Abstract
This chapter examines the current state of health communication research, reviews the development of this area of inquiry, and suggests fruitful directions for advancing health communication inquiry in light of the communication revolution developing within the modern health care system. Particular attention is paid to the important role of information in health care and health promotion, power inequities within the health care system, and biases in health communication research. Rich opportunities for conducting health communication research that can increase public health literacy, enhance health information quality, improve health message design and delivery, and generally promote public health are suggested.

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