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Category: communication

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Communication

How This Study Could Help Make Healthcare Easier to Navigate

If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s office feeling more confused than comforted, you’re not alone. Around half of the global population struggles to make sense of health information—and not because they aren’t smart. The real problem? Healthcare systems often speak a different language than their patients. A new systematic review sheds light on […]

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Communication

How to Make a Warning Go Viral

You scroll past a tweet from a government account. “Important Health Notice.” Your thumb keeps going. You barely noticed it—no image, no emotion, just… blah. But here’s the wild part: science says it’s not you. It’s the message. According to new research, how a government warns you during a health crisis can significantly impact your […]

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Communication

How Fear in the Media Shapes Public Health Behaviors: A Double-Edged Sword

During a crisis, information can be lifesaving. But what happens when the dominant emotion in the news is fear? A recent study spanning five countries—United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India—sheds light on how fear-driven media coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced public perception and preventive health behaviors. The findings are striking: while fear-based […]

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Communication

How Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Spread Faster Than the Pandemic

In August 2021, as the world was grappling with the Delta variant of COVID-19, another crisis was unfolding—this time, in the realm of information. A survey of over 10,000 Americans revealed a troubling truth: a significant portion of the population believed in alternative theories about the origins and purpose of the pandemic. These ranged from […]

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Communication

Better Communication Training Can Revolutionize Epidemiology

A single statistic, taken out of context, can shift healthcare decisions for millions. In the early 2000s, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for postmenopausal women was thrust under a glaring spotlight. A major trial found small but significant health risks, yet those numbers were presented in ways that seemed alarming without clear explanations of absolute risk. […]

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Communication

The Misinformation Dilemma: Separating Fact from Fear

Misinformation is often blamed for many of today’s most pressing social and political issues. From election interference to vaccine hesitancy, alarmist narratives claim that false information is flooding the internet, shaping public opinion, and altering behaviors. But is misinformation really as rampant and influential as we’ve been led to believe? According to a growing body […]

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Communication

The Paradox of Aggression in Online Gaming

Aggression often thrives in online gaming communities. A staggering 70% of gamers aged 18-24 report experiencing aggression, with many considering it a major issue. Why does such behavior persist in a world designed for fun and collaboration? A recent study sheds light on this question, revealing that aggression in gaming isn’t just about the competitive […]

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Communication

Health Literacy for Today’s Adolescents

Adolescents today face a unique health landscape. With access to more information than ever, teens must learn how to navigate the flood of health messages and identify what’s credible. Health literacy – the ability to understand, assess, and use health information – is a skill that can set them on a path to better choices […]

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Analytics

Gambling Ads in Our Daily Lives: More Harmful Than You Think

In today’s world, gambling ads are everywhere—on TV, social media, and even in our favorite sports. Gambling companies use precise data-driven methods to reach us, and they don’t just stop there. Personalized promotions target those who’ve gambled before, nudging them back into old habits. What does this mean for public health? Research says the impacts […]

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Communication

How Reporting Can Influence Suicide Rates

When it comes to media reporting on suicide, there’s a thin line between shedding light on a critical public health issue and inadvertently fueling a tragic chain reaction. The influence of media on public behavior is immense, and when it comes to suicide, the stakes are particularly high. This article will explore the complex relationship […]

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Communication

How Disgust Shapes Our Reactions to Mpox: Prevention and Perceptions

In the fight against Mpox, public health campaigns have long relied on powerful imagery to convey the seriousness of the disease. From the disfiguring rashes to the potential consequences of ignoring preventive measures, Mpox prevention efforts often hinge on eliciting emotional responses—disgust being a prominent one. But how exactly does disgust play into our willingness […]

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Communication

Simple Headlines Capture Our Attention

In the bustling world of online news, where every headline competes for a reader’s precious attention, simplicity may be the key to success. Recent research, conducted through over 30,000 field experiments with The Washington Post and Upworthy, reveals that readers are more likely to click on and engage with simpler headlines than complex ones. This […]

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