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Introduction

The field of health communication covers communication in medical care, including public health. The term is commonly used overseas for numerous specialized courses in medical schools, especially in the United States. Research and education in health communication focuses on the below issues in analyzing and evaluating the present situation of communication in healthcare settings and its future modes of existing. For greater specifics, please refer to the graduate school lectures and practice sessions in education. Please also refer to the commentary by the Japanese Association of Health Communication.

  1. Providing the public with medical-related information (such as clinical results, treatment outcomes, medical guidelines, research results, and clinical trial registrations) from medical professionals (physicians, medical institutions, and academic societies)
  2. Distributing research and clinical information related to medical professionals (from sources such as magazines, academic societies, and the Internet)
  3. Dissemination and exchange of medical-related information by medical consumers, including patients
  4. Communicating medical-related information to the public through the media
  5. All the above interactions along with mutual exchange

History

Research and education of health communication has lagged in Japan. The first specialized organization for those purposes was founded within the Kyushu University School of Healthcare Administration in April 2007. The second academic organization was established within The University of Tokyo.

The teaching faculty consists of one professor, one project lecturer, one assistant professor, and two project assistant professors in the field of health communication, Department of Public Health (MPH), Epidemiology & Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.

These faculty members also belong to the Department of Medical Informatics & Economics, Division of Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo (doctoral program) and Department of Public Health Information, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo (doctoral program).

Major Course Degree Period of course Entry requirements
Public Health Professional
Master's
Master of Public Health 1 or 2 years, full-time
(depending on
work experience)
Graduate of a 4-year university or equivalent
Social Medicine Doctoral Doctor of Philosophy
(Medicine)
4 years, full-time Graduate of a medical school
Master’s degree graduate for other areas of study
Health Sciences
and Nursing
Doctoral Doctor of Philosophy
(Health Sciences)
3 years, full-time Master’s degree in a relevant area of study

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