International Students, University Health Centers, and Memorable Messages About Health

Authors

  • Heather J. Carmack James Madison University
  • Shireen Bedi Northern Virginia Community College
  • Sarah N. Heiss University of Vermont

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v6i1.481

Keywords:

communication, international students, university health centers, memorable messages

Abstract

International students entering US universities often experience a variety of important socialization messages. One important message is learning about and using the US health system. International students often first encounter the US health system through their experiences with university health centers. The authors explore the memorable messages international students receive about using university health centers. Participants identified three important messages: (a) the insurance imperative, (b) triaging your own health, and (c) passing the TB “test”. These messages help to socialize international students, but also create confusion because of ambiguity and assumption of previous knowledge.

Author Biographies

  • Heather J. Carmack, James Madison University

    HEATHER J. CARMACK, PhD, is an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University. She received her PhD in Communication from Ohio University. Her research interests include communicating about patient safety and organizational policies and practices that impact health decision-making.

  • Shireen Bedi, Northern Virginia Community College

    SHIREEN BEDI, MA, is an instructor in the Department of Communication Studies and Theater Arts at Northern Virginia Community College. She received her MA in Communication from Missouri State University. Her research interests include intercultural communication in healthcare. 

  • Sarah N. Heiss, University of Vermont

    SARAH N. HEISS, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics at the University of Vermont. She received her PhD in Communication from Ohio University. Her research interests explore how communication practices shape and are shaped by how publics make sense of health risks and consumption. 

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Published

2016-01-01

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Research Articles (English)

License

All published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Unported License.

How to Cite

International Students, University Health Centers, and Memorable Messages About Health. (2016). Journal of International Students, 6(1), 52-72. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v6i1.481