ABSTRACT
This chapter explores health communication or the influence of communication on one's health. The theories and concepts in this chapter vary a great deal in terms of their theoretical approaches and outcomes. This is a result of the theoretical and practical nature of health communication as a field of study and practice. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a modified version of the theory of reasoned action (TRA). The TRA proposed that any persuasive intervention, like a health message, attempting to alter behaviors must focus on an individual's beliefs. Education and awareness of the issues play a vital role in determining the likelihood of an individual registering as an organ donor. A living donor is someone who is alive and healthy enough to donate an organ to someone in need, while a deceased donor is anyone who agrees to have all of his or her vital organs donated and used for transplantation.
