skills, knowledge and behaviors of health-care providers; health communication strategies; health education; vaccine hesitancy; e-health; web-based analysis.

We welcome the submission of Reviews, Original Research Articles, Short Communications, Editorial Letters, Systematic Reviews, Case Studies, and other kinds of articles targeting any of these core research questions and beyond.

In this sense, we are launching this Special Issue to address some of the core research questions related to health communication strategies and evidence, such as:

Health literacy
Outrage Management
Crisis Communication
Health Advocacy
Health Education
Vaccine Hesitancy
E-Health
Web-based analysis

Prof. Dr. Paolo Castiglia
Dr. Marco Dettori
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 294 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

COVID-19 and Digital Health: Evolution, Perspectives and Opportunities

by Marco Dettori and Paolo Castiglia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8519; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148519 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1717

Abstract

Health Communication is key to establishing an empathic relationship between health professionals and their patients. Indeed, the ability to motivate and reassure the patient often determines the success of the therapies proposed. In the past, the relationship between health professionals and patients was centred on treatment and assistance, and health information came in the form of education campaigns based on signage (large posters, etc.). Subsequently, social and cultural changes gave rise to new ways of communicating science: from signage to magazines and television programmes devoted to health issues, through the use of social networks. In particular, fast and cheap access to the Internet and the vast number of app users have made the Web an effective communication tool. Given the potential of technology in the information-seeking process, the use of online channels by health institutions is a valuable tool for divulging medical and scientific knowledge. As a consequence, prompted by the need to provide fast and reliable information to the population, public institutions have adopted such innovative methods as the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to convey health-related content. This practice, known as digital health or e-health, provides healthcare information using digital tools (e.g., Websites and social networks), delivered in an easy-to-understand language in order to reach various population groups and bring about better health conditions for all, hence the importance of acquiring and reinforcing communication skills in the healthcare field, where correct and effective communication immediately translates into a benefit for the professionals themselves and for their patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

4 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Second Edition of Special Issue “Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication: Evidence and Perspectives”

by Paolo Castiglia and Marco Dettori

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031460 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2771

Abstract

The second edition of this Special Issue “Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication”, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health aims primarily to increase international literature evidence and observations in the field regarding: (i) health communication strategies and crisis communication, (ii) health education and health advocacy, and (iii) the fight against the phenomenon of Vaccine Hesitancy (VH) through training and communication activities targeting the general public and health professionals. This Special Issue builds on the premise that, despite the fact that theoretical and experimental research has contributed to an increase in knowledge and evidence about the importance of communication in healthcare, communication professionals in this field still face great challenges when trying to develop messages that effectively change the behavior of large groups of people. The need to relay fast and reliable information to the general public has therefore led public institutions to seek out new and innovative ways of transmitting health-related content. In particular, for some time now, Public Health has also been making use of the Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to reach various population groups and achieve better health conditions for all. This practice, known as Digital Health or E-health, provides healthcare using digital tools (e.g., websites and social media networks) and easy-to-understand language. This is particularly important in the current pandemic context, where Public Health continues to face many problems and difficulties in persuading people to adhere to the guidelines issued for the containment of COVID-19, with particular reference to vaccination programs, hence the importance of acquiring and strengthening communication skills in healthcare, where correct and effective communication is immediately beneficial both to professionals and patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Impacted Daily Life? Assessing the Use of Web Resources for Recreational Activities in the Italian Adult Population

by Francesca Gallè, Elita Anna Sabella, Lavinia Bianco, Mario Maninchedda, Benedetta Barchielli, Fabrizio Liguori, Giovanna Da Molin, Giorgio Liguori, Giovanni Battista Orsi, Stefano Ferracuti and Christian Napoli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15136; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215136 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1508

Abstract

Restriction measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in people’s lives and behaviors. The aim of this paper is to assess the changes occurred in physical activity (PA), sleep, social and cultural activities and personal relationships of Italian adults during the pandemic and to evaluate the use of web-based resources to continue these activities. To this purpose, a cross-sectional study using a web-based questionnaire was carried out and both descriptive and regression analysis was performed. On a total of 1831 participants (61% females, age 18–93 years), the majority reported a decrease in PA, sleep, social and cultural activities and personal relationships, since the beginning of the pandemic. Sleep was notably affected by the use of new technologies. The regression analysis demonstrated that the use of web-based media for doing exercise was associated with being younger than 50 years and female; having a chronic condition was inversely related with the use of web resources for social and cultural activities and to maintain relationships; being employed was negatively related with the use of web media for continuing personal relationships and cultural activities; and being vaccinated against COVID-19 was positively associated with the use of the web for personal relationships. These findings confirm that the COVID-19 pandemic notably affected the daily life of Italian adults. Our results suggest that the use of technology to deal with these changes seems to be related with certain sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. These findings can be useful to identify those characteristics that can help people in copying with daily life modifications due to restriction measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

12 pages, 511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors towards Proper Nutrition and Lifestyles in Italian Diabetic Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Antonella Arghittu, Giovanna Deiana, Elena Castiglia, Adolfo Pacifico, Patrizia Brizzi, Andrea Cossu, Paolo Castiglia and Marco Dettori

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811212 - 07 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1892

Abstract

Prevention of diabetes mellitus is mainly based on a healthy lifestyle. The lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major changes in daily life and social behavior, which may have an influence on diabetes self-management and glycemic control. The present work aims to assess the relationship between diabetic patients’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards proper nutrition and lifestyles in order to plan strategies for educational intervention from a health literacy perspective. Attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge of diabetic patients attending the Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Department of the Local Health Authority of Sassari (ASL1-SS) were assessed with a cognitive survey conducted from April to July 2022. Three hundred twenty-one questionnaires were administered during the survey period. Fifty-two percent of diabetic patients were female and 48% male, with a mean age of 61.1 ± 18.5 years and 62.0 ± 15.1 years, respectively. The overall level of knowledge about the role of food and proper nutrition with respect to the risk of diabetes and its complications appeared to be generally unsatisfactory and inadequate. Nonetheless, females showed a significantly higher level of knowledge than males (p < 0.0001). Moreover, knowledge was seen to decrease according to the age of the patients (p = 0.035). As for the possible impact played by the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyles, it should be noted that about 70% of the respondents stated that they had maintained a reasonable dietary standard or even improved it throughout. Thus, the study underlines the need to improve the knowledge of diabetic subjects about nutrition and, in particular, their self-management, positively influencing behaviors and attitudes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

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30 pages, 6598 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Survey Results to a Decision-Making Matrix for Strategic Planning in Healthcare: The Case of Clinical Pathways

by Lavinia Bianco, Salvatore Raffa, Paolo Fornelli, Rita Mancini, Angela Gabriele, Francesco Medici, Claudia Battista, Stefania Greco, Giuseppe Croce, Aldo Germani, Simona Petrucci, Paolo Anibaldi, Valerio Bianco, Mario Ronchetti, Giorgio Banchieri, Christian Napoli and Maria Piane

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7806; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137806 - 25 Jun 2022

Viewed by 2020

Abstract

Background: It is a well-known fact that the information obtained from a survey can be used in a healthcare organizational analysis; however, it is very difficult to compare the different results found in the literature to each other, even through the use of metanalysis, as the methodology is often not consistent. Methods: Data from a survey analyzing the organizational and managerial responses adopted in pathology-specific clinical pathways (CPs) during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic were used for constructing a decisional matrix, a tool called SPRIS system, consisting of four different sheets. The first sheet reports the results of the survey and, using a streetlight color system, identifies strengths and weaknesses; the second one, by assigning a priority score, establishes the priority of intervention on each of the strengths and weaknesses identified; the third sheet reports the subjective items of the questionnaire in order to identify threats and opportunities and their probability of happening; in the last sheet, a SWOT Analysis is used to calculate the performance index of the whole organization. Results: The SPRIS system, applied to data concerning the adaptation of four CPs to the COVID-19 pandemic, showed that, whereas all the CPs had a good performance index, some concerns remained unsolved and need be addressed. Conclusions: The SPRIS system showed to be an easily constructed tool that is able to give an overview of the organization analyzed by the survey and to produce an index that can be used in a direct quality comparison between different services or organizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

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11 pages, 348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Medication Adherence in Chronic Older Patients: An Italian Observational Study Using Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5I)

by Gloria Liquori, Aurora De Leo, Emanuele Di Simone, Sara Dionisi, Noemi Giannetta, Elvira Ganci, Sherly Pia Trainito, Giovanni Battista Orsi, Marco Di Muzio and Christian Napoli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5190; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095190 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

Background: the world population is aging, and the prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing. Chronic diseases affect the quality of life of patients and contribute toward increased healthcare costs if patients do not adhere to treatment. This study defines the medication adherence levels of patients with chronic diseases. Methods: an observational cross-sectional study was carried out. Patients aged 65 years and older with chronic diseases were included in this study. The medication adherence report scale was used. Results: overall, 98 patients aged 65 years and older were included. The mean age of responders was 78.65 years. Study population: 71.43% were always adherent; 9.79% often adherent; 14.89% sometimes adherent; 3.87% rarely adherent; and 1% never adherent. The internal consistency of the MARS-5I was good: Cronbach’s alfa value of 0.77. Conclusions: the MARS-5I is an effective self-report instrument to measure the medication adherence of patients. However, further studies are needed to explore factors affecting medication adherence to avoid clinical consequences for patients and high healthcare costs for healthcare facilities. Healthcare communication could be improved to ensure better transitional care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

16 pages, 677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Pathways for Non-SARS-CoV-2 Related Diseases in the Lazio Region, Italy

by Maria Piane, Lavinia Bianco, Rita Mancini, Paolo Fornelli, Angela Gabriele, Francesco Medici, Claudia Battista, Stefania Greco, Giuseppe Croce, Laura Franceschetti, Christian Napoli, Mario Ronchetti, Paolo Anibaldi and Giorgio Banchieri

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020635 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1673

Abstract

Clinical pathways (CPs) are multidisciplinary clinical governance tools necessary for the care management of the patients, whose aim is to outline the best practicable path within a health organization related to an illness or to a complex clinical situation. The COVID-19 pandemic emergency has created the need for an organizational renewal of care pathways based on the principles of “primary health care” recommended by the WHO. In Italy, the Hospitals and Local Health Authorities (ASL) have tried to guarantee the continuity of non-deferrable treatments and the maximum safety of both patients and health professionals. This study analyzes the organizational and managerial responses adopted in pathology-specific care pathways to assess how CPs as diagnostic tools responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the first two waves. Twenty-four referents of Operational Units (UU OO) from Hospitals (AO) and Local Health Authorities (ASL) of the Lazio Region (Central Italy) that apply four different CPs responded to a survey, which analyzes the managerial and organizational responses of CPs in regard to different contexts. Results show that the structural and organizational adjustments of the CPs have made it possible to maintain an adequate level of care for specific treatment processes, with some common critical aspects that require improvement actions. The adjustments found could be useful for dealing with new outbreaks and/or new epidemics in order to try to mitigate the potential negative impact, especially on the most vulnerable patient categories. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Second Edition of Strategies and Evidence in Health Communication)

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