Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2519121
Allison Potter, Thomas S Mueller
The increasing popularity of electronic vaping products (EVPs) or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) among youth and young adults has increased health risk concerns, with long-term implications. This qualitative analysis presents a comparison of messaging and motivators depicted in anti-tobacco advertising originating in the 1960s, with modern cessation advertising attempting to reduce the use of EVPs. Content analysis on 100 YouTube videos indicated only 6% of the EVP content framed the social consequences of nicotine usage, while 26% of the tobacco content depicted social consequences as a detrimental outcome. EVP content did not promote financial aspects or the health of others as motivators. Those motivators were depicted as low, but not completely absent, within the tobacco content. Sentiment analysis specified the most significant difference between EVP and tobacco advertisements were in the negative adjective component, in which the pre-EVP transcript represented 0.27, and the post-EVP at 1.13. WordStat content analysis demonstrated that pre-EVP tobacco messaging held more direct reference to the nicotine user, such as "natural born smoker" and "grow up fast." Common sentiment for post-EVP campaigns were more affective, framing EVP as "depression sticks" associated with depression and anxiety. A low level of content diversity leads to a three-dimensional recommendation: User health outcomes should be retained while messaging specific to the potential health risk of non-users ingesting vape residue should be promoted. Finally, additional messaging should verify that vaping is a financially demanding habit.
{"title":"A Comparative Analysis: Gen Z Tobacco vs. Vape Cessation Advertising Campaigns.","authors":"Allison Potter, Thomas S Mueller","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2519121","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2519121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing popularity of electronic vaping products (EVPs) or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) among youth and young adults has increased health risk concerns, with long-term implications. This qualitative analysis presents a comparison of messaging and motivators depicted in anti-tobacco advertising originating in the 1960s, with modern cessation advertising attempting to reduce the use of EVPs. Content analysis on 100 YouTube videos indicated only 6% of the EVP content framed the social consequences of nicotine usage, while 26% of the tobacco content depicted social consequences as a detrimental outcome. EVP content did not promote financial aspects or the health of others as motivators. Those motivators were depicted as low, but not completely absent, within the tobacco content. Sentiment analysis specified the most significant difference between EVP and tobacco advertisements were in the negative adjective component, in which the pre-EVP transcript represented 0.27, and the post-EVP at 1.13. WordStat content analysis demonstrated that pre-EVP tobacco messaging held more direct reference to the nicotine user, such as \"natural born smoker\" and \"grow up fast.\" Common sentiment for post-EVP campaigns were more affective, framing EVP as \"depression sticks\" associated with depression and anxiety. A low level of content diversity leads to a three-dimensional recommendation: User health outcomes should be retained while messaging specific to the potential health risk of non-users ingesting vape residue should be promoted. Finally, additional messaging should verify that vaping is a financially demanding habit.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"349-359"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144539966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-24DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2519129
Erin Ash, Emma Cox, Yiwei Xu, Brandon Boatwright
Although rates in the United States have declined significantly since the 1990s, the U.S. continues to have among the highest teen birth rates in the developed world, and recent policy changes in the U.S. warrant increased attention to pregnancy prevention efforts. This research employed a computational approach to analyze social media messages about a pregnancy prevention campaign with focus on analyzing responsibility attribution and frames that might lead to potential stigmatization. Original posts from the Power to Decide campaign's Twitter account posted from 2017 to 2022 (N = 7,770) were analyzed. Automated topic modeling identified five topics extracted from the data: access, encouraging conversations, pregnancy prevention programs, voter voice, and barriers. A subsequent thematic analysis was conducted to uncover sub-themes that provide insight into each topic. Results revealed an emphasis on social responsibility in the organization's social media messaging, reflecting the multiple stakeholders the organization targets in its social media messaging, which are not limited to the at-risk population (i.e. teens), and to whom structural solutions to teen pregnancy prevention can be promoted.
{"title":"Promoting Teen Pregnancy Prevention: An Analysis of Social Media Content Strategy Over Five Years.","authors":"Erin Ash, Emma Cox, Yiwei Xu, Brandon Boatwright","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2519129","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2519129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although rates in the United States have declined significantly since the 1990s, the U.S. continues to have among the highest teen birth rates in the developed world, and recent policy changes in the U.S. warrant increased attention to pregnancy prevention efforts. This research employed a computational approach to analyze social media messages about a pregnancy prevention campaign with focus on analyzing responsibility attribution and frames that might lead to potential stigmatization. Original posts from the Power to Decide campaign's Twitter account posted from 2017 to 2022 (<i>N</i> = 7,770) were analyzed. Automated topic modeling identified five topics extracted from the data: access, encouraging conversations, pregnancy prevention programs, voter voice, and barriers. A subsequent thematic analysis was conducted to uncover sub-themes that provide insight into each topic. Results revealed an emphasis on social responsibility in the organization's social media messaging, reflecting the multiple stakeholders the organization targets in its social media messaging, which are not limited to the at-risk population (i.e. teens), and to whom structural solutions to teen pregnancy prevention can be promoted.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"370-381"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2507676
Kazunori Fujimoto, Yuko Tanaka, Miwa Inuzuka
The spread of misinformation is a growing problem, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing multiple psychological interventions simultaneously is a potential approach to countering misinformation, but little is known about the effectiveness of combined interventions. Based on accuracy nudge theory, which posits that inattention to accuracy is the primary driver of misinformation sharing, we hypothesized that accuracy nudges and warning labels would complement each other to enhance their effectiveness in reducing the intention to share misinformation. To investigate, we conducted an online survey with a sample of 1,399 U.S. adults. The results showed that the effect of the accuracy nudge alone was significantly enhanced when combined with the warning label; however, the effect of the warning label alone was not significantly enhanced when combined with the accuracy nudge, suggesting that they do not share a mutually complementary relationship. These findings remained consistent regardless of whether the intervention effects were assessed using sharing intentions for fake headlines or the difference in sharing intentions between fake and real headlines. We discuss potential explanations for and practical implications of these findings.
{"title":"Joint Effect of Accuracy Nudge and Warning Label Interventions on Intention to Share COVID-19 Misinformation.","authors":"Kazunori Fujimoto, Yuko Tanaka, Miwa Inuzuka","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2507676","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2507676","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The spread of misinformation is a growing problem, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing multiple psychological interventions simultaneously is a potential approach to countering misinformation, but little is known about the effectiveness of combined interventions. Based on accuracy nudge theory, which posits that inattention to accuracy is the primary driver of misinformation sharing, we hypothesized that accuracy nudges and warning labels would complement each other to enhance their effectiveness in reducing the intention to share misinformation. To investigate, we conducted an online survey with a sample of 1,399 U.S. adults. The results showed that the effect of the accuracy nudge alone was significantly enhanced when combined with the warning label; however, the effect of the warning label alone was not significantly enhanced when combined with the accuracy nudge, suggesting that they do not share a mutually complementary relationship. These findings remained consistent regardless of whether the intervention effects were assessed using sharing intentions for fake headlines or the difference in sharing intentions between fake and real headlines. We discuss potential explanations for and practical implications of these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"255-266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144283549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2512923
Jacqueline N Gunning
(Chronic) Lyme disease/post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome ([C]LD/PTLDS) is a post-infection illness that remains contested, resulting in a divergent epistemological landscape (i.e., biomedicine versus alternative medicine). Consequently, (C)LD/PTLDS patients exhaust their (health)care options in their search for symptom relief, falling into cycles of starting and stopping (health)care-seeking. This meta-synthesis reviewed 13 qualitative interview studies representing the (health)care-seeking experiences of 216 (C)LD/PTLDS patients across five countries (i.e., United States, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, France) to examine how communication catalyzes patients' (health)care-seeking behaviors. This study proposes a model of (health)care (dis)engagement, identifying communication as a motor moving patients through (health)care-seeking both within and outside of biomedical models of care. This model extends our understanding of communicative (dis)enfranchisement processes and understandings of why patients disengage and reengage in healthcare-seeking behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications and future directions are discussed.
{"title":"Cycles of (Dis)engagement: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of the (Health)Care-Seeking Experiences of Patients with Chronic Symptoms Following Lyme Disease.","authors":"Jacqueline N Gunning","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2512923","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2512923","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(Chronic) Lyme disease/post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome ([C]LD/PTLDS) is a post-infection illness that remains contested, resulting in a divergent epistemological landscape (i.e., biomedicine versus alternative medicine). Consequently, (C)LD/PTLDS patients exhaust their (health)care options in their search for symptom relief, falling into cycles of starting and stopping (health)care-seeking. This meta-synthesis reviewed 13 qualitative interview studies representing the (health)care-seeking experiences of 216 (C)LD/PTLDS patients across five countries (i.e., United States, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, France) to examine how communication catalyzes patients' (health)care-seeking behaviors. This study proposes a model of (health)care (dis)engagement, identifying communication as a motor moving patients through (health)care-seeking both within and outside of biomedical models of care. This model extends our understanding of communicative (dis)enfranchisement processes and understandings of why patients disengage and reengage in healthcare-seeking behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications and future directions are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"303-319"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144283548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2504597
Gregory A Cranmer, Meghnaa Tallapragada, Travis R Bell, Samantha C Bureau, Megan Ashworth, Rikishi T Rey, Joseph McGlynn, Zac Johnson
This study employs the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to consider the efficacy of sport-related concussion (SRC) education materials among collegiate club sport athletes. In particular, variations in the targeted behavior (i.e. self-reporting SRC symptoms or other reporting SRC signs in teammates), format (i.e. digital text or video), and the presence of a personal narrative were considered. Data obtained from 443 club sport athletes in contact or semi-contact sports revealed several noteworthy findings: (a) subjective norms were the best predictor of self-reporting intentions and the only predictor of other-reporting intentions, (b) subjective norms were not directly influenced by education materials, and (c) video-based education materials were beneficial for promoting favorable self-reporting attitudes and subsequently self-reporting intentions. These findings have theoretical implications for TPB that highlight the role of specific health contexts and practical significance for sport and health practitioners seeking to promote SRC reporting.
{"title":"Using the Theory of Planned Behavior in Considering the Efficacy of Encountering Concussion Intervention Materials Online.","authors":"Gregory A Cranmer, Meghnaa Tallapragada, Travis R Bell, Samantha C Bureau, Megan Ashworth, Rikishi T Rey, Joseph McGlynn, Zac Johnson","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2504597","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2504597","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study employs the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to consider the efficacy of sport-related concussion (SRC) education materials among collegiate club sport athletes. In particular, variations in the targeted behavior (i.e. self-reporting SRC symptoms or other reporting SRC signs in teammates), format (i.e. digital text or video), and the presence of a personal narrative were considered. Data obtained from 443 club sport athletes in contact or semi-contact sports revealed several noteworthy findings: (a) subjective norms were the best predictor of self-reporting intentions and the only predictor of other-reporting intentions, (b) subjective norms were not directly influenced by education materials, and (c) video-based education materials were beneficial for promoting favorable self-reporting attitudes and subsequently self-reporting intentions. These findings have theoretical implications for TPB that highlight the role of specific health contexts and practical significance for sport and health practitioners seeking to promote SRC reporting.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"201-211"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144101778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-05-29DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2505788
Mandy L Dees, Janet S Carpenter, Krista Longtin, Deanna L Reising, Lucia D Wocial, Kristin N Levoy
Effective nurse-to-family communication is critical in intensive care units (ICUs), where high acuity and emotional complexity demand rapid trust-building and clear information exchange. This qualitative study explored ICU nurse leaders' perceptions of the COMFORT communication intervention, a structured, theory-driven model designed to enhance relationship-centered communication with families. Seventeen nurse leaders from a statewide health system participated in virtual focus groups assessing the COMFORT model's seven components of COMFORT: Connect, Options, Making Meaning, Family Caregiver, Openings, Relating, and Team for practicability, appeal, and relevance within ICU workflows. Directed content analysis revealed strong support for the Connect, Family Caregivers, and Openings components, emphasizing their foundational role in establishing rapport and supporting emotionally charged conversations. Components such as Relating and Options were perceived as less feasible due to time constraints and staff discomfort with sensitive discussions. Leaders recommended a phased, scaffolded implementation strategy using mobile technology to promote accessibility and just-in-time learning. Emphasis was placed on integrating training into onboarding and leveraging unit workflows to sustain communication practice over time. Findings suggest that nurse leaders view the COMFORT model as a practical and scalable framework to strengthen nurse-to-family communication. The study highlights the importance of tailoring communication interventions to clinical realities and leveraging leadership support to foster trust and engagement in critical care contexts.
{"title":"Nurse Leaders' Perceptions of the Use of the COMFORT Communication Training Intervention in Adult ICU Settings: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Mandy L Dees, Janet S Carpenter, Krista Longtin, Deanna L Reising, Lucia D Wocial, Kristin N Levoy","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2505788","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2505788","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective nurse-to-family communication is critical in intensive care units (ICUs), where high acuity and emotional complexity demand rapid trust-building and clear information exchange. This qualitative study explored ICU nurse leaders' perceptions of the COMFORT communication intervention, a structured, theory-driven model designed to enhance relationship-centered communication with families. Seventeen nurse leaders from a statewide health system participated in virtual focus groups assessing the COMFORT model's seven components of COMFORT: Connect, Options, Making Meaning, Family Caregiver, Openings, Relating, and Team for practicability, appeal, and relevance within ICU workflows. Directed content analysis revealed strong support for the Connect, Family Caregivers, and Openings components, emphasizing their foundational role in establishing rapport and supporting emotionally charged conversations. Components such as Relating and Options were perceived as less feasible due to time constraints and staff discomfort with sensitive discussions. Leaders recommended a phased, scaffolded implementation strategy using mobile technology to promote accessibility and just-in-time learning. Emphasis was placed on integrating training into onboarding and leveraging unit workflows to sustain communication practice over time. Findings suggest that nurse leaders view the COMFORT model as a practical and scalable framework to strengthen nurse-to-family communication. The study highlights the importance of tailoring communication interventions to clinical realities and leveraging leadership support to foster trust and engagement in critical care contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"237-245"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-02DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2025.2510002
Minhee Choi, Seonjun Kang, Yeongin Kim
This study examines agenda setting, framing, and the concepts of social media advocacy and mobilizing information related to the Violence Against Women Act through social network analysis and topic modeling of big data. Tweets on the Violence Against Women Act between 2019 and 2022 were examined. The network analysis showed the predictive effects of the issue ownership network on policy initiatives. The importance of addressing urgency, key policy details, and blame attribution related to an issue was also found. Mobilizing information through hashtags and hyperlinks was effective when they were symbolic and simple. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
{"title":"Understanding Social Media Advocacy: Advocacy Communication on the Violence Against Women Act.","authors":"Minhee Choi, Seonjun Kang, Yeongin Kim","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2510002","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10410236.2025.2510002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines agenda setting, framing, and the concepts of social media advocacy and mobilizing information related to the Violence Against Women Act through social network analysis and topic modeling of big data. Tweets on the Violence Against Women Act between 2019 and 2022 were examined. The network analysis showed the predictive effects of the issue ownership network on policy initiatives. The importance of addressing urgency, key policy details, and blame attribution related to an issue was also found. Mobilizing information through hashtags and hyperlinks was effective when they were symbolic and simple. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"267-277"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2026.2621225
Musa Touray, Ousman Bajinka, Lamarana Jallow
Effective health communication remains a critical challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where systemic barriers hinder disease prevention and healthcare equity. This evidence synthesis evaluates communication interventions through a comprehensive analysis of behavioral strategies, mobile health innovations, and community engagement approaches. Our findings reveal short message service (SMS)-based systems significantly improve malaria management outcomes, while demonstrating limited efficacy for chronic disease contexts. Behavioral interventions show particular promise for maternal care delivery and neglected tropical diseases, though implementation challenges persist due to workforce shortages and health system fragmentation. Emerging solutions include youth-focused digital platforms and intercultural competency training, though their potential remains constrained by persistent stigma and infrastructure limitations. The analysis identifies three key policy opportunities: (1) scaling interoperable mHealth tools with community feedback mechanisms, (2) institutionalizing cultural competency standards for health workers, and (3) integrating youth platforms with national HIV and maternal health programs. Successful models combine technological innovation with participatory design, as demonstrated by indigenous language adaptations and contextually-appropriate social media outreach. These findings provide policymakers with actionable pathways to strengthen health system resilience through coordinated investments in digital infrastructure and human-centered communication strategies. The evidence underscores that sustainable progress requires dual focus on technological capability building and policy reform to achieve equitable health outcomes across the region.
{"title":"Strengthening Health Science Communication in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Policy and Technology Perspective.","authors":"Musa Touray, Ousman Bajinka, Lamarana Jallow","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2026.2621225","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2026.2621225","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective health communication remains a critical challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where systemic barriers hinder disease prevention and healthcare equity. This evidence synthesis evaluates communication interventions through a comprehensive analysis of behavioral strategies, mobile health innovations, and community engagement approaches. Our findings reveal short message service (SMS)-based systems significantly improve malaria management outcomes, while demonstrating limited efficacy for chronic disease contexts. Behavioral interventions show particular promise for maternal care delivery and neglected tropical diseases, though implementation challenges persist due to workforce shortages and health system fragmentation. Emerging solutions include youth-focused digital platforms and intercultural competency training, though their potential remains constrained by persistent stigma and infrastructure limitations. The analysis identifies three key policy opportunities: (1) scaling interoperable mHealth tools with community feedback mechanisms, (2) institutionalizing cultural competency standards for health workers, and (3) integrating youth platforms with national HIV and maternal health programs. Successful models combine technological innovation with participatory design, as demonstrated by indigenous language adaptations and contextually-appropriate social media outreach. These findings provide policymakers with actionable pathways to strengthen health system resilience through coordinated investments in digital infrastructure and human-centered communication strategies. The evidence underscores that sustainable progress requires dual focus on technological capability building and policy reform to achieve equitable health outcomes across the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146093028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2026.2620496
Hella de Haas, Frank Marcinkowski, Sarah Kohler
The COVID-19 pandemic represented a turning point for many scientists, challenging established motives and attitudes toward public communication and raising new questions about their willingness to communicate publicly. During this time, scientists faced unprecedented scrutiny, leading to both recognition and maltreatment by the media, politicians and the public. This paper examines whether the pandemic experience altered scientists' rationale for engaging in health communication-specifically, whether perceived benefits (e.g. contributing to the public good) still outweigh potential costs (e.g. exposure to hostility). Based on a survey of N = 4,207 researchers at German universities and research institutions, our findings indicate that negative perceptions of how politicians and journalists treated scientists diminished their assessment of public communication as a rational endeavor, leading to decreased willingness to communicate, particularly regarding self-interested motives.
{"title":"Rethinking Rationality. Scientists' Perspectives on Health Communication After the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Hella de Haas, Frank Marcinkowski, Sarah Kohler","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2026.2620496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2026.2620496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic represented a turning point for many scientists, challenging established motives and attitudes toward public communication and raising new questions about their willingness to communicate publicly. During this time, scientists faced unprecedented scrutiny, leading to both recognition and maltreatment by the media, politicians and the public. This paper examines whether the pandemic experience altered scientists' rationale for engaging in health communication-specifically, whether perceived benefits (e.g. contributing to the public good) still outweigh potential costs (e.g. exposure to hostility). Based on a survey of <i>N</i> = 4,207 researchers at German universities and research institutions, our findings indicate that negative perceptions of how politicians and journalists treated scientists diminished their assessment of public communication as a rational endeavor, leading to decreased willingness to communicate, particularly regarding self-interested motives.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146085493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2026.2621231
Zehang Xie, Benjamin Benjy J Li
As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) increasingly contributes to the creation of news content, its ability to produce authoritative yet fabricated information raises pressing concerns for public trust and misinformation detection. Guided by the media evocation paradigm (MEP), this study examines how source credibility, content style, and communication channel influence users' ability to detect GAI-generated health fake news. A 2 × 2 × 3 mixed experimental design (N = 120) was employed, in which participants evaluated nine GAI-generated news items across television, newspapers, and social media. Results show that non-authoritative sources, rational framing, and social media platforms significantly enhanced detection accuracy. In contrast, authoritative sources and emotional content in traditional media environments reduced detection rates. A significant three-way interaction reveals that detection accuracy was highest when all three media cues aligned (non-authoritative source, rational style, and social media context). This study extends the MEP to the context of GAI-generated health news and highlights the importance of reflective media processing in how individuals assess information credibility. By identifying how specific combinations of media cues affect fake news detection, the findings offer practical implications for improving public resilience against health misinformation and inform the design of more effective communication strategies in GAI-mediated health contexts.
{"title":"Fake News Has a New Author, Can You Spot the Lie? Media Cues and the Detection of AI-Generated Health News Through the Lens of the Media Evocation Paradigm.","authors":"Zehang Xie, Benjamin Benjy J Li","doi":"10.1080/10410236.2026.2621231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2026.2621231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) increasingly contributes to the creation of news content, its ability to produce authoritative yet fabricated information raises pressing concerns for public trust and misinformation detection. Guided by the media evocation paradigm (MEP), this study examines how source credibility, content style, and communication channel influence users' ability to detect GAI-generated health fake news. A 2 × 2 × 3 mixed experimental design (<i>N</i> = 120) was employed, in which participants evaluated nine GAI-generated news items across television, newspapers, and social media. Results show that non-authoritative sources, rational framing, and social media platforms significantly enhanced detection accuracy. In contrast, authoritative sources and emotional content in traditional media environments reduced detection rates. A significant three-way interaction reveals that detection accuracy was highest when all three media cues aligned (non-authoritative source, rational style, and social media context). This study extends the MEP to the context of GAI-generated health news and highlights the importance of reflective media processing in how individuals assess information credibility. By identifying how specific combinations of media cues affect fake news detection, the findings offer practical implications for improving public resilience against health misinformation and inform the design of more effective communication strategies in GAI-mediated health contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12889,"journal":{"name":"Health Communication","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146051647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}