April 30, 2013 Seminar

April 30, 2013 Seminar: Seeing our Way to Better Health:
Visual Health Communication and Skin Cancer.

 BMC and the Department of Biology welcome

Jennifer McWhirter
Ph.D. Candidate (ABD), School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
A candidate for the research-stream position in Biomedical Communications/Biology.

April 30, 2013
Council Chambers, DV 3130
11 am to 12 pm

Abstract

Visual Health Communication involves the way visual images (e.g., illustrations or photographs) are used to convey information about health and disease in order to improve people’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to health. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in North America, affecting one in five Canadians in their lifetime. This research seminar explores how Visual Health Communication can be used to inform patients and the general public about health risks around skin cancer, shape attitudes about risk factors, increase preventative behaviours, and aid with early detection of the disease. Effective types of imagery, relevant health and medical outcomes, and practical applications will be discussed. By improving the way we communicate to the public about skin cancer – namely, by harnessing the power of visual persuasion and visual learning – we can work more effectively towards reducing both morbidity and mortality from this largely preventable disease.

For more information, please contact:

Maeve Doyle
Tel 905 569 4849
maeve.doyle@utoronto.ca