Improving health communication for the benefit of society

Improving health communication for the benefit of society

The University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) in association with RMIT University Vietnam is hosting a workshop series to improve the communication skills of medical professionals, helping them to share authentic medical knowledge with the community.

The workshop series ‘Key Medical Opinion Leaders - Developing communication skills for medical professionals to create social impact’ is taking place with 10 sessions from July to October 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The program has attracted thousands of registrations and brings together speakers from RMIT University Vietnam, the Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam, and VNU-HCM University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

This initiative aims to provide doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical staff across the healthcare sector with the knowledge and skills to influence the digital society.

Group photoThe workshop series is taking place from July to October 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: UMC)

According to the organisers, unscientific, misleading and harmful information is becoming more widespread in the field of healthcare. That’s why medical professionals should proactively share authentic knowledge and medical values ​​with the community.

Ms Do Thi Nam Phuong, Head of Communication Center at UMC, said: "Medical professionals not only cure people of illnesses but also have the responsibility to orient and raise awareness about disease prevention and healthy lifestyles. When a doctor has the ability to inspire, they can positively impact thousands of people, encouraging them to apply preventive measures, thereby reducing the burden of disease in society."

To do that, an essential requirement is to improve the communication and influencing skills of medical professionals. At the same time, the communications departments of medical facilities need to streamline their operations.

Ms Do Thi Nam Phuong, Head of Communications Center at UMC, delivered a speech on behalf of the organisers.Ms Do Thi Nam Phuong, Head of Communications Center at UMC, delivered a speech on behalf of the organisers. (Photo: UMC)

The series of 10 workshops covers diverse aspects, including an overview of digital transformation in healthcare, ways to amplify the power of communications through public relations and internal communications, and how to resolve health communication crises.

According to Dr Nguyen Van Thang Long, Associate Program Manager of Professional Communication at RMIT Vietnam, communication is not just about promoting services, but also about forging mutual understanding.

For example, public communications could provide updates on the day-to-day activities of doctors, nurses, patients, and support staff, turning “dry” information into stories that are published in a timely and accurate manner.

“Meanwhile, internal communications are necessary to update processes, professional standards, and relevant stories. The aim is to increase the quality of medical examination and treatment as well as bring joy to work. Communication also involves being prepared to deal with possible crises,” Dr Long said.

Dr Ai-Phuong Hoang, RMIT Senior Program Manager of Digital Marketing, spoke at a workshop.Dr Ai-Phuong Hoang, RMIT Senior Program Manager of Digital Marketing, spoke at a workshop. (Photo: UMC)

Within the workshop series, experts from RMIT Vietnam's Bachelor of Digital Marketing program discussed ways to position and build brands in the healthcare industry, how to optimise touch points and content on digital communications channels, and methods to create and deploy digital health content.

Speakers from the Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities delve into the applications of storytelling to effectively convey medical knowledge, AI technology to create medical content, as well as smart devices to capture photos and videos for digital content creation.

Dr Ai-Phuong Hoang, Senior Program Manager of Digital Marketing at RMIT Vietnam, said: "Many Vietnamese people, when having someone fall ill in their family, often ask themselves, 'Do I know anyone who is a doctor to consult about this?’ Doctors sharing knowledge has become a familiar culture. People need information, and doctors are always willing to help. As the knowledge partner for the workshop series, we hope to contribute to helping medical professionals become more confident in using digital tools to connect with communities and share knowledge, especially as Vietnam is transforming into a digital nation."

Follow the program's Facebook page here.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

20 August 2024

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