Interpersonal Health Communication CMST 416, Fall 2018University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Course Section: Sec 001 Meeting Time and Place: Humanities Building Room 113, 11:10 – 12:25 pm Tuesday and Thursday Course Credit Hours: 3 credit hours

Faculty Contact InformationMark Prather, Ph.D.jprathe1@utk.edu Office Hours: Following every class or by appointment

Course Description/Information: Interpersonal communication in health care settings. This course will provide the student with a general grounding in health communication theories and current practices both in the interpersonal and mass media contexts. In a group setting, the student will be given an opportunity to develop a campaign (or other solution) to improve health literacy among public health users for a possible real-world application.

Value Proposition: The class will introduce the student to several career opportunities in the field of health communications, introduce the student to current ‘best practices’ in health message design, and provide the student with a rudimentary understanding how communication affects all aspects of health care delivery.

Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives: Describe patients’ and caregivers’ perspectives. Identify and discuss the types of diversity among patients and caregivers Define the role of social support in maintaining and health and coping with illness. Comment knowledgeably on public health and crisis communication Identify the key steps in planning, implementing, and assessing health promotion campaigns.

1

Programmatic Outcomes/Department Goals:The School of Communication Studies aspires to achieve excellence by becoming a global leader for innovative learning, scholarship, and societal engagement with a particular emphasis on interpersonal and organizational communication.

Course Communications:Course materials and grades will be posted in Canvas currently accessible at online.utk.edu

Emails are the best way to reach the instructor who checks his email several times a day. Exceptions to this may be if a community event such as a large epidemic or natural emergency is happening in the community (or nearby communities) and the instructor is expected to respond (jprathe1@utk.edu). Email sent after 10 pm will be answered the following morning (What can I say? I am old and need to sleep).

For technical issues, contact the OIT HelpDesk via phone (865) 974-9900 or online at http://help.utk.edu/.

How to Be Successful in This Course:Student’s Responsibility

o Be prepared for all classeso Be respectful of otherso Actively contribute to the learning activities in classo Abide by the UT Honor Code

Instructor’s Responsibilityo Be prepared for all classeso Evaluate all fairly and equallyo Be respectful of all studentso Create and facilitate meaningful learning activitieso Behave according to University codes of conduct

Texts/Resources/Materials:Du Pre’, Athena. Communicating about health: Current issues and perspectives (5th edition). New York: Oxford University Press.

Course Resources: Besides the text, handouts and directions to free, online training modules and other tools will be made available on UT Canvas.

Course Requirements, Assessments, and Evaluations:Class attendance is mandatory but two absences are allowed for any reasons. More than 2 absences will result in a 1% reduction in your final grade for every day you miss (for any reason). You do not have to provide a formal excuse (such as proof of illness) except on the two exam dates and the day your final project is presented by your group.

You are required to read the chapters assigned before class to give us time for discussion and exercises.Final grades will be earned as follows:

A = 100-93; A- = 92-90; B+ = 89-87; B = 86-83; B- = 82-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-73;

2

C- = 72-70; D+ = 69-67; D = 66-63; D- = 62-60; F = 59 or below.Basis for grades Midterm exam (25 pts) and Final exam (25pts) TF, Multiple choice, Short answer (taken in class with

no notes/books). You will have three reflection papers to complete totaling 15 points (5 points each). These will follow

a prescribed format. Participation in class (10 pts). Students are expected to complete their reading assignments before class

and participate in class discussions with a purpose toward learning rather than working on other assignments, texting, talking, or sleeping.

Group Project – Improving health communications in public health (25 pts)1. Identify a communication problem related to public health2. Develop the tools to correct the problem (these can be just ‘on paper’ or

storyboards)3. Discuss how your solution may be evaluated.4. Discuss potential issues with your solution (costs, privacy concerns, etc.)5. Contribute to a 10-15 minute group presentation at the end of the semester

(Note: You will be given class time to work on your group project)Course Feedback:

Midterm and final grades, written feedback on reflection papers, written review of final project presentation and materials, and the instructor will respond to questions on the midterm and final. Instructor will answer any questions about the course requirements or the course content by email within 24 hours.

University Policies:

Dear Student,

The purpose of this Campus Syllabus is to provide you with important information that is common across courses at UT. Please observe the following policies and familiarize yourself with the university resources listed below. At UT, we are committed to providing you with a high-quality learning experience. I want to wish you the best for a successful and productive semester.

- Dr. David C. Manderscheid, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor

Academic Integrity:“An essential feature of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. As a student of the university, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.”

University Civility Statement:Civility is genuine respect and regard for others: politeness, consideration, tact, good manners, graciousness, cordiality, affability, amiability and courteousness. Civility enhances academic freedom and

3

integrity, and is a prerequisite to the free exchange of ideas and knowledge in the learning community. Our community consists of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and campus visitors. Community members affect each other’s well-being and have a shared interest in creating and sustaining an environment where all community members and their points of view are valued and respected. Affirming the value of each member of the university community, the campus asks that all its members adhere to the principles of civility and community adopted by the campus: http://civility.utk.edu/.

Disability Services:“Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at (865) 974-6087 in 100 Dunford Hall to document their eligibility for services. ODS will work with students and faculty to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.”

WELLNESS – http://counselingcenter.utk.edu/ and http://wellness.utk.edu/

The Student Counseling Center is the university’s primary facility for personal counseling, psychotherapy, and psychological outreach and consultation services.

The Center for Health Education and Wellness manages 974-HELP, the distressed student

protocol, case management, the Sexual Assault Response Team, and the Threat Assessment Task

Force.

Your Role in Improving Teaching and Learning Through Course Assessment:At UT, it is our collective responsibility to improve the state of teaching and learning. During the semester, you may be requested to assess aspects of this course either during class or at the completion of the class. You are encouraged to respond to these various forms of assessment as a means of continuing to improve the quality of the UT learning experience.

Key Campus Resources for Students: Center for Career Development (Career counseling and resources; HIRE-A-VOL job search system) Course Catalogs (Listing of academic programs, courses, and policies) Hilltopics (Campus and academic policies, procedures and standards of conduct) OIT HelpDesk (865) 974-9900 Schedule of Classes/Timetable Student Health Center (visit the site for a list of services) Student Success Center (Academic support resources) Undergraduate Academic Advising (Advising resources, course requirements, and major guides) University Libraries (Access to library resources, databases, course reserves, and services)

4

Course Readings and AssignmentsThe reading assignments are listed below. There may be additional reading materials posted on Canvas for which you will be responsible. Try to have all readings completed by the appropriate class date.

A Context for Health CommunicationsAugust 23, 28, 30Read chapters 1 Introduction and chapter 2 History and current issues

Roles of Patients and Professional CaregiversSep 4, 6, 11Read chapter 3 Patient-caregiver communication, chapter 4 patient perspectives, and chapter 5 Care-giver perspectivesThurs Sep 13 No class –Instructor is attending a conference

Social and Cultural IssuesSep 18, 20,Read Chapter 6 Diversity in health care and chapter 7 Cultural conceptions of health and illness

Sep 25 Midterm Exam Review bring your favorite (non-alcoholic beverage)Sep 27 MIDTERM EXAM Chapters1-7-in class; 25% of your final grade

Oct 2 No classOct 4 Fall Break no class

Coping and Health ResourcesOct 9, 11Read Chapters 8 Social support and chapter 9 ehealth, mhealth, and telemedicine

Oct 16 guest speaker: Angela Allred, Public Health Educator, Emergency Preparedness, Knox County Health Dept.

Oct 18 guest speaker: Karen Pershing, Executive Director, Metro Drug Coalition

Marketing and Public Relations in Health Care OrganizationsOct 23Read Chapter 10 Marketing and PR, Crisis Management– Only read pp. 253-262 about marketing and PR, Crisis Management

Media, Public Health Crises, Health CampaignsOct 25, 30, Nov 1 Read Chapter 11 Health images in the media, Chapter 12-Public health and crises Chapter 13 Planning health promotion campaigns, and chapter 14 Designing and implementing health campaigns

- Nov 6 Final Exam Review (Bring your favorite non-alcoholic beverage), also the introduction to the group project.

Nov 8 FINAL EXAM Chapters 8-14-in class; 25% of your final grade

Nov 13, 15, 20 Group Project Time

5

Nov 22 Thanksgiving!!!

Nov 27 Group Project TimeNov 29 GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS Dec 4 GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS (last day to turn in any assignments)

(The class will probably not meet after Dec 4th unless it becomes necessary to use the final exam time)

Review of Grades:

Reflection Paper 1 Speaker #1 5 ptsReflection Paper 2 Speaker #2 5 ptsReflection Paper 3 Group project 5 ptsMidterm Exam 25 ptsFinal Exam 25 ptsGroup Project 25 ptsClass participation 10 ptsTotal 100 pts.

A = 100-93; A- = 92-90; B+ = 89-87; B = 86-83; B- = 82-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-73; C- = 72-70; D+ = 69-67; D = 66-63; D- = 62-60; F = 59 or below.

6