DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Reduction of Cancer Risk and Disparities, Co-Leader

DF/HCC Associations

Director, Health Communication
Member, Center Scientific Council

Lab Website

Viswanath Lab Website

Research Abstract

Dr. Viswanath’s research interest is in studying the role of communication in health promotion. He has done research in mass mediated health communication in both national and international contexts with a particular focus on communication inequities and health disparities.

His research focuses on three related areas. The first area examines the reasons and implications of limited access to information technologies to public health and in the development of strategies to enhance access among the underserved to cancer related health information. A second area studies how news media, specifically journalists play a role in covering medical and health news, the effects of such reportage on knowlege and behaviors of the audience in an attempt to build a bridge betwen the worlds of medicine and journalism. A third area of research examines the effects of news and entertainment on cancer knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in order to use these findings to design effective messages about cancer risk and prevention.

Publications

• Viswanath K, Blake KD, Meissner HI, Saiontz NG, Mull C, Freeman CS, Hesse B, Croyle RT.Occupational practices and the making of health news: a national survey of US Health and medical science journalists.J Health Commun 2008 Dec;13(8):759-77.
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• Viswanath K, Kreuter MW.Health Disparities, Communication Inequalities, and eHealth.Am J Prev Med 2007 May;32(5 Suppl):S131-3.
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• Viswanath K.Science and society: the communications revolution and cancer control.Nat Rev Cancer 2005 Oct;5(10):828-35.
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