Focus: Health and Risk Communication

The ability to effectively and efficiently communicate about health and risk-related issues is becoming increasingly important. Hospitals, government agencies, health departments, news media organizations and public relations and other communication practitioners need to know how best to reach diverse audiences with timely and relevant messages, and the new Grady Center for Health and Risk Communication (CHRC) is an important interdisciplinary center of expertise.

We also offer a Strategic Health and Risk Communication certificate for undergraduate students.

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Beyond Fear Appeals: The Role of Hope in Improving Effectiveness of Health Messages.” Paper accepted for poster by Communicating Science, Health, Environment, and Risk Division Bartosz Wojdynski, Youngji Seo & JeongHyun (Janice) Lee

Abstract: One of the understudied areas in health communication research is hope. This study examines the effect of efficacy-inducing information on hope and subsequent attitudinal health behaviors. A total of five hundred fifty-three adults in the United States read health promotion social media posts designed to induce perceived self-efficacy (vs. non-efficacy-inducing health information) in fear-appeal […]

Effective Health Risk Communications: Lessons Learned about COVID-19 Pandemic through the Lens of Practitioners Yan Jin and Taylor Voges

Abstract: The study utilizes semi-structured interviews of health risk communication practitioners in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contingency theory of strategic conflict management is the guide to understanding the challenges and nuances. Insights gained from interviewing practitioners (projected, n=40) from different sectors with diverse professional backgrounds will help advance the contingency theory’s application […]

Using Influenza Vaccination Location Data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Glen Nowak

Victoria Fonzi, Kiran Thapa, Kishor Luitel, Heather Padilla, Curt Harris, M. Mahmud Khan, Glen Nowak and Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Using Influenza Vaccination Location Data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Abstract: Effective COVID-19 vaccine distribution requires prioritizing locations that are accessible to high-risk target populations. However, little is […]

Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Vaccine Hesitant Parents Using Psychological Inoculation Nathaniel J. Evans

Nathaniel Evans has been awarded OIBR seed funding ($5020) through the Grantsmanship Development Program (GDP) for his proposed project titled, “Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Vaccine Hesitant Parents Using Psychological Inoculation.” Abract: The objective of the proposed research is to augment vaccine acceptance and coverage by developing and testing intervention strategies that inoculate vaccine hesitant […]

Leading transitions in a traumatically changing working environment: Communication professionals adapt to COVID-19 impacts Juan Meng, Bryan H. Reber, Tong Xie & JeongHyun (Janice) Lee

Abstract: The paper presents findings from an international survey of communication professionals on change leadership in communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the strong impact brought by the pandemic, communication professionals adapt quickly in change management by using COVID-19 information to build knowledge, enhance trust, develop strategies and guide actions.

Assessing COVID-19 pandemic communication in China: What we know about the communication channels, sources of information, and key message retention Juan Meng and Tong Xie

Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of Chinese citizens (N = 1,713) about their general knowledge of COVID-19 and the key communication channels that they used both during and after the pandemic. The perceived impact of COVID-19, personal safety concern, and information retention during the times of lockdown and […]

Better obesity knowledge, healthier food choice? Examining the moderating role of HNR claims in food advertisements Juan Meng

Abstract: A conditional process model for the impact of obesity knowledge on healthy food choice was proposed to examine how consumers’ obesity knowledge and online search for nutritional information (OSNI) in food products jointly influenced their healthy food choice (HFC) and whether consumers’ attitude toward health and nutrition-related (HNR) claims in food advertisement directly or […]

Trusted sources of information, perceived quality in communication, and health knowledge retention: A national study of COVID-19 pandemic in China Juan Meng

Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of citizens in Mainland China about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the time of lockdown and post-pandemic. The study sheds light on the relationship between the trusted sources of COVID-19 information and the perceived quality in communication by jointly […]

Book Contract Juan Meng

Tench, R., Meng, J., & Moreno, A. (eds.) (2022). Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis: National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. London: Routledge.

Harnessing technology to prevent sexual assault on college campuses Glenna Read

Abstract: The current global pandemic has presented an opportunity to rethink how universities implement sexual assault prevention programs. The advantages and capabilities presented by technology such as digital gaming have not been fully utilized in sexual assault prevention programming. A user-centered design approach gives developers the opportunity to truly engage students in a learning process; […]