Analysing issues of medical communication during the COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has created new opportunities for serious reflection on the connotations of and interrelationships among the elements of medical communication, including communication content, communicators, communication channels, communication audience and communication effects. There are four types of medical communicators: medical workers, medical researchers, public health workers and medical humanities scholars. Online media have provided the main channel for medical communication. The effectiveness of medical communication is premised on the authenticity and reliability of the content. The uncertainty of information on COVID-19 medical risks and the status of communication of such information will affect the results of medical communication. Information overload will also weaken the effectiveness of medical communication.