Advancing Health Communication: From Behavioural Influence to Informed Decision-Making

The event titled “Developments in Health Communication – Between Behavioural Influence and Informed Decision-Making”, took place on October 8, 2026 at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. It was organised by Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD), the Harding Centre for Risk Literacy and Brandenburg Medical School.

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Betsch, Professor of Health Communication at the University of Erfurt and Director of the Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour (IPB), opened the event with a keynote address on current developments and challenges in health communication.

She emphasised that health-related behaviour is shaped not only by individual decisions but also by social, cultural and structural conditions. This is particularly evident in the relationship between human and planetary health: challenges such as climate change, heatwaves and antimicrobial resistance cannot be addressed through changes in individual behaviour alone.

Betsch also introduced the Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) approach, which supports the development of people-centred, participatory, equitable and evidence-based interventions. Examples from vaccination communication and prevention demonstrated how scientific evidence can inform initiatives tailored to specific target groups.

Drawing on the latest findings from the Science Barometer 2026, participants discussed expectations, opportunities and challenges in health communication. Through group work and plenary discussion, they developed ideas for its further advancement. The results will feed into the WiD Perspectives, a publication series that brings together expert viewpoints and recommendations.

The dialogue offered valuable insights into how health communication can empower people to make informed decisions while taking account of the wider social conditions that shape health and behaviour.

Photos: Simon Esser / Wissenschaft im Dialog