Desirable Health Behaviors Research Articles

MHealth-Based Gamification Interventions Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the HIV Prevention and Care Continuum: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In the past few years, a burgeoning interest has emerged in applying gamification to promote desired health behaviors. However, little is known about the effectiveness of such applications in the HIV prevention and care continuum among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to summarize and evaluate research on the effectiveness of gamification on the HIV prevention and care continuum, including HIV-testing promotion; condomless anal sex (CAS) reduction; and uptake of and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART). We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research and its sister journals for studies published in English and Chinese from inception to January 2024. Eligible studies were included when they used gamified interventions with an active or inactive control group and assessed at least one of the following outcomes: HIV testing; CAS; and uptake of and adherence to PrEP, PEP, and ART. During the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was applied. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality and risk of bias of each included study. The systematic review identified 26 studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The results indicated that gamified digital interventions had been applied to various HIV outcomes, such as HIV testing, CAS, PrEP uptake and adherence, PEP uptake, and ART adherence. Most of the studies were conducted in the United States (n=19, 73%). The most frequently used game component was gaining points, followed by challenges. The meta-analysis showed gamification interventions could reduce the number of CAS acts at the 3-month follow-up (n=2 RCTs; incidence rate ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.88). The meta-analysis also suggested an effective but nonstatistically significant effect of PrEP adherence at the 3-month follow-up (n=3 RCTs; risk ratio 1.16, 95% CI 0.96-1.38) and 6-month follow-up (n=4 RCTs; risk ratio 1.28, 95% CI 0.89-1.84). Only 1 pilot RCT was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a gamified app in promoting HIV testing and PrEP uptake. No RCT was conducted to evaluate the effect of the gamified digital intervention on PEP uptake and adherence, and ART initiation among MSM. Our findings suggest the short-term effect of gamified digital interventions on lowering the number of CAS acts in MSM. Further well-powered studies are still needed to evaluate the effect of the gamified digital intervention on HIV testing, PrEP uptake, PEP initiation and adherence, and ART initiation in MSM.

INFLUENCE OF MASS MEDIA ON THE RESIDENTS OF GAINDAKOT, NEPAL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background: Effective communication during health crises is vital, yet the widespread distribution of information via diverse channels has led to an “infodemic,” propagating misinformation and malpractices adoption. This study aimed to examine the influence of mass media in the adoption of precautionary behavior, and the spreading of fear and panic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Gaindakot, Nepal, encompassing individuals aged 18-59. Face-to-face interviews employing a structured questionnaire were employed to collect data from 380 participants selected through a multistage systematic random sampling method. The collected data underwent through SPSS version 20, for descriptive statistics, and bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results: More than two-thirds (69.2%) of the respondents demonstrated a high level of adopting precautionary measures, while 43.2% of participants reported feeling fear and panic due to information from mass media. Social media (61.6%) and television (32.9%) were identified as the primary sources of information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Precautionary behavior adoption was significantly associated with ethnicity, income, and access to mass media while the spreading of fear and panic was significantly associated with sex, marital status, and employment status of the respondent. Conclusions: Mass media plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions and behaviors during public health emergencies. This study recommends that accurate and targeted media messaging is crucial to promoting desirable health behaviors and reducing misinformation.

Digital Gamification Tools to Enhance Vaccine Uptake: Scoping Review.

Gamification has been used successfully to promote various desired health behaviors. Previous studies have used gamification to achieve desired health behaviors or facilitate their learning about health. In this scoping review, we aimed to describe digital gamified tools that have been implemented or evaluated across various populations to encourage vaccination, as well as any reported effects of identified tools. We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, the Web of Science Core Collection, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Academic Search Premier, PsycInfo, Global Health, and ERIC for peer-reviewed papers describing digital gamified tools with or without evaluations. We also conducted web searches with Google to identify digital gamified tools lacking associated publications. We consulted 12 experts in the field of gamification and health behavior to identify any papers or tools we might have missed. We extracted data about the target population of the tools, the interventions themselves (eg, type of digital gamified tool platform, type of disease/vaccine, type and design of study), and any effects of evaluated tools, and we synthesized data narratively. Of 1402 records, we included 28 (2%) peer-reviewed papers and 10 digital gamified tools lacking associated publications. The experts added 1 digital gamified tool that met the inclusion criteria. Our final data set therefore included 28 peer-reviewed papers and 11 digital gamified tools. Of the 28 peer-reviewed papers, 7 (25%) explained the development of the tool, 16 (57%) described evaluation, and 2 (7%) reported both development and evaluation of the tool. The 28 peer-reviewed papers reported on 25 different tools. Of these 25 digital gamified tools, 11 (44%) were web-based tools, 8 (32%) mobile (native mobile or mobile-enabled web) apps, and 6 (24%) virtual reality tools. Overall, tools that were evaluated showed increases in knowledge and intentions to receive vaccines, mixed effects on attitudes, and positive effects on beliefs. We did not observe discernible advantages of one type of digital gamified tool (web based, mobile, virtual reality) over the others. However, a few studies were randomized controlled trials, and publication bias may have led to such positive effects having a higher likelihood of appearing in the peer-reviewed literature. Digital gamified tools appear to have potential for improving vaccine uptake by fostering positive beliefs and increasing vaccine-related knowledge and intentions. Encouraging comparative studies of different features or different types of digital gamified tools could advance the field by identifying features or types of tools that yield more positive effects across populations and contexts. Further work in this area should seek to inform the implementation of gamification for vaccine acceptance and promote effective health communication, thus yielding meaningful health and social impacts.

Women's trust in the healthcare system in Serbia: Validation of the Women's Trust and Confidence in Healthcare System scale.

Women's role as patients is associated with power relationships embedded in society. Although trust in the health care system is a general prerequisite for positive health outcomes, practices regarding women's agency in healthcare systems in Southeastern Europe reinforce women's passivity. Most of the current psychological measures of trust have been constructed and validated in "WEIRD" (samples that are drawn from populations that are White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) countries, thus having a limited application in other social contexts. We aimed to construct an instrument for assessing women's trust in healthcare systems to describe the structure of trust: Women's Trust and Confidence in the Healthcare System scale. Two independent samples (N1 = 329; N2 = 333) of adult women in Serbia voluntarily completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 20 trust-related items which were selected from an extensive collection of women's experiences in the healthcare system and evaluated by experts on a 5-point Likert-type scale. We used exploratory factor analysis of the Women's Trust and Confidence in the Healthcare System scale to analyze the structure of trust in the first sample data set and validated it with the second sample using confirmatory factor analysis. We tested concurrent validity by exploring how women's trust in the healthcare system predicts health-related behaviors (multigroup structural equation modeling). All analyses were conducted using R statistical software. The Women's Trust and Confidence in the Healthcare System scale (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) indicated a three-factor structure of trust in the healthcare system: trust in healthcare professionals, distrust in the public healthcare system, and confidence in healthcare system. This was validated using an independent sample. Interpersonal trust positively predicted women's desirable health behaviors, while trust in the system had a negative impact. The Women's Trust and Confidence in the Healthcare System scale captures women's trust in a paternalistic healthcare system, is reliable, and has a stable three-factor structure. The study's findings reveal the relationship between women's trust and health-related behavior: in paternalistic environments, trust reinforces women's passivity.

Goals for Adherence with Low-cost Incentives (GOALS): a protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of small airtime incentives on ART adherence among young people living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda

BackgroundTreatment outcomes of HIV-positive individuals are threatened by low antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, a problem that is particularly acute among youth. Incentives are a promising tool to support ART adherence, but traditional incentive designs rewarding uniformly high levels of the desired health behavior may demotivate those with low levels of the behavior. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of alternative approaches to target-setting for incentive eligibility using subgoals (i.e., individual-specific, interim targets leading up to the optimal target).Methods / designWe will enroll 628 HIV-positive youth between ages 15 and 30 into a 3-year randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomized 1:1:1:1 to a control arm or one of three intervention arms (n = 157 each) that allow them to enter a prize drawing for small incentives if their ART adherence meets the given goal. In the first arm (T1, assigned subgoal), goals will be externally assigned and adapted to their initial adherence level. In the second arm (T2, participatory subgoal), participants can set their own interim goals. In the third arm (T3, fixed goal), all participants must reach the same target goal of 90% adherence. T1 and T2 participants are required to reach 90% adherence by month 12 to participate in a larger prize drawing. The control group receives the usual standard of care. All four groups will receive weekly motivational messages; the three treatment groups will additionally receive reminders of their upcoming prize drawing. Adherence will be measured continuously throughout the intervention period using electronic devices and for 12 months post-intervention. Surveys will be conducted at baseline and every 6 months. Viral loads will be measured annually. The primary outcome is Wisepill-measured adherence and a binary measure for whether the person took at least 90% of their pills. The secondary outcome is the log-transformed viral load as a continuous measure.DiscussionOur study is one of the first to apply insights about the psychology and behavioral economics of goal-setting to the design of incentives, by testing whether conditioning the eligibility threshold for incentives on subgoals (interim goals leading up to the ultimate, high goal) improves motivation and adherence more than setting a uniformly highly goal, and a comparison group.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05378607. Date of registration: May 18, 2022.

Mapping Digital Wellness Content

Despite the increasing popularity of wellness on social media, there islittle empirical study of its content or audiences. This study providesdescriptive information of prevalent themes in wellness content and thecomposition and views of its audiences. Using structural topic modeling toidentify central themes #wellness content on Instagram (N = 544,377posts), we find that while much content appears to promote desired healthbehaviors (e.g., quality sleep), other topics concern unsubstantiated claimsthat are often driven by commercial incentives. Nationally representativesurvey data of U.S. adults (N = 970) further reveals that women, moreliberal, and younger people are more likely to seek and see wellnesscontent. Those who actively seek wellness content are both more trustingof science institutions and have less accurate health beliefs compared withthose who are inadvertently exposed to wellness content. Though wellnesshas not received a great deal of scholarly attention, this description shedslight on the relevance of wellness to central questions in communicationdisciplines concerning expertise, (mis)information, and institutional trust. The popularity of wellness content in social media merits further empiricalexamination as such content may have important benefits and harms thatdisproportionately affect women and young people.

Loss aversion or lack of trust: Why does loss framing work to encourage preventive health behaviors?

We implement a field experiment designed to increase participants’ willingness to visit a health clinic. We find that framing a $50 incentive as a loss rather than a gain increases take-up, but we do not find support for the notion that loss aversion is responsible for the effectiveness of loss framing. Instead, it appears that loss framing promotes take-up by raising the perceived probability that the incentive will be provided as promised. The results suggest trust is an alternative pathway through which loss framing may affect behavior, and trust may be an important way to promote desirable health behaviors.

The role of emotions in health-promoting behavior campaigns | Fact-sheets collection from the Portuguese COVID-19 pandemic Task Force on Behavioral Sciences

Behavioral activation requires both cognitive and emotional processes. Fast and automatic decisions are highly dependent of emotional stata and, therefore, emotion activation is widely used in marketing initiatives. Health promotion campaigns traditionally opted by using threatening messages, aiming to raise awareness of health risks and to promote adherence to health behaviors. However, the evidence does not support the hypothesis that using fear-inducing messages promotes systematically the expected health protection behavior. Instead, the use of messages promoting positive emotions associated with the target behavior should be the first choice for health promotion programs. The effect of messages on emotional experiencing should be tested as much as possible (considering most vulnerable groups), before launching large-scale campaigns, as well as its effectiveness on the desired health behavior activation.

Reducing the Cost of Diabetes Care with Telemedicine, Smartphone, and Home Monitoring.

The effect of an increasing diabetes population has resulted in escalated costs and overburdened physicians. The increase in cost is not due to the disease per se, but because of its largely preventable complications. Patient-friendly technologies are proven to significantly reduce complications and thereby cost, but seldom practised. Telemedicine is increasingly being utilized in diabetology to improve access to health care, quality of care, and clinical/psychosocial outcomes in patients with diabetes (PWD). In PWD, patient-physician interactions are essential for improving health outcomes and preventing long-term complications. Smartphones are one of the basic modalities for telemedicine application. Mobile phone messaging applications, including text messaging and multimedia message service, could offer a convenient and cost-effective way to support desirable health behaviors. There are diabetes-related mobile apps mainly focusing on self-management of diabetes, lifestyle modification, and medication adherence motivation. With the widespread availability of high-speed Internet, remote monitoring has also become popular. Home monitoring of blood glucose and blood pressure, wearable devices, and continuous glucose monitoring also play a vital role in bringing down the long‑term vascular complications of diabetes and thereby reduce the overall cost and improve the quality of life of patients. There are hundreds of tech platforms for diabetes management, of which only a few with proven efficacy and safety are recommended by physicians.

Knowledge and Factors Associated with Breast Cancer Self-Screening Intention among Saudi Female College Students: Utilization of the Health Belief Model.

Breast cancer (BC) screening is vital, as it is linked to a greater likelihood of survival, more effective treatment, and better quality of life. One of the most extensively applied models for conceptualizing probable barriers and facilitators to the adoption of desired health behavior is the health belief model (HBM). This study aimed to assess the impact of health perception and knowledge on breast self-examination intention (BSE) using HBM. HBM measures specific factors (perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy) that impact one’s intention to use BSE. Data were collected from female undergraduate students (n = 680) using a cross-sectional design, stratified simple random sampling, and a self-administered structured online questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate our assumptions for students who intended to self-examine for BC. For demographic factors, we modified the multivariate model. Most respondents (93%) were under the age of 24 years. Female students from health colleges (48.5%), in their fourth academic year (42.6%), and from the southern region (57.6%) accounted for the majority of the sample. Respondents with a family history of BC were 9.7% of the total. Categories for age, college, region, residency, and BSE intention showed significant differences in their average knowledge scores. The survey revealed that 72.4% were aware of abnormal breast changes. Three constructs of the health belief model (perceived benefit, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy) are good predictors of BSE intention. Theory-based behavioral change interventions are urgently required for students to improve their prevention practices. Furthermore, these interventions will be effective if they are designed to remove barriers to BSE intention, improve female students’ self-efficacy, and enlighten them on the benefits of self-examination.

Factors Influencing the Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Korea

Background: To prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR), patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) should take the lead in their health behaviors by understanding physiological indicators such as blood sugar, blood pressure, lipids, smoking cessation, and regular ophthalmologic examinations. The health provider's role is important in motivating diabetic retinopathy patients to practice healthy behaviors since they provide treatment information and feedback to the patient. Therefore, it is necessary to educate diabetic patients on their knowledge of diabetic mellitus (DM) to raise awareness of desirable health behaviors and to continue self-management through motivation with the support from family and health care providers. This is a descriptive survey research to identify whether patients’ knowledge about diabetes, family support, and health care provider's support for autonomy impacted the severity of diabetic retinopathy of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objectives/Significance: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of diabetic knowledge, family support, and health care provider's support for autonomy on the severity of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients and use this information as primary data for developing health behavior practice programs to prevent and manage diabetic retinopathy. Methodology: Cross-sectional data were collected in South Korea in 2019. Participants were 136 patients who had T2DM who attended an outpatient endocrinology clinic. A chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted using SPSS software (version 24.0), and Cronbach's coefficient was used to measure the reliability of each test. A linear multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of diabetic retinopathy. The scale for knowledge about diabetes had 26 items, the scale for family support had 12 items, and the scale for the severity of DR was classified according to the international clinical diabetic retinopathy severity measurement standards. Results: The comparisons of the severity of diabetic retinopathy depended on general and disease-related characteristics, and there was a statistically significant difference between DR and diabetic complications (t=4.07, p<.001). Significant correlations with SBP (r=.35 and p<.001), DBP (r=.37, p<.001), HbA1c (r=.29, p=.001), LDL- cholesterol (r=.18, p=.036), and triglyceride (r=.28, p=.001) were identified. Also, health care provider's support for autonomy was significantly correlated with the severity of DR (r=-.17, p=.048). As a result of analyzing the influence of independent variables on diabetic retinopathy, DBP (ß=.281, p=.018), DM complications (ß=.188, p=.024), and health care provider's support for autonomy (ß=- .207, p=.002) were found to affect the severity of diabetic retinopathy (F=5.725, p=.018). As a result of analyzing the influence of independent variables on diabetic retinopathy, DBP (ß=.281, p=.018), DM complications (ß=.188, p=.024), and healthcare provider's support for autonomy (ß=- .207, p=.002) were found to affect the severity of diabetic retinopathy (F=5.725, p=.018). The explanation power of this regression model was 29.6%, and it was statistically significant (F=5.725, p=.018).

Motivating Social Influencers to Engage in Health Behavior Interventions.

Social influencers are widely known as the promotors of purchase behavior as well as for their potential to change health behaviors among individuals in their social networks. For social influencers to be successful in changing behaviors, it is essential that they convey their message in an authentic, original, credible, and persistent manner. In the context of health behavior interventions, this requires a focus on the motivation of social influencers to engage in the intervention. This perspective article describes the importance of motivating social influencers to engage in the desired health behaviors themselves and to promote it within their social network. We briefly describe the current state of knowledge and our empirical experience in implementing health interventions with social influencers. Using insights from self-determination theory, we demonstrate how social influencers can be motivated optimally in health behavior interventions and, thereby, improving the success of the intervention. To illustrate these insights and guide intervention practice, we provide concrete examples of techniques that can be applied in health interventions involving social influencers. We conclude with directions for further research and intervention practice to improve the delivery of health behavior interventions.

A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of social networking on chronic disease management in rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveSocial networking has been shown to improve health outcomes in certain patient populations. While patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increasingly use social networking to communicate with peers, the effects of these interactions are largely unknown. MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial, we compared RA patients who participated in a social networking group moderated by peer leaders and who had access to a static website offering RA materials with a control group, who only had access to the website. The primary outcomes were patients’ RA knowledge, self-efficacy and empowerment. Secondary outcomes included participation in desired health behaviors, and satisfaction with peer support, among others. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 3 and 6 months. Participants who never signed in were excluded from the primary analysis. Results105 participants were randomized to each group. Mean age was 52 (±12.4) and 92.4% were females. Knowledge scores improved in both groups, but only in the control group the differences observed at 3 and 6 months were significant (p≤0.02). Self-efficacy scores also improved in both groups, but only the differences observed at 6 months in the Facebook group were significant (p=0.02). When comparing groups, at 3 months the knowledge improvements observed in the control group were greater compared with those observed in the Facebook group (mean difference 0.4 versus 0.1; respectively, p=0.03). No other differences were observed in secondary outcomes between the 2 groups, except in peer support satisfaction. The Facebook® group reported greater peer support satisfaction in 3 out 5 subscales compared with the control group (p≤0.04). ConclusionPeer support satisfaction was higher in participants using an online social network, but this was not translated into greater disease knowledge or empowerment.

Can advertising enhance consumers' desirable COVID-19 health behavioral intentions? The role of brand-pandemic fit.

This article explores the fit between the advertised brand and the pandemic as a potential influence on consumers' intentions to engage in socially responsible health behaviors (social distancing, mask wearing, and getting tested when exposed). In an advanced and emerging market setting we find that advertisements for brands that are perceived as high on brand‐pandemic fit enhance consumers' socially desirable COVID‐19 health behavioral intentions and changes in brand credibility is the mechanism that drives such intentions. Fit is especially beneficial on the intentions of consumers whose health beliefs reflect only low to moderate concern about COVID‐19. Consumers with low or moderate (vs. high) COVID‐19 health beliefs exhibit an increased susceptibility to the fit—desirable health behavioral intentions relationship. The results are also corroborated in an emerging market context. Together, the results establish links between brand‐pandemic fit of advertisements, brand credibility, health beliefs, and consumers' intentions to engage in socially desirable health behaviors. The results suggest that advertising can play a role in encouraging desirable health behaviors and can promote consumer welfare via ads of high fit products and services that provide benefits during the pandemic in both advanced and emerging markets.

Religiously Conditioned Health Behaviors within Selected Religious Traditions.

Background: Health is a value of paramount importance for human existence. It has a special place in every religious system, both on the doctrinal and practical levels. Most religions view health as a priority value to be cared for, and require followers of individual religious groups to take care of their physical and mental health, and to maintain a balance between body and spirit. The aim of the study was to verify whether the level of religious commitment significantly influences health behaviors and whether in selected religions the faithful have a different approach to health behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of 296 people—118 Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), 134 Catholics, and 14 Jews living in southern Poland, and 31 Muslims living in southern and north-eastern Poland. The following research tools were used as part of the diagnostic survey method: a questionnaire survey designed by us; the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); the Inventory of Health Behaviours (IHB); the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS 10) and anthropometric measurements, physical examination, laboratory tests. Results: Only 75% of Catholics who participated in the study declared a high level of religious commitment. On the other hand, all (100%) of SDA, Jews, and Muslim respondents declared their religious commitment at a high level. SDA were characterized by the most desirable health behaviors on the IHB (high and average levels), especially eating habits. They did not consume alcohol, did not smoke cigarettes. The physical activity of most ADS was high and moderate. Most of the SDA subjects were characterized by an average and low level of stress intensity. The most common correct scores for homocysteine, triglycerides, and CRP were SDA, cholesterol by Jews, glucose by Muslims, and HDL by Catholics. The most common negative results were: homocysteine, glucose and triglycerides among Jews, cholesterol and CRP among Catholics, HDL among Muslims. Optimal blood pressure was most common among Catholics, and hypertension was most often diagnosed among Jews. Most often, Muslims had the correct body weight, and at the same time it was the group of respondents most often diagnosed with obesity. In contrast, underweight was observed only among Catholics. The SDA subjects were most often overweight. Conclusions: The results suggest that public health professionals and nurses should develop culturally specific educational interventions, especially among Catholics.

Health and Land-Use Courses of Action for Education for Sustainable Development in Madagascar: Teacher Perspectives on Possibilities for Implementation

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the implementation of ESD in education remains a challenge, particularly for countries such as Madagascar. ESD needs to consider regional realities to be relevant to learners. An expert study identified health and land-use courses of action for regionally relevant ESD in northeast Malagasy primary education. However, what about teacher perspectives on the possibilities for implementing such courses of action? The present think-aloud study with 10 Malagasy primary teachers used the Integrated Behavioral Model for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (IBM-WASH) to analyze factors that teachers perceive to be relevant for implementing health and also—as an innovation—land-use courses of action. The IBM-WASH model is a tool for identifying opportunities and barriers to a desired health behavior. It turned out that the local school’s surroundings, shared values and attitudes, and existing habits are important for implementing health and land-use courses of action. Therefore, regionally adapted health and land-use teaching should consider community-contextual, community-psychosocial, and habitual-psychosocial factors. Additionally, teachers mentioned the costs and benefits of land-use practices. Thus, land-use teaching should take the individual-technological factor into account. This paper argues for a regionally adapted ESD in teacher and school education.

Evaluation of a Narrative Video to Promote Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer Among Latinas

To evaluate the impact of an online-delivered, theory-based narrative video on cervical cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in a predominantly Latino community. The study design was a nonrandomized pretest-posttest evaluation. The eligibility criteria included men and women 18 years or older not previously enrolled in our community cervical cancer screening program who had internet access. Participants were recruited via in-person county-wide flyer distribution and social media dissemination. The intervention involved a narrative video designed for Latinas delivered via the internet. The 17-minute video is novella style, with a culturally tailored storyline and setting that covers cervical cancer risk factors and statistics, importance of screening, and addresses testing barriers. The measures were knowledge about cervical cancer and screening, perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. Analysis was performed using change scores for knowledge and psychosocial variables and descriptive statistics for satisfaction and acceptability of the video. Data from 227 surveys were analyzed; respondent mean age: 37.6 years; 98.8% female, 88.8% Hispanic; 42.0% had an annual income of $20,000 or less; and 85.2% had at least a high school education. Knowledge and all psychosocial variables improved significantly. More than 90% of the participants rated all of the satisfaction items as good or excellent. A culturally appropriate narrative video about cervical cancer and screening disseminated online effectively improved knowledge and psychosocial variables among Latinas. Our findings indicate that health promotion interventions online could be effective for improving desired health behavior through a new means of educational dissemination by way of websites and social media outlets.

Evolving Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Beyond Intensive Insulin Treatment.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use in individuals with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) who are treated with intensive insulin therapy. A growing body of evidence suggests that CGM use may also confer similar glycemic benefits in T2D individuals who are treated with less-intensive therapies. Investigators are also exploring the potential use of CGM as an aid in weight management. This article reviews the continuing evolution of CGM, focusing on how CGM may be used to improve glycemic control and promote adoption of desired health behaviors within broader T2D and prediabetes populations.

Public Relations in health institutions

In this study the role of public relations (PR) and Communication in health sector was highlighted. The study focuses on the role of PR in health institutions, communication strategies of PR, communication campaigns and media used by PR departments in health institutions. This was studied through descriptive method using a survey that was distributed to a sample from hospitals’ clients to explore there view, opinions, and evaluation about the role of PR in health. Results showed that communication activities in health fields help in raising the health awareness. It also emphasized the importance of using integrated media to convey the health information and the desired health behaviors.

TYPES OF CAMPAIGNS IN EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH COMMUNICATION

Health communication is a field of study that has been included in the communication world since the 1970s. Health communication has a field of application carried out by individuals and media-mediated communication in health service delivery and health promotion. Health communication is an applied field of study because it examines both the pragmatic effects of human communication on the provision of healthcare and public health promotion and studies in this area are often used to improve the quality of healthcare delivery. Health communication campaigns are prepared to reveal desired health behaviors in society and to prevent risky health behaviors. However, whether these campaigns achieve their goals is an issue that is rarely discussed. Health communication and its applications at the mass communication level are realized through health communication campaigns. The success of a health communication campaign is measured by comparing the current situation before and after the campaign. This brings us to the concept of evidence-based health communication. This study describes the design stages of evidence-based health communication, which is an effective phenomenon in measuring campaign success. The similarities and differences among non- experimental, quasi-experimental and experimental designs were revealed in the study. The aim of the study is to explain the campaign design stages of evidence-based health communication and provide a guide to the pre-campaign preparation process for practitioners. Thus, practitioners will be able to choose the most suitable design for their target audience and avoid application mistakes.