The Competence Area Health Communication researches the role of media in individual health behaviour and how health communication can be optimized through knowledge of communication science.<\/p>\n
The media shape our perceptions of health and illness and, alongside medical experts, are key sources of information. They are important in many ways for the formation of health-related ideas and for information on health and illness-related topics. The development of digital media has opened up new opportunities for health communication.<\/p>\n
Since 2000, the Institute has been working in various research contexts on the presentation of health topics in different media, on health-related media use and on strategic forms of health communication and their evaluation. A particular concern is to make the results of communication science research usable for other disciplines as well as for health-related practice, e.g. in order to support or optimize the target group-oriented development of health-related communication and information offerings.<\/p>\n
In addition to dealing with the visual aspects of health communication, this area of expertise currently focuses on the challenges and potential of digital media in health contexts.<\/p>\n