[Communication in health]

Abstract

Communication in health is an emerging and constantly evolving topic, taking more and more new aspects and concepts over time. The objective of this work is to present, through a narrative review, the most important aspects of communication in health field. Communication in health traditionally is known as interpersonal communication between health care workers and patients. In reality, it also includes the community one with the population (e.g., through the media), as well as with users of health service (e.g., complaint management). Moreover, it promotes both social responsibility and citizen's empowerment because communication directs the institutions, the third sector and the profit companies towards the values of social cohesion and sustainable development. Adequate communication strategies can contribute to reduce the environmental, cultural and socio-economic barriers that hinder the knowledge and the conscious adoption of behaviours that promote health.