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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Oct;105(10):2117-23.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302332. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

Comparing the Relative Efficacy of Narrative vs Nonnarrative Health Messages in Reducing Health Disparities Using a Randomized Trial

Sheila T Murphy  1 , Lauren B Frank  1 , Joyee S Chatterjee  1 , Meghan B Moran  1 , Nan Zhao  1 , Paula Amezola de Herrera  1 , Lourdes A Baezconde-Garbanati  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Comparing the Relative Efficacy of Narrative vs Nonnarrative Health Messages in Reducing Health Disparities Using a Randomized Trial

Sheila T Murphy et al. Am J Public Health. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: We compared the relative efficacy of a fictional narrative film to a more traditional nonnarrative film in conveying the same health information.

Methods: We used a random digit dial procedure to survey the cervical cancer-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of non-Hispanic White, Mexican American, and African American women, aged 25 to 45 years, living in Los Angeles, California, from 2011 to 2012. Participants (n = 704) were randomly assigned to view either a narrative or nonnarrative film containing the same information about how cervical cancer could be prevented or detected, and they were re-contacted 2 weeks and 6 months later.

Results: At 2 weeks, both films produced a significant increase in cervical cancer-related knowledge and attitudes, but these effects were significantly higher for the narrative film. At 6 months, viewers of both films retained greater than baseline knowledge and more positive attitudes toward Papanicolaou (Pap) tests, but women who saw the narrative were significantly more likely to have had or scheduled a Pap test. The narrative was particularly effective for Mexican American women, eliminating cervical cancer screening disparities found at baseline.

Conclusions: Narratives might prove to be a useful tool for reducing health disparities.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Flow of study participants: comparing the relative efficacy of narrative vs nonnarrative health messages; Los Angeles, CA; 2011–2012.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Behavior at 6-month follow-up by race/ethnicity: comparing the relative efficacy of narrative vs nonnarrative health messages; Los Angeles, CA; 2011–2012. Note. Pap = Papanicolaou.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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