Health Communication Strategies Research Articles

Older adults’ experiences of being screened for fall risk in a clinical setting: a focus group study

Abstract Purpose There is a need for further research on older adults’ experiences of fall risk screening to improve health communication strategies. The purpose of this study was to describe and explore older adults’ experiences of being screened for risk of an injurious fall, using the first-time injurious falls (FIF) screening tool. Methods A qualitative study with five focus group interviews was carried out including 17 older adults (11 women and six men, with a mean age of 77.4 years) who were recruited from two primary healthcare rehabilitation clinics in Sweden. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results The analysis generated one overarching theme, “Screening for fall risk promotes engagement by raising older adults’ awareness of their own abilities”, and four categories; “Screening may motivate to take action but can also create a false sense of security”, “Self-sufficiency is affected by the screening result and level of control over the environment”, “Easy-to-perform and helps to facilitate a discussion with the healthcare professional” and “Ideas of how FIF tool could be used in healthcare”. Conclusion Older adults considered screening for fall risk to be meaningful insofar as it raises awareness of their own abilities and motivates them to prevent falls. On the other hand, a low fall risk could create a false sense of security, and lack of control over environmental factors related to fall risk could negatively impact their sense of self-sufficiency. They emphasized the need to receive support from healthcare providers and to be involved in care decisions if the screening indicates a high fall risk.

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication and Emotional Appeals in COVID-19 Public Health Messaging: Quantitative Content Analysis.

Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains pervasive in Singapore, a city-state situated in Southeast Asia, with periodic waves of infection. In addition to disease management, strong communication strategies are critical in the government's response to the pandemic to keep the public updated and equip them in protecting themselves. Grounded in the crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework and emotional appeals, this study aimed to analyze public health communication strategies in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative content analysis was conducted on 696 Facebook (Meta Platforms Inc) posts and 83 website articles published by Singapore-based public health institutions between January 2020 and September 2022. The results showed that increasing communication on message themes, such as inquisitive messaging and clarification, can enhance communication strategies. The use of emotional appeals also varies with time and should be carefully used as they are context-specific. Theoretically, this study contributes to advancements in the CERC framework and concepts of emotional appeals by exploring the applications and changes of CERC message types and emotional appeals at different phases. The findings can provide practical guidance for authorities and communication practitioners in developing effective communication strategies.

Cultural determinants of COVID-19 vaccines misinformation in Malawi

This study investigates how global misinformation and local cultural factors shape public perceptions of COVID-19 in Malawi. While misinformation about the pandemic often originates from global sources like the Internet and social media, its impact is influenced by religious and cultural narratives that resonate differently across various demographics, including gender. These ‘cultural determinants’ amplify the influence of misinformation, leading to widespread vaccine hesitancy. The paper draws on findings from a study conducted in the Malawian districts of Zomba, Dowa, and Nkhata Bay. The study reveals how religious prophecies and apocalyptic symbols, such as the ‘666’ mentioned in the biblical Book of Revelation, are used to frame vaccines as malevolent, distorting public understanding and fuelling fears about COVID-19. The role of social media in spreading misinformation is particularly significant, given its ability to quickly disseminate content and engage users as both consumers and creators of information. Despite limited internet access in Malawi, misinformation spreads effectively through offline spaces, where cultural beliefs and mistrust in political leaders further propagate it. This study highlights the need for culturally sensitive public health communication strategies to address the fears and beliefs that drive misinformation and vaccine hesitancy in Malawi and similar contexts. Although misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are global challenges, the study highlights that misinformation in Malawi is culturally specific, localised, and appeals to fears, with distinct resonance across the male-female gender divide.

Health communication strategies in the digital era: Insights from the Paris Olympics

Health communication strategies in the digital era: Insights from the Paris Olympics

Health Information Seeking on the Internet Among Patients With and Without Cancer in a Region Affected by the 2011 Fukushima Triple Disaster: Cross-Sectional Study.

Health information seeking via the internet among patients with cancer in disaster-affected areas is underresearched. This study aims not only to assess the extent and means of web-based health information seeking among patients with cancer living in the disaster-affected area of the 2011 Fukushima triple disaster but also to compare these patterns with those without cancer, identifying distinct and shared factors influencing their web-based health information behaviors. We surveyed 404 patients (263 with and 141 without cancer) from the surgery department outpatient office at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, from October 2016 to January 2017. The survey included self-administered questions on internet and digital device use. Descriptive analyses were performed to examine the use patterns of digital devices and the internet and their impact on health information seeking across different age groups of patients with and without cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with web-based health information seeking, stratifying by cancer diagnosis. The proportion of participants who sought health information on the internet was comparable between patients with cancer and patients without cancer (19% vs 17.4%; P=.71). Digital device use varied significantly with age, with peak smartphone use occurring among the youngest cohorts for both groups. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that patients with cancer using smartphones or tablets daily were significantly more likely to gather web-based health information (odds ratio [OR] for smartphones 3.73, 95% CI 1.58-8.80; OR for tablets 5.08, 95% CI 1.27-20.35). Trust in institutional websites also significantly influenced web-based health information gathering among patients with cancer (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.13-7.25). Conversely, among patients without cancer, unemployment was associated with a lower likelihood of seeking web-based health information (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85), whereas trust in both institutional and personal websites significantly increased this likelihood (OR for institutional websites 6.76, 95% CI 2.19-20.88; OR for personal websites 6.97, 95% CI 1.49-32.58). This study reveals that a small proportion of both patients with cancer and patients without cancer engage in health information seeking via the internet, influenced by age, digital device use, and trust in institutional websites. Given the growing prevalence of digital literacy, strategies to enhance accessible and reliable web-based health information should be developed, particularly for patients with cancer in postdisaster settings. Future efforts should focus on tailored health communication strategies that address the unique needs of these populations.

Receptiveness to monkeypox vaccines and public health communication strategies among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Singapore: cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative insights

ObjectivesMonkeypox (mpox) was declared as a global health emergency by the WHO, with most reported cases disproportionately involving gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This...

From Hesitancy to Acceptance: An Interpretative Approach to Unravel the Vaccination Motivation Among the Rural Population

ABSTRACT Our study focuses on vaccination decisions within a collectivistic framework, prioritizing social and behavioral factors over individualistic views amidst COVID-19. Integrating behavioral biases and social ties, we inform targeted public health communication strategies. Examining vaccine uptake in rural India, we use Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to interpret deviations, capturing personal experiences and biases. Through the COM-B model and 25 interviews, we uncover motivations influenced by individual, family, and community factors. Synthesizing findings, we propose tailored public health communication grounded in behavioral psychology. Rather than disregarding biases, we explore their implications for effective interventions. This research advances health communication, particularly benefiting lower-middle-income countries with non-pharmacological approaches.

Addressing Missed Opportunities for Vaccination among Children in Hospitals: Leveraging the P-Process for Health Communication Strategies.

Addressing missed opportunities for vaccination requires a nuanced and context-specific approach. The five-step P-Process provides a robust framework to develop a clearly defined strategy that addresses social and behavioral drivers, integrates into existing health delivery systems, and facilitates collaboration with local experts. This approach allows teams to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate strategies to address public health issues. However, its specific application in vaccination communication programs remains relatively underexplored and under-documented. Our team designed a multi-pronged communication intervention aimed at enhancing vaccine uptake among hospitalized children in two tertiary hospitals in India and Nigeria. In the Inquiry stage, we conducted in-depth interviews with caregivers of hospitalized children to assess barriers to vaccination in a hospital setting. In the Strategic Development stage, we developed a blueprint for activities, identifying target audiences and communication channels and developing implementation plans. During the Create and Test stage, we brought together a range of stakeholders to co-develop a communication intervention through human-centered design workshops, after which we piloted the materials in both hospitals. We then Mobilized and Monitored progress of the activities to identify potential gaps that our materials did not initially address. Lastly, in the Evaluate and Evolve stage, we conducted in-depth interviews with healthcare workers and caregivers to measure outcomes and assess the impact on caregivers' decisions to vaccinate their hospitalized children. By following the P-Process for the design, caregivers reported that many of their concerns about vaccines were alleviated, and HCWs reported that they were able to communicate with caregivers more effectively about vaccination. By harnessing the power of the P-Process, researchers can forge a context-specific path towards impactful vaccination communication interventions, one step at a time.

No travellers from China? The imperative for developing empathetic public health policies and communication strategies post-COVID.

No travellers from China? The imperative for developing empathetic public health policies and communication strategies post-COVID.

Communication to Accelerate Reduction of Stunting Among Health Personnel In The Hulu Sungai Tengah

According to WHO, stunting is short or very short based on height for age less than 2 standard deviations on the growth curve due to irreversible conditions resulting from inadequate nutritional intake within 1000 HPK. The government has accommodated stunting through the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Program with the National Action Plan using the Stunting Risk Family Approach. The aim of the research is to analyze the barriers to health communication carried out by Nutrition Workers, Midwives and Health Promotion in the Community and Health Representative as well as the Health Communication Strategy in Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency data using case studies, interviews, observations and documentation. The results show that the Health Communication has been implemented according to the program but the acceptance of information from the community is correlated with economic, educational and cultural levels turns out to have a big influence on the community's mindset in understanding the stunting.

The role of social media on COVID-19 preventive behaviors worldwide, systematic review.

The likelihood of COVID-19 spreading from one individual to another is impacted by personal factors, preventive actions taken, and the quantity and length of exposure. Social media instantly shares health information with the public so medical professionals can interact with them. The review used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist. We retrieve articles by using keywords on Pub Med, Cochrane Library, and grey literatures. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to check the quality of articles. The main qualitative synthesis was including comments related to the characteristics of the studied populations, the study period, and the main results obtained from the social media platforms. This study includes 32 studies conducted in 20 countries globally. Most of the studies discussed that during the pandemics different types of social medias were utilized to provide knowledge to change the attitude of the people and helps to practices COVID-19 preventive behaviors. By enabling people to seek and share knowledge, socialize, and find pleasure, social media use encourages people to adopt preventive behaviors. This review demonstrated a substantial relationship between higher levels of precautionary behaviors and factors such as educational status, knowledge, fear, and reading medical pages on social media. According to the studies, watching videos is a reliable means to get accurate information, and watching animated films posted on social media can help people learn more about COVID-19 preventive strategies. In these urgent times, social media could even help with quick information availability; misinformation or inadequate understanding can cause misunderstandings within the community. This analysis revealed that following medical pages on social media, having knowledge, feeling afraid, and having an educational background were all strongly correlated with greater levels of aware preventive behavior. Therefore, it is advised for policy makers to develop social behavioral change health communication strategies, guidelines on COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Health care providers should prepare health learning materials, and provide accurate, updated and timely information using all forms of social media to correct mis- information, misperceptions, depression, and anxiety for better control of the pandemics. Future research shall focus on evaluating effectiveness of each social media platform interventions during such emergency crisis.

Ethical gamified health communication intervention to prevent Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) in Myanmar migrants at Thailand's seafood factory: A study protocol

Background Thailand's seafood industry heavily depends on Myanmar migrant workers, who face significant occupational health issues, including an increase in work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). Due to linguistic and cultural limitations, traditional health communication strategies often fail to reach this population. This study explores the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically tailored gamified health communication intervention aimed at preventing WMSDs in Myanmar migrant workers in a Thai seafood factory. Methods The intervention is developed and then implemented in two phases. The objective of the study is to develop, implement, and evaluate a gamified health intervention for Myanmar migrant workers that will prevent WMSDs. The intervention is customized to the workers' cultural background and work natures through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and expert reviews. The intervention then consists of a set of 12 exercises designed to prevent the WMSDs. The Intervention’s impact is assessed through pre- and post-intervention evaluations measuring changes in knowledge, awareness, and self-reported musculoskeletal health. Results Since this is a study protocol, precise findings are not yet available. The target audience is expected to adopt safe work practices more frequently, have better physical health, and have a greater understanding of WMSDs. Conclusions This protocol describes a novel way to use a culturally-tailored and ethically appropriate gamified health communication intervention to address the health issues (such as WMSDs) experienced by Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand's seafood industry. This technique may serve as a model for comparable health promotion initiatives in other labour-intensive industries and migrant worker groups, promoting better awareness and prevention of WMSDs. Registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR) (TCTR20240515003, Registration Date: 15 May 2024).

Health Belief and Behavioral Analysis of Fad Diets: A Perspective from Younger Generations in a Developing Country.

The surge in popularity of fad diets has raised concerns about compromised health among individuals due to their beliefs and intentions regarding consumption. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of fad dieting among persons who are dieting and to determine the different factors influencing the inclination to adopt fad diets. Specifically, this study explored the ways in which individual openness to following fad diets, participation in diet trends, and characteristics may influence attitudes towards fad diet adoption. Data from 407 participants aged 18-34, collected via Google Forms, were analyzed using a high-ordered construct approach between the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and health belief model (HBM). Employing partial least squares structural equation modeling, significant results were obtained. The key findings revealed that knowledge about dieting, perceived benefits, and health motivation significantly influenced individuals' intentions to adopt fad diets. Additionally, the study demonstrated significant impacts of health motivation on attitude and perceived behavioral control, subsequently affecting individuals' intention to adopt dietary practices. Practical implications include the development of tailored health communication strategies for government agencies and informed decision-making support for individuals considering adopting fad diets. This research contributes valuable insights into the perception and psychological and social factors shaping dietary decisions, laying the groundwork for enhanced health education and intervention strategies. Furthermore, the study's theoretical framework offers potential for extension and application to health-related food consumption behaviors across diverse cultural contexts.

Instagram for audience engagement: an evaluation of CERC framework in the GCC nations for digital public health during the Covid-19 pandemic

BackgroundIn this study, we investigate the utilization of Instagram by public health ministries across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations to disseminate health-related information during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Instagram’s visual-centric approach and high user engagement, the research aims to investigate its critical yet complex role in information dissemination amid a health crisis.MethodsTo examine how Instagram communication strategies align with the CDC’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework, we employ the content analysis method. This approach helps to evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of employing Instagram for health communication within a region known for its significant social media usage.ResultsFindings indicate that Instagram serves as a vital platform for the rapid dissemination of health information in the GCC, leveraging its visual capabilities and wide reach. The GCC ministries of health utilized Instagram to demonstrate a consistent and strategic approach to communicate essential COVID-19 related information. Kuwait and Bahrain were the most active of all the assessed ministries with respect to the number of engagement metrics (likes and comments). Most of the posts, as per the CERC framework, were informational and related to vaccine infection and death cases. The second most salient theme in line with the CERC framework was about promoting actions, followed by Instagram posts about activities, events, and campaigns.ConclusionsThe research underscores Instagram’s potential as a powerful tool in enhancing public health resilience and responsiveness during health emergencies in the GCC. It suggests that leveraging social media, with careful consideration of its affordances, can contribute significantly to effective health communication strategies in times of crisis.

Assessing ChatGPT's Potential in HIV Prevention Communication: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Accuracy, Completeness, and Inclusivity.

With the advancement of artificial intelligence(AI), platforms like ChatGPT have gained traction in different fields, including Medicine. This study aims to evaluate the potential of ChatGPT in addressing questions related to HIV prevention and to assess its accuracy, completeness, and inclusivity. A team consisting of 15 physicians, six members from HIV communities, and three experts in gender and queer studies designed an assessment of ChatGPT. Queries were categorized into five thematic groups: general HIV information, behaviors increasing HIV acquisition risk, HIV and pregnancy, HIV testing, and the prophylaxis use. A team of medical doctors was in charge of developing questions to be submitted to ChatGPT. The other members critically assessed the generated responses regarding level of expertise, accuracy, completeness, and inclusivity. The median accuracy score was 5.5 out of 6, with 88.4% of responses achieving a score ≥ 5. Completeness had a median of 3 out of 3, while the median for inclusivity was 2 out of 3. Some thematic groups, like behaviors associated with HIV transmission and prophylaxis, exhibited higher accuracy, indicating variable performance across different topics. Issues of inclusivity were identified, notably the use of outdated terms and a lack of representation for some communities. ChatGPT demonstrates significant potential in providing accurate information on HIV-related topics. However, while responses were often scientifically accurate, they sometimes lacked the socio-political context and inclusivity essential for effective health communication. This underlines the importance of aligning AI-driven platforms with contemporary health communication strategies and ensuring the balance of accuracy and inclusivity.

Knowledge and Practice of Amran University Students toward Ear and Hearing Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has detected an urgent need for action to prevent and manage ear diseases and hearing loss. However, the first step is to identify the areas of knowledge deficiency within the population. The aim of the study was to evaluate knowledge of university students' community in managing and preventing ear disease and hearing loss. This was a cross-sectional study conducted during February 2023 at Amran University using an online ontological questionnaire. Data was retrieved and processed in Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS version 29. A total of 330 participants responded to the online questionnaire, of whom 84.5% were male, with a mean age of 21.43 ± 1.77. Among them, 15.8% reported previous ear problems, while 41.2% had relatives with ear or hearing problems. Exposure to loud noise was reported by 37.6%, and 52.2% reported listening to headphones loudly. The overall correct response rate to the statements was 73.2%, indicating a lack of certain important knowledge. The study results showed a need for official campaigns to educate the Yemeni population. Moreover, they indicated the necessity of conducting a survey on a much wider scale to aid in the development of appropriate health communication strategies and the promotion of ear and hearing health.

Strategi Komunikasi Kesehatan Untuk Mendukung Program Imunisasi Bayi dan Balita di Kabupaten Aceh Barat

Immunization is an important factor that is useful in increasing the immunity of children from the age of 0 months. However, immunization campaigns are often rejected by the public due to misinformation and misconceptions about immunization. Therefore, an effective communication strategy is an important factor in planning communication programs to succeed immunization achievements and encourage behavior change in the community. This study aims to analyze the health communication strategy conducted in Peunaga Baro Preparatory Village, West Aceh District. We used a qualitative method by collecting data through interviews with 8 parents who participated in the immunization program as well as health workers as the person in charge of the immunization program. The analysis was developed using the KAP - based communication planning model. The results found that there are still misperceptions of immunization in the community so that they do not allow their children to be immunized. By combining communication patterns, the communication patterns of health workers are linear-secondary communication patterns in the form of oral communication with direct counseling, linear-secondary communication patterns in the form of posters, circular-secondary communication patterns in the form of oral communication with direct counseling and the last is circular-secondary communication patterns in the form of WhatsApp Groups. The health communication strategy has not been implemented optimally, where health workers do not make structured message planning and do not consider the selection of media for delivering immunization messages.

When Your Pronominal Marking Matters during a Pandemic: Shawi Pronominals and COVID-19 Interventions

In this communication, I focus on Shawi forms of address used in Peruvian State posters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on the Peruvian Indigenous population. A recent study showed that Indigenous people had 3.18 times the risk of infection and 0.4 times the mortality risk of the general population in Peru. The Shawi have not been included among the most heavily affected. A preliminary descriptive and critical account of Peruvian State posters whereby languages such as Shawi and other Peruvian Indigenous languages (Awajun, Ashaninka, different varieties of Quechua, Shipibo, etc.) have been used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is provided. Shawi seems to be the only language of the sample where information has been framed using first-person inclusive forms. This appears to have led to enhanced communal engagement in the suggested health-related practices. Additionally, opinions on the issue from local stakeholders are briefly discussed. While the results are derived solely from preliminary observations, my findings could serve as a basis for enhancing health communication strategies in other Indigenous contexts, utilizing linguistically informed intercultural approaches.

Transboundary COVID-19 response on health communication in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe

A global COVID-19 pandemic caused untold community disruptions, a huge toll on lives and placed major burdens on the economies of developing countries. It spread worldwide within a short period of time before nations could mobilise evidence for the best responses. Communities in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe were heavily disrupted. This article focuses on exploring the transboundary differences in COVID-19 responses, plus the implications for improving the health communication strategies in a pandemic age. Health practitioners and governments were ill-prepared to inform the general public about the pandemic and enforced complete shutdowns of economic and social activities. With the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging communities, there was a dearth of focused health communication on COVID-19’s end. New tools of communication and dissemination of information were embraced in the southern Africa country-specific cases. For example, content on precautionary lifestyles, individual or personal responsibility and utilisation of community health workers in the pandemic era was prioritised to prevent or minimise infections and avoid recurrence of the disease. New communication methods were important for addressing uncertainty and can be applied for any future pandemic. This health communication topic addresses the neglected, but important gap on the efficacy of processes towards better health communication strategies. The transdisciplinary methods include improved health communication strategies informed by the experiences of three Southern African Development Community countries. While such measures to arrest COVID-19 proved plausible, these countries’ projections for the future are a concern, suggesting an urgent need to enhance and strengthen health communication in southern Africa.Transdisciplinary contribution: This is a transdisciplinary exploration of health communication and its implications for COVID-19 and future pandemic responses in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Promises and pitfalls of #Relapse narratives in Destigmatization: The mediating role of emotions

The disclosure of recovery journeys on social media by individuals with substance use is a growing trend, but its impact on public attitudes toward stigmatized groups is not well-understood. To address this gap, an experiment was conducted with 1,438 U.S. adults who viewed a series of Instagram posts about a person’s recovery journey. Participants were randomly assigned to view posts that either included a relapse episode or not. Structural equation modeling was used for data analyses. The results revealed that presenting a relapse narrative increased feelings of compassion, anger, and pity. In addition, mediation analyses provided evidence supporting the role these emotions played in mediating the effects of a relapse narrative on stigma beliefs and desire for social distance. These findings prompt a reevaluation of digital storytelling practices in health communication strategies, aiming for a balanced representation that can effectively reduce stigma and promote community support for those navigating substance use recovery. It is recommended to incorporate the study’s insights into educational content, therapeutic interventions, and policy formulations to foster a more supportive and understanding environment for individuals in recovery.