ABSTRACT
This collection of chapters includes contributions by some of the leading researchers in the field of communication about illness, consisting largely of communication specialists but also including a number of physicians, a psychologist, and a pharmacist. These carefully selected chapters represent the most comprehensive collection of information on this important subject that has yet been developed. Undoubtedly, discussing the foundational theoretical issues involved in explaining illness, while addressing the needs of specific, clearly defined subgroups in our society and presenting relevant anthropologic and cultural information about certain cocultural groups, their health beliefs, and communication needs, is an ambitious project. This volume outlines a number of theoretical models. More often, it deals with empirical studies of experiences with certain communication strategies in certain settings. Each chapter presents well-documented, general conclusions about communication issues and practical recommendations and also represents a different approach to communicating about illness.
