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BMC Public Health Jun 2024The current study analyzed articles shared on Facebook between 2019 and 2021 that discuss the HPV vaccine. Results address a gap in knowledge about the persuasive...
BACKGROUND
The current study analyzed articles shared on Facebook between 2019 and 2021 that discuss the HPV vaccine. Results address a gap in knowledge about the persuasive strategies used in HPV vaccine discourse on Facebook.
METHODS
Using Buzzsumo.com, we collected 138 articles, shared on Facebook between 2019 and 2021, with the highest "engagement scores," or total number of reactions, comments, and shares. Using a content analysis methodology, three independent coders were trained in using the study codebook, achieved acceptable inter-rater reliability (Krippendorf's alpha = 0.811), and coded each article in Atlas.ti.
RESULTS
Seventy-two articles had a positive valence toward the HPV vaccine, 48 had a negative valence, and 18 were mixed-valence or neutral. Pro-vaccine articles presented a variety of evidence types in support of benefits of HPV vaccination. Pro-vaccine articles primarily originated from national and local news sources. Anti-vaccine articles combined presentation of evidence with persuasive arguments and strategies, such as mistrust of institutions, fear appeals, ideological appeals, presenting a high number of arguments or detail, and minimizing the severity of HPV. Three sources were responsible for producing 62.5% of all anti-vaccine articles in the dataset. Mixed-valence or neutral articles mixed cancer prevention discourse with ideological appeals about protecting parental rights, and were mostly produced by local news outlets.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study can help health communicators anticipate the types of discourses that vaccine-hesitant parents may have encountered online. Implications and suggestions for practice are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Social Media; Persuasive Communication; Papillomavirus Infections; Female; Vaccination
PubMed: 38915043
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19099-0 -
Health Communication Dec 2023There has been a growing literature focusing on the persuasive effect of interactive narratives, but the findings are mixed. Furthermore, very few studies have examined...
There has been a growing literature focusing on the persuasive effect of interactive narratives, but the findings are mixed. Furthermore, very few studies have examined how the impact of interactive narratives varies depending on story features and characteristics of the recipients. Informed by the research of interactive narratives and message framing, the current study empirically tests the indirect effect of an interactive narrative on attitude change using a digital anti-indoor tanning game, with transportation as a mediator and narrative ending and issue involvement as two second-stage moderators. Findings suggested a moderated moderated mediation relationship in which the indirect effect of the interactive narrative was the strongest for low-involvement participants when they experienced a loss-framed ending and was the weakest for high-involvement participants when they encountered the same type of ending. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.
Topics: Humans; Narration; Persuasive Communication; Attitude; Sunbathing
PubMed: 36138515
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2126693 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2024Although misinformation exposure takes place within a social context, significant conclusions have been drawn about misinformation susceptibility through studies that...
Although misinformation exposure takes place within a social context, significant conclusions have been drawn about misinformation susceptibility through studies that largely examine judgements in a social vacuum. Bridging the gap between social influence research and the cognitive science of misinformation, we examine the mechanisms through which social context impacts misinformation susceptibility across 5 experiments (N = 20,477). We find that social cues only impact individual judgements when they influence perceptions of wider social consensus, and that source similarity only biases news consumers when the source is high in credibility. Specifically, high and low engagement cues ('likes') reduced misinformation susceptibility relative to a control, and endorsement cues increased susceptibility, but discrediting cues had no impact. Furthermore, political ingroup sources increased susceptibility if the source was high in credibility, but political outgroup sources had no effect relative to a control. This work highlights the importance of studying cognitive processes within a social context, as judgements of (mis)information change when embedded in the social world. These findings further underscore the need for multifaceted interventions that take account of the social context in which false information is processed to effectively mitigate the impact of misinformation on the public.
Topics: Cues; Communication; Persuasive Communication; Social Media
PubMed: 38378750
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54030-y -
Journal of Physical Therapy Science Dec 2023[Purpose] Trust among patients and clinical suppliers is the foundation for achieving appropriate treatment. This double-blind randomized control trial aimed to...
[Purpose] Trust among patients and clinical suppliers is the foundation for achieving appropriate treatment. This double-blind randomized control trial aimed to determine whether providing patients a pre-treatment physical therapists' introductions and positive appraisal can enhance the trust of patients in therapists. [Participants and Methods] This study included patients diagnosed with lumbar spine spondylosis or non-acute lower back muscle strain who were divided into intervention and control groups. The previously recorded video informed the intervention group patients that they were assigned to our best therapist because of their participation. The primary outcome was evaluated twice, once before and once after the treatment, and the secondary outcome was measured using the second time pain inventory evaluation. [Results] A total of 32 patients participated in this study. No significant difference was found in patients' trust in therapists between the two groups, and a lower successful treatment rate with a higher pain influence level to daily life was noted in the intervention group. [Conclusion] Doctors who offer introductions with a positive assessment of physical therapists cannot change the trust of patients on therapists. Furthermore, this action may risk worse treatment outcomes.
PubMed: 38075515
DOI: 10.1589/jpts.35.802 -
Addiction (Abingdon, England) Jul 2024A health warning label (HWL) cautioning about the link between alcohol and cancer may be able to communicate alcohol risks to consumers and potentially counter... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
A health warning label (HWL) cautioning about the link between alcohol and cancer may be able to communicate alcohol risks to consumers and potentially counter health-oriented nutrition advertising on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. This study aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of nutrient content claims (e.g. 0 g sugar) and a HWL on perceived product characteristics and intentions to consume, and whether these effects differed by gender and age.
DESIGN
A between-subjects randomized experiment. Participants were randomized to view one of six experimental label conditions: nutrient content claims plus nutrition declaration (NCC + ND), ND only, NCC + ND + HWL, ND + HWL, HWL only and no NCC, ND or HWL, all on a ready-to-drink (RTD) vodka-based soda container.
SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS
Alcohol consumers (n = 5063; 52% women) in Canada aged 18-64 recruited through a national online panel.
MEASUREMENTS
Participants completed ratings of perceived product characteristics, perceived product health risks, and intentions to try, buy, binge and drink the product.
FINDINGS
Compared with the reference condition NCC + ND (current policy scenario in Canada), the other five experimental label conditions were associated with lower ratings for perceiving the product as healthy. All experimental conditions with a HWL were associated with lower product appeal, higher risk perceptions and reduced intentions to try, buy and binge. The experimental condition with a HWL only was associated with intentions to consume fewer cans in the next 7 days (β = -0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.37,-0.08) versus the reference. Few interactions were observed, suggesting that label effects on outcomes were similar by gender and age.
CONCLUSIONS
Health warning labels on alcohol packaging appear to be associated with lower product appeal, higher perceived health risks and reduced consumption intentions, even in the presence of nutrient content claims.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Alcoholic Beverages; Adolescent; Advertising; Food Labeling; Product Packaging; Canada; Persuasive Communication; Intention; Alcohol Drinking
PubMed: 38528612
DOI: 10.1111/add.16475 -
Health Promotion International Feb 2024Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes are present in many countries with evidence that they are effective in decreasing purchases of SSBs. However, in Australia where SSB...
Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes are present in many countries with evidence that they are effective in decreasing purchases of SSBs. However, in Australia where SSB consumption per capita is high, and calls for an SSB tax are frequent, there is no SSB tax and policymakers have stated their lack of support for such a tax. We examined whether political party voting preference and sociodemographic factors affect individuals' support for an SSB tax, and whether message framing affects this support. A nationally representative sample of 1519 Australian adults was recruited for an online experimental survey. Three persuasive frames and one control frame were randomly provided to participants and measures of agreement towards an SSB tax were assessed. Sociodemographic factors and political party preference were also captured. Message framing had minimal effect on the level of support for the tax. However, participants who received the 'supportive of food and drink companies frame' showed the highest positive feelings towards the tax, and participants in rural areas had higher levels of support for an SSB tax when receiving the 'protecting teenagers' frame. Participants who voted for conservative (right-leaning) parties and for Labour (a centre-left party) had similar levels of support towards the tax, which was considerably lower than Greens voters. Undecided voters had the lowest levels of support for the tax, and the frames had limited impact on them. These findings highlight the potential role of message framing in shaping public support for an SSB tax in Australia, particularly in the context of voting preference and sociodemographic factors.
Topics: Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Cross-Sectional Studies; Beverages; Australia; Taxes
PubMed: 38206788
DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad193 -
Health Communication Oct 2023Sharing the stories of people whose lives are impacted by Opioid Use Disorders (OUDs) can be a promising strategy to reduce stigma and increase support for beneficial...
Sharing the stories of people whose lives are impacted by Opioid Use Disorders (OUDs) can be a promising strategy to reduce stigma and increase support for beneficial public policies. Since a story can be told from a first-person or third-person point of view (POV), this study sought to (1) determine the relative persuasive effects of narrative POV and (2) identify the underlying psychological mechanisms, including character identification and psychological reactance, of such narratives. A one-way between-subjects experiment was conducted among a college student sample ( = 276). Narrative POV was manipulated by describing a college student's OUD experience from either the first- or third-person POV. Findings demonstrated that POV did not influence identification but had a significant effect on reactance. Specifically, the first-person (vs. third-person) POV narrative led to lower reactance, which was associated with participants' decreased desire to socially distance themselves from people with OUDs and stronger support for public health-oriented policies regarding OUDs. This study sheds light on the mixed findings revealed in the literature and has practical importance in health message design in the current opioid epidemic.
Topics: Humans; Analgesics, Opioid; Narration; Persuasive Communication; Social Stigma
PubMed: 35164623
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2037198 -
American Journal of Health Promotion :... Sep 2023To examine strategies that help motivate social correction behaviors to combat COVID-19-related health misinformation on social media.
PURPOSE
To examine strategies that help motivate social correction behaviors to combat COVID-19-related health misinformation on social media.
DESIGN
2 (message types: narrative vs statistics) x 2 (social frames: individual vs collective) between-subjects experiment.
SETTING
Qualtrics-based online experiment via Lucid.
SUBJECTS
The final sample consisted of 450 participants ( = 45.31).
MEASURES
Manipulation check, discussion and correction intentions, and need for cognition (NFC).
ANALYSIS
ANCOVA and PROCESS model 3 were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Significant interaction effects emerged between message types and social frames on discussion intention, (1, 442) = 5.26, = .022, and correction intention, (1, 442) = 4.85, = .028. Collectively framed narrative correction ( = 3.15, = 3.17) was more effective than individually framed narrative correction ( = 2.73, = 2.77). Individually framed statistical correction ( = 3.10, = 2.95) was more persuasive than collectively framed statistical correction ( = 2.89, = 2.69). The interaction effects were more evident for people low on NFC, = .031.
CONCLUSION
In motivating social correction behaviors, a story is better told with an emphasis on collective interests, and numbers are better presented with personal gains and losses. Future interventions should identify the target audience based on the level of NFC.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Pandemics; COVID-19; Communication; Intention; Cognition; Social Media
PubMed: 37309829
DOI: 10.1177/08901171231184075 -
Health Communication Apr 2024Guided by narrative transportation theory and the social identity approach, this study examined the effects of character accent on perceived similarity, transportation,...
Guided by narrative transportation theory and the social identity approach, this study examined the effects of character accent on perceived similarity, transportation, and narrative persuasion. Cigarette smokers from Kentucky ( = 492) listened to a first-person narrative about smoking-induced lung cancer. The character spoke either with a Southern American English (SAE; ingroup) or a General American English (GAE; outgroup) accent. Opposite to predictions, the GAE-accented character was perceived as more similar overall, engendered greater transportation, elevated lung cancer risk perceptions, and promoted higher intentions to quit smoking than the SAE-accented character. Consistent with predictions, the effects of character accent on risk perceptions and intentions to quit were mediated by perceived similarity and transportation. Taken together, these findings indicate that narrative character accent is a potent cue to similarity judgments, but that actual linguistic similarity is not isomorphic with perceived overall similarity. Theoretical and practical implications for narrative persuasion are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Intention; Judgment; Lung Neoplasms; Persuasive Communication; Kentucky
PubMed: 36879503
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2185926 -
Health Communication May 2024Obesity rates remain high among U.S. adults, especially rural residents. Research has shown that nostalgia appeals effectively promote several healthy behaviors....
Obesity rates remain high among U.S. adults, especially rural residents. Research has shown that nostalgia appeals effectively promote several healthy behaviors. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying nostalgia appeals remain unclear. This study examined the effects of nostalgia appeals on intention to increase exercise and shed light on how nostalgia affected persuasive outcomes. We anticipated that nostalgia appeals would persuade people by enhancing self-esteem and reducing anger and counterarguing. To illuminate the mechanisms underlying the effects of nostalgia, a between-subject experiment (nostalgia appeal vs. regret appeal vs. irrelevant message vs. neutral persuasive message) was conducted among overweight or obese rural Michiganders ( = 507). Results showed that relative to the regret appeal, the nostalgia appeal led to higher state self-esteem, less anger, and less counterarguing. There was no significant difference in attitude or behavioral intention between the nostalgia appeal, regret appeal, and neutral persuasive message. We demonstrated that enhancing self-esteem was the key mechanism by which the nostalgia appeal persuaded the target audience.
PubMed: 38767138
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2355441