Narrative interventions for health screening behaviours: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Health communication
• Behavioral science
• Public health

Background:

• Health information is presented in statistical or narrative formats.
• No consensus exists on the optimal format for presenting screening information.
• Narrative interventions utilize storytelling to influence health behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on narrative interventions' effectiveness in changing screening behavior.
• To assess the impact of narrative interventions on determinants of screening behavior.
• To compare the efficacy of narrative versus statistical health information formats.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 19 studies from psychology and public health databases.
• Studies focused primarily on cancer screening (18 studies) and one on sexual health.
• Eligibility criteria ensured relevance to narrative interventions and screening behavior.

Main Results:

• Consistent evidence supports the general efficacy of narrative interventions for screening behavior.
• Evidence is mixed regarding whether narratives outperform statistical information for screening behavior.
• Narratives show potential in influencing factors that drive screening decisions.

Conclusions:

• Narrative interventions are a promising strategy for enhancing health screening behaviors.
• Further research is needed to clarify the superiority of narrative over statistical health information.
• Optimizing health communication strategies requires understanding the nuances of information presentation formats.