Use of social media use in health communication: The Twitter use of the Turkish Ministry of Health during the pandemic

Health communication is constantly conducted on individual and corporate levels in all areas of life. While it encompasses all types of communications regarding health, its foundations lie in creating the right health behavior and attitude. Health authorities and institutions are responsible, in this sense, to relay information and appropriate behavior to individuals during times of crisis, as well as in daily life. This study analyzes health communication processes Turkish Ministry of Health conduced on Twitter, and the content shared there, during Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Health provided awareness raising messages in the health communication process it established on Twitter, where messages about the pandemic were frequent, in addition to other themes that are not directly related. Formed by the Ministry of Health between March 11th, 2020 and November 20th, 2020 via its social media account on Twitter, this type of communication is parallel with the theory, Diffusion of Innovations, ensuring active communication endeavors over social media during the time of the pandemic. Keywords: Health communication, social media, crisis communications, Covid-19