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Health Communication is a growing field at the University of Delaware, and a great example of that is the work currently being done by Professor Amy Bleakley.
One of Bleakley's current research projects focuses on Alzheimer's disease and the need for more diversity in clinical trials. She works to find ways to increase participation in the trials by men and other diverse groups, as currently it has been found that 80 percent of volunteers are white women. Diversity in Alzheimer's research is important in order to reflect the population, not just one specific social group.
Another example of Bleakley's work is her research surrounding the way sports drink companies market their product, and how that affects adolescent beliefs toward the drinks. This research is supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
Other health communication researchers in department include Kami Silk, the department chair, as well as John Crowley, assistant professor of communication. Silk has managed research in topics such as breast cancer, health practices among adolescent mothers, and suicide prevention. Crowley's research looks at the relationship between communication and physiology, as well as health-related outcomes associated with discriminatory messages.
For more information regarding Bleakley's work and the growing field of health communication, take a look at the full article: Promoting Healthy Behavior
