Background: In the last two decades, the concept of health has gained such a wide range of applications that it can no longer be defined or explained solely on the basis of traditional, conventional or classical theories.Health is now one of the areas of interest in the interdisciplinary field.One of these areas is media and health, because the media can be effective in making the audience smarter and trying to change the behavior of citizens in the field of health.This article tries to address the quality of the success of this issue [media and health] with a critical-social approach and Habermas theory.The theory of communication and dual interaction between the universe and the Habermas system has been used to answer the main question of the article namely: "Has the media been useful in the improvement of health of citizens?" Methods: First, the key concepts of Habermas' theoretical approach were explained; Then, using Habermas concepts and ideas, health issues that are empirically researchable and have a strong impact are identified, and research questions are answered. Results: In fact, research in the field of health indicates the special role and importance of this field in the continuation of individual and social life of the human race. On the one hand, these researches have established a very wide tendency towards cooperation and integration with behavioral sciences and biomedicine, and on the other hand, they show closeness and symmetry with critical social sciences, social theory and cultural criticism. Conclusion: According to Habermas, one of the most important reasons for citizens' disregard of health and the failure of the media in this regard is the lack of balance between rationalization of the system and rationalization of the world and the use of strategic action instead of communication. The imbalance has also led to de-specialization, jeopardizing trust in physician-patient interaction, and major phenomena such as customer orientation and consumerism.
Benvidi F. A Critical Approach to the Discourse of "Health" in the Media: Based on Habermas' Critical-Social Theories. Iran J Cult Health Promot 2021; 5 (1) :116-124 URL: http://ijhp.ir/article-1-397-en.html