INTERACTIVE HEALTH NARRATIVES: IMPLEMENTING DIALOGIC COMMUNICATION FOR CHINESE MIGRANT WORKERS

Abstract

This study examines the potential of dialogic communication in health communication between Chinese migrant workers and government health officials. The study applies Kent and Taylor's model of dialogic theory as an analytical framework to examine the following: How desirable dialogic communication is to both Chinese migrant workers and government health officials. How dialogic the communication between the two may become. What factors, if any, may restrain the process. The study finds that dialogic communication is desirable to both Chinese migrant workers and government health officials. However, the communication between the two is not always dialogic. The study identifies several factors that may restrain the process, including: The cultural tradition of paternalism in China. The lack of trust between Chinese migrant workers and government health officials. The different perspectives of the two groups on STDs.

The study concludes that dialogic communication is a promising approach to health communication between Chinese migrant workers and government health officials. However, more efforts are needed to overcome the challenges and realize the full potential of dialogic communication