Spring 2007, CMM 574 C. A. Brammer, Ph.D.
Monday 6:30-9:00pm Smith Hall 248
Smith Hall 261 Phones: 696-2810(O), 522-2194(H)
E-Mail: Brammer@Marshall.EDU
Office Hours Posted
Course Description: CMM 574 (3 Hours Graduate Credit) This course explores the communication demands of health care and promotion; examines current issues and problems in the modern health care system; and identifies communication strategies health care consumers and providers can employ to achieve their health care goals.
Desired Learner Outcomes: As a result of taking this course a student should be able to appreciate the demands for effective communication interactions between health care providers, patients, and family members of patients; identify the issues and problems both patients and the health care providers are challenged with in a modern system of health care delivery; recognize strategies one can employ to achieve health care goals.
TEXTS: REQUIRED
A) Kreps, G. L. & Thornton, B. C. (1992). Health communication: Theory and practice.
Mt. Prospect, IL: Waveland Press.
B) du Pre’, A. (2005). Communicating about health: current issues and perspectives. Second Ed.
Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.
C) Occasionally Journal articles or chapters from other sources may be assigned which I will pass out in class.
Internet Sites:
http;//www.cdc.gov/od/oc/hcomm/ This site is called Healthcomm Key with a subtitle “unlocking the power of health communication.”
This site has links to other helpful sites for research purposes. Be sure to well document any material that you might retrieve from any Internet location.
Here are some other sites which you may find helpful in your research activities:
http://galenet.gale.co...it-nohits.html&r=O&f=S
http://www.infoseek.com/topic/health/
http://www.aol.com/webcenters/health/
http://www.americashttp://www.onhealth.com
http://www.ama-assn.org/special/womh/womh.htm
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~drisin/.about_site.html
ASSIGNMENTS:
4 Reaction Papers 25pts. each
Take Home Midterm 100pts.
Final Exam 100pts.
Term Paper 150pts.
Discussion Group 25pts. each member possible
WWW Group Reports 20pts. each member
GRADING SCALE:
100 - 95% = A
94 - 86% = B
85 - 73% = C
72 - 65% = D
64% = F
Grades will be calculated on the above scale. If you have a problem with this, keep in mind that this is a graduate course!
Due dates are to be found in the class schedule so that you can arrange your schedules with other classes you may be taking. No late papers will be accepted. You may submit papers via e-mail...but remember to do so in a timely fashion.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Because this is a night section attendance is even more important than a class that meets more often. When you miss one class it is the same as missing 3 or a whole week; therefore, if you miss two (2) classes your final grade will be reduced by a full letter. If you miss 3 or more classes you will fail the class (unless you drop!).
EXPLANATION of ASSIGNMENTS:
Reaction Papers Instructions:
Reaction papers should have two sections: 1) Summary and 2) Analysis. In the summary section highlight the reading’s key points and general point-of-view on health communication (in your own words). In the analysis section evaluate and critique the perspective taken in the reading, identifying strong and weak points, and suggesting any alternative interpretations, conclusions, or applications concerning health communication.
Readings are left to your particular area of interest. The readings should come from professional journals not from popular literature!! The papers are due on the dates in the course calendar.
Term Paper:
Your paper should explore a communication issue within the health care industry. The topics (at least in my mind) are limitless. Please see me for approval, this is mainly to prevent duplication of efforts by students and burn-out by me when reading the papers!!!
Requirements:
1. APA 5th Edition format must be used.
2. 25 sources (current sources: meaning in the last 7 years).
3. Typed/double spaced.
4. Topic approved by professor.
5. Focus of paper must be on communication. For example: It might be interesting to research why women in this area seem to be diagnosed with breast cancer more than other areas but this is not a communication issue unless it can be shown that there is more communication about breast cancer thus resulting in more women taking the initiative to be checked.
6. Abstract at front of paper.
7. Length: 20 to 25 pages not including bibliography, title page, abstract, or other non text pages.
If you have questions please make an appointment to talk about them.
Discussion Group:
You are to form groups which will “discuss” a current issue in the area of health care. Each group will be allowed one hour for their presentation and discussion. The groups limited to five (5) members and no less than three(3) members. Each member can receive 25pts for their efforts in this assignment. More information will follow about this.
World Wide Web Group Report:
In teams of four or five, you will choose a site, analyze its structure and content and present a group report to the class on what you found at the site. You also will provide an evaluation of the potential value of the site to class members and other constituencies, such as doctors, researchers, or health care consumers. The time expectation is about 15-20 minutes. Visual aids are expected.
CALENDAR:
Week 1: Jan. 08 Course Introduction
Week 2: Jan. 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Week 3: Jan. 22 Introduction to Health Communication A1
Health Communication Processes and Theories A2
Establishing a Context for Health Communication B1
Week 4: Jan. 29 History and Current Issues B2
FIRST REACTION PAPER
Week 5: Feb. 5 The Interpersonal Health Communication Context A3
Patient-Caregiver Communication B3
Week 6: Feb. 12 Caregiver Perspective B4
Patient Perspective B5
Diversity Among Patients B6
Discussion Group 1
Week 7: Feb. 19 Group Communication in Health Care A4
Social Support B7
SECOND REACTION PAPER
Discussion Group 2
Week 8: Feb. 26 Culture and Health Communication A7
Cultural Conceptions of Health and Illness B8
MIDTERM TAKE HOME EXAM
WWW Reports
Week 9: Mar. 5 Group Communication in Health Communication A4
Culture and Diversity in Health Organizations B9
MIDTERM EXAMS DUE
Week 10: Mar. 12 Organizational Communication in Health Care A5
WWW Reports
Week 11: Mar. 19 Leadership and Teamwork B10
THIRD REACTION PAPER
Week 12: Mar. 18 - 25 SPRING BREAK
Week 13: Mar. 26 Health Communication Messages and Media A6
WWW Reports
Week 14: Apr. 2 Health Images in the Media B11
Discussion Group 3
Week 15: Apr. 9 Communication and Health Promotion A9
FOURTH REACTION PAPER
Week 16: Apr. 16 Planning Health Promotion Campaigns B12
Discussion Group 4
Week 17: Apr. 23 Designing and Implementing Health Campaigns B13
Ethical Communication in Health Care A8
TERM PAPERS DUE
Apr. 30 FINAL EXAM