*CFP* "THE BREAKTHROUGH OF DIGITAL HEALTH: COMMUNICATION AS THE CATALYST OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF CARE", SPECIAL ISSUE, THE CATALAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION & CULTURAL STUDIES

Healthcare systems have gone through an ongoing transformation over the last decade, particularly in terms of digitization (Lupton, 2018). Multiple concepts like digitized health, e-Health, telemedicine, online health services, virtual hospital or infomedicine show both theoretical and practical diversity and advancements towards the transformation of care. At the individual level, for example, digital health has changed the way patients access health-related information (e.g. by using social media), transforming the nature of care these individuals receive from their health professionals (Lovari, 2017; Thackeray et al., 2012). 

From a media perspective, digitization has also modified the delivery and organization of care through the promotion of apps and other resources for the self-management of health (WHO, 2019). In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic can in many ways be considered a transforming moment for digital health, as governments and organizations from across the globe are rapidly utilising information and communication technologies towards reducing the spread of the virus. Despite the potential of these processes of digitization, the increasing use of health technologies is also generating debates around the concepts of privacy, surveillance or governance.

In the discussion on new medical and information technology, there are both positive expectations and serious doubts for digitization. The online spread of health-related misinformation and disinformation has concerned health professionals, yet digital technologies and communication channels create new opportunities to improve the interaction between individuals, professionals and health organisations to develop healthcare services in order to reduce public healthcare expenses (Gonzalez-Polledo, 2018; Lupton, 2018; Sosnowy, 2014). In view of this situation, digitized communication is becoming one of the crucial elements to improve the future of care and health promotion (Rimal & Lapinski, 2009). This special issue explores how these processes of communication can act as the catalyst of a successful digitization of healthcare. In this new, digitized healthcare circumstances, health communication scholars and professionals are invited to analyse and discuss the transforming role of communication in medicine, healthcare and health promotion. This special issue invites both theoretical and empirical oriented health communication scholars to participate in this ongoing discussion.


Topics

The aim of this special issue is to provide a forum to discuss the different roles of communication in the context of the transition towards digital health or (ill)health. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• new forms of patient engagement, decision-making and patient-provider interactions (e.g. e-consultations)
• the impact of digitization on the workplace and practices of health professionals
• methodologies to design innovative and people-centered care interventions
• the role of health literacy, promotion and education in the context of digitization (e.g. social media)
• using big data for the governance and management of health (e.g. apps)
• the effect of digitization on the accessibility and quality of care
• digitization of healthcare communication
• theoretical perspectives on digitalization of health communication
• ethics of digital (ill)health

Research articles should be 6,000 words in length, while Viewpoint articles should not exceed 3,000 words (including notes and references). The editors will carry out a preliminary selection of abstracts.


Publication Schedule

15 October 2020: deadline for abstracts

Abstract (maximum 500 words), title and selected biography, along with a 150-200 word author’s short bio (including your affiliation and contact information) should be sent to Anna Sendra (asendrat@uottawa.ca; msannasendra@gmail.com).

30 October 2020: Editors’ decision on selected abstracts

31 January 2021: deadline for full articles

Full articles, based on the selected abstracts, should be submitted on the Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies web platform by 31 January 2021, following the Author Guidelines.

1 May 2021: final decision letters

Fall 2021: issue published

All selected contributions will be subjected to double blind peer review, except for the Viewpoint articles, which will be evaluated by the Editors.