The power of narrative health communication: Exploring possible effects of first-hand experiential stories on cancer awareness amongst university students

Abstract

Narrative health communication has the potential for effective health promotion about cancer amongst youth from low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa experiences a rising cancer-related disease burden with predicted increase of over 85% by 2030. Whilst promotion through communication, of cancer prevention strategies targeting 18–29 year olds remains scanty, it is crucial for cancer prevention behaviour before the disease develops. The study aimed at examining how narrative storytelling can create cancer awareness amongst students at the University of Johannesburg. A qualitative approach was adopted. During October 2019, an awareness session that formed part of a month-long health campaign involving various activities for students, promoted preventative behaviour leading to early cancer detection. Campus Health Services in collaboration with other University departments invited six cancer survivors and experts to share stories about their various cancer experiences with students and staff. Many of the participants aged between 18 and 49 years, indicated that they did not know how to engage in self-examination of their bodies and had never taken any cancer tests. Most of the participants expressed a willingness to engage in frequent self-examination and visiting health facilities to receive regular professional tests as a result of storytelling. Results may assist health promotion organisations with the construction of effective cancer health messaging especially for hard-to-reach groups such as youth in developing countries.

Formative Research for the Development of Evidence-Based Targeted Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions to Reduce Cholera in Hotspots in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Preventative Intervention for Cholera for 7 Days (PICHA7) Program

“…Narratives have been a valuable tool for health promotion in public health through motivating behavior change [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. This approach has frequently been used for smoking cessation programs [33,34,36], sexual health promotion [40,41], and cancer prevention and control [42,43]. The PICHA7 program used firsthand experiential stories told during participant interviews to explain transmission routes and preventative measures for cholera and severe diarrheal diseases.…”

Formative Research for the Development of the CHoBI7 Cholera Rapid Response Program for Cholera Hotspots in Bangladesh

“…Previous studies have found narratives to be a valuable tool for health promotion in the public health field by motivating and supporting behavior change [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Narratives have frequently been used for smoking cessation programs [ 30 , 31 , 33 ], sexual health promotion [ 37 , 38 ], and cancer prevention and control [ 39 , 40 ]. Future studies could compare whether the inclusion of narratives facilitates WASH behavior change in cholera hotspots by comparing intervention delivery with and without this component.…”

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

“….Narrative health communication is a form of persuasive communication in which a health message is presented in the form of a fictional or nonfictional story, as opposed to being presented as statistical evidence or arguments to promote healthrelated behaviours 18. …”