Autor(es):
De Santiago, Isabel ; Magano, Raquel ; Nogueira, Paulo ; Ascenção, Raquel ; M., Azinhais Figueiras ; A., Cardoso Baptista ; Correia, João ; Fernandes, Pedro B. ; Garção, Pedro ; Gomes, Nuno ; Grencho R. ; F., Grilo ; Magalhães, Ana ; Mineiro M. ; AC., Pinto Faria ; C., Rocha e Castro ; Seiceira, Mariana ; Silva Santos S. ; Simões MI. ; Sousa Veloso M. ; Costa J.
Data: 2025
Origem: Jornal da Sociedade das Ciências Médicas de Lisboa
Assunto(s): comunicação em saúde, literacia em saúde; promoção da saúde, prevenção das doenças, população; health communication; health literacy; health promotion; disease prevention; population
Descrição
Background: Health communication is a fundamental component of public health promotion and is crucial for disseminating information, raising public awareness of healthy behaviours and managing health crises. In Portugal, health communication has evolved over the last few decades, adapting to new technologies and the growing need for accurate and accessible information. However, there are still significant challenges that impact its effectiveness, such as inequitable access, pervasive misinformation and over-reliance on digital platforms. Aim: This narrative review critically examines the current challenges shaping health communication in Portugal, identifies progression and limitations within existing practice, and proposes evidence-informed priorities for Health Communication in Portugal through current Challenges and Prospects’ improvement, grounded in recent data and emerging trends.Methods: A qualitative narrative analysis of peer-reviewed literature and policy documents, published between 2010 and 2025, was embraced.Results: Persistent barriers include social and digital inequities, misinformation and variable institutional capacity. However, health-literacy initiatives and data-driven campaigns show measurable progress.Conclusions: Tackling these barriers will require coordinated, inclusive and technologically enabled strategies that strengthen trust, promote equity and optimize health outcomes in Portugal.
Abstract: Health communication is a fundamental component of public health promotion and is crucial for disseminating information, raising public awareness of healthy behaviors and managing health crises. In Portugal, health communication has evolved over the last few decades, adapting to new technologies and the growing need for accurate and accessible information. However, there are still significant challenges that impact the effectiveness of this communication, especially with regard to equity in access to information, misinformation and the use of digital platforms. This call for proposals aims to discuss the current challenges facing health communication in Portugal, identify the advances and limitations of the current system and present future prospects for improving health communication in the country, based on recent data and emerging trends.
