Association between Visual Message and Health Knowledge in a 4‐month Follow‐up Study at Worksites

Abstract

This study evaluated a simple workplace intervention that used visual messages to create awareness of two highly specific recommendations for good health. Methods: Four worksites were recruited in Iwakuni, Japan. The 4-month intervention used three promotional media-A2-size posters, A4-size flyers and displays on the company intranet. The visual messages were designed with silhouettes, pictograms and slogans. K n o w l e d g e a c q u i s i t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e t w o recommendations (daily vegetable intake of 350 g and 23 exercises weekly) was evaluated using questionnaires. In addition, recall of media and attitudes toward health behavior were assessed. Results: Of the 2,322 workers, 827 responded to both the pre-and postintervention surveys. Correct responses at the four worksites increased from initial levels of 36-48% to 38-73% for the vegetable intake questions and from 7-14% to 7-59% for the physical activity questions. Media recall results were 35-73% for posters, 20-43% for flyers and 19% for intranet. The workers who recalled the posters and flyers had more correct answers on knowledge questions than those who did not recall the posters or flyers (p<0.01). In multivariate analyses, seeing the visual messages was associated with a positive change in response to physical activity questions (odds ratio=1.49-2.03), and the number of m e d i a r e c a l l e d w a s a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t Most health promotion trials at worksites follow a multicomponent intervention approach [1][2][3][4][5] . Providing information about health-related behavior is one component, which raises awareness and builds the knowledge base. In the Transtheoretical model, which is generally applied to health promotion programs, information strategies attempt to enhance motivational readiness for health-related behavior among individuals who are in the first stages of change (precontemplation and contemplation stages) 6) . Materials such as flyers, leaflets, brochures, booklets, pamphlets, stands, posters, signs, banners and banner ads and displays on the company intranet are used to reach any number of people in the environment of the worksite.While posters and flyers are often used in multicomponent interventions, their preparation is seldom described. A multicomponent intervention in a cluster-controlled trial, the HIPOP-OHP study, showed beneficial effects on lipid profiles in a workplace group 7) . They used A3-size posters and stands positioned at a point of choice in the cafeteria to present information about healthy behavior 4,8) . A few message design principles have emerged from other studies. Kerr et al. reported in a shopping center study that A3-size posters had less effect than A1-and A2-size posters in promoting use of stairs 9) . It may be that smaller posters attract less attention from passersby. Information volume is another factor influencing attention: information

Feasibility and Acceptability of Policies and Environmental Strategies for Improving Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Japanese Small and Medium Corporations

“…For example, item “[3] Provide educational materials (posters, brochures, pamphlets, etc) on improving PA/HE” had a relatively high implementation rate and a high implementation intention rate, which was common to both PA and HE. Although providing educational materials improves knowledge, attitudes, and health status, 24 , 25 it is difficult for small and medium corporations that do not have occupational health professionals to select and provide educational materials, which vary in content and type, to their employees. Therefore, the implementation rate of this item can be further increased by proposing effective educational materials that match the specific health problems of the corporation and by providing methods that match the corporate environment.…”

Preferred Communication Channels to Foster Energy Conservation Behaviour among Public Office Building Users: A Study in Kota Iskandar

“…This paper aims to select the most appropriate intentional stimulus as the communication channel to motivate and encourage energy conservation behaviour among government office users so that they can voluntarily change their conservation behaviour. Moreover, an intentional stimulus is suggested in this research because of its successful findings in previous research, including an application in a health education campaign (Sugiyama et al, 2011;Chang et al, 2011;White, Webster & Wakefield, 2008). Furthermore, it has been successful in promoting stair use through the intervention of visual messages in office buildings (Kwak et al, 2007;Eves, Webb & Mutirie, 2006) and shopping malls (Kerr, Eves & Carrol, 2001).…”

Association between ethnicity and health knowledge among the floating population in China

“…For example, medical professionals could effectively improve the health knowledge of people at high risk of stroke [ 44 ]. In addition, multiple studies indicated that health information could be disseminated by WeChat [ 45 , 46 ], internet/social media [ 47 , 48 ], visual messages [ 49 ], text books [ 50 ], blogs [ 51 ], social media [ 52 ], iPad-based app [ 53 ], short-video app TikTok [ 54 , 55 ], Sina Weibo [ 56 ], booklet [ 57 ], mass media [ 58 ], and web-based educational film [ 59 ]. Consistent with literature, we therefore hypothesized: Hypothesis 2: There existed ethnic disparities in access to health knowledge sources among the floating population in China.…”