Qualitative Health Communication
https://tidsskrift.dk/qhc
The Editorial Boarden-USQualitative Health Communication2597-1417<p>Articles submitted to Qualitative Health Communication should not be submitted to or published in other journals. <br />Articles published in Qualitative Health Communication may be used (downloaded) and reused (distributed, copied, cited) for non-commercial purposes with reference to the authors and publication host.</p> <p>For all publications published in the first four issues, i.e. 1(1), 1(2), 2(1) and 3(1), copyright is shared between the author and QHC. For all future publications, the author is the sole copyright holder.</p>Multimodal discourse analysis in health communication: sketching out the field
https://tidsskrift.dk/qhc/article/view/148808
<p><strong>Background:</strong> Multimodal discourse approaches have only recently gained consistent prominence in health communication research. The theoretical and methodological underpinnings of each approach, and their contribution to the health communication domain, require further articulation. <strong>Aim</strong>: This article aims to sketch out the field, showcasing the methodological strengths and limitations of multimodal discourse approaches, and their potential contribution to health research. <strong>Methods</strong>: The article reviews four established and emerging multimodal discourse approaches used in health communication research. A comparative lens is taken, scrutinising each approach in terms of its theoretical underpinnings, methodological implications, and analytical constraints. <strong>Findings</strong>: Key points of convergence and divergence among the approaches are identified, with all approaches sharing a commitment to investigating multiple modes and their relationships in creating meaning within health research. The main point of differentiation lies in what each approach considers the unit of analysis: Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Analysis focuses on semiotic resources, Mediated Discourse Analysis on action, Conversation Analysis on conversational order, and Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis on power and social structures. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Future directions include a focus on materiality, the integration of emerging technologies, and the development of new analytical tools for investigating crisis communication. All these can offer deeper insights into health communication and enhance professional practices and patient outcomes.</p>Polina Mesinioti
Copyright (c) 2025 Polina Mesinioti
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2025-01-302025-01-304121610.7146/qhc.148808Approachability features and their application as a qualitative method of analysis for clinical healthcare interactions and ethnographic interviews
https://tidsskrift.dk/qhc/article/view/148827
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Effective communication is crucial for positive health outcomes in clinical healthcare interactions. Patients value friendly, approachable, and informative clinicians who facilitate open communication and shared decision-making. Clinicians can use discourse features to influence how approachable patients and other clinicians believe them to be. <strong>Aims</strong>: To introduce and define the concept of approachability features as a qualitative analytical framework for investigating healthcare interactions and ethnographic interviews and to guide health communication researchers in their application. <strong>Methods</strong>: Drawing on existing literature on interpersonal pragmatics, rapport management, and healthcare communication to define and delineate the scope of approachability features, a step-by-step approach is provided for researchers to use and adapt the framework to suit diverse contextual and analytical needs. Two illustrative examples from existing studies are briefly described. <strong>Findings</strong>: The approachability features framework provides a versatile tool to gain insights into common discursive patterns used in healthcare interactions and to interpret their impact on the relationships between interlocutors. Researchers need to consider the importance of context as well as language and cultural adaptations. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: By introducing the approachability features framework, this paper contributes to the growing body of research on effective healthcare communication. It offers a structured, evidence-based analytical approach with applications across various health settings and topics.</p>Mary Dahm
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria R. Dahm
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2025-01-302025-01-3041173610.7146/qhc.148827Using the vignette technique to research health communication in linguistically and culturally discordant settings
https://tidsskrift.dk/qhc/article/view/150075
<p><strong>Background:</strong> The linguistic diversity of today’s societies presents challenges to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their linguistic background, can access and understand health information. The vignette technique offers an approach to exploring these challenges and collecting rich data through contextualized scenarios. <strong>Aim</strong>: To explore the use of the vignette technique for data collection in linguistically and culturally diverse healthcare settings involving migrants. <strong>Methods</strong>: To contextualize the vignette technique, the article reviews studies that have employed this method for data collection, and illustrates its application through a study that used vignette-based interviews. <strong>Results</strong>: In the first part of the paper, the rapid scoping review identified recurring topics, research approaches and measured constructs in vignette-based studies. In the second part, through the “Maria” vignette, the paper further illustrated key methodological considerations for applying the vignette technique in future research. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: While using the vignette technique is not novel in healthcare communication, its use in the context of qualitative interviews with migrants can prove helpful in eliciting individuals’ stories and experiences in high-risk and sensitive contexts.</p>Susana Valdez
Copyright (c) 2025 Susana Valdez
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2025-01-302025-01-3041375310.7146/qhc.150075Managing conversations about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Perspectives from females living with a late diagnosis
https://tidsskrift.dk/qhc/article/view/149815
<p><strong>Background:</strong> Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remains underidentified, under-diagnosed, and under-treated in females, possibly due to differences in the way ADHD is experienced and the ways in which healthcare professionals communicate and interact with females with ADHD. <strong>Aim:</strong> This study aimed to explore the diagnostic process and the emotional experience of living with a late diagnosis of ADHD. <strong>Methods:</strong> Semi-structured interviews of nine females, aged between 23 and 55, were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. <strong>Results:</strong> Analysis revealed four themes: earlier effects of undiagnosed ADHD; emotional toll of living with ADHD; navigating diagnostic processes and its aftermath; hope and support post-diagnosis. These encapsulated the prediagnosis communication difficulties and emotional toll of managing ADHD. With diagnostic criteria not always encompassing the female experience of ADHD, participants experienced difficulties initially identifying and communicating ADHD-related symptoms, alongside deficits in post-diagnostic support. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> To improve outcomes and better meet the needs of females with ADHD, consideration must be given to early markers of ADHD which encompass internal experiences of symptoms and how these might be communicated to health professionals. Conversely, professionals offering ADHD-specific postdiagnostic support and signposting ADHD female-specific support groups could enhance wellbeing for females with ADHD.</p>Chiana KhindeySaskia KevilleAmanda Ludlow
Copyright (c) 2025 Chiana Khindey, Saskia Keville, Amanda Ludlow
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2025-01-302025-01-3041547310.7146/qhc.149815Editorial
https://tidsskrift.dk/qhc/article/view/153083
Matilde Nisbeth BrøggerJane Ege Møller
Copyright (c) 2025 Matilde Nisbeth Brøgger, Jane Ege Møller
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
2025-01-302025-01-30411110.7146/qhc.153083