Beyond These Walls is an invaluable collection of foundational and cutting-edge readings from top scholars in
the rapidly growing area of health communication. This innovative anthology demonstrates that health care and communication
about health often take place at home, at work, at school, and in recreational and social settings--not just in
doctors' offices and hospitals.
Editor Linda C. Lederman has compiled essays that--through a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches--investigate
the following diverse topics:
The historical background of health communication
The development of patient-provider communication as a key object of study
The prevalence of health promotion and other persuasive messages in public and individual health
The importance of social support offered inside and outside of traditional medical experiences
The growing importance of media literacy, particularly in a rapidly expanding information age
The increasingly relevant relationship between health communication and the organizations that help construct
it
The future of health communication
Other subjects covered include the effects of socio-political and organizational structures on health communication,
the impact of the Internet, and narrative as a significant conceptual approach to understanding health and illness.
Individual chapter introductions draw students' attention to key points in each reading, and discussion questions--designed
to encourage critical thinking--follow each article. A unique topical matrix, which identifies relevant subject
categories in each chapter, places the research within the larger context of health communication.