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Vaccines Jun 2024This systematic review of 54 cross-disciplinary peer-reviewed causal empirical studies helps public health officials, researchers, and healthcare professionals better... (Review)
Review
This systematic review of 54 cross-disciplinary peer-reviewed causal empirical studies helps public health officials, researchers, and healthcare professionals better comprehend the effects of fear appeals in vaccine promotional campaigns on message processing, persuasion, vaccination attitudes, and vaccination intentions. This review documents inconsistent findings across studies, which it attempts to clarify by considering differences in research designs, sample populations, and outcomes measured. In general, we find that fear appeals increase risk perceptions, message involvement, and vaccination attitudes. However, fear appeals have less influence on vaccination intentions, especially among female and general adult populations or populations from the U.S. and other Western cultures. On the other hand, the effect of fear appeals on vaccination intentions is stronger among student populations and those from China (People's Republic of China and Hong Kong) and other non-Western cultures. Also, fear appeals are less persuasive when promoting COVID-19 vaccines and boosters than they are for other vaccines (e.g., HPV, influenza, MMR). Future research should compare fear appeal effectiveness in messages across vaccines or when combined with other executional elements, such as the endorser or type of evidence provided. Finally, future studies should explore other methodological approaches and measure underexplored message outcomes, such as vaccine uptake behavior, in more naturalistic settings.
PubMed: 38932382
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060653 -
Health Communication May 2024This systematic review evaluates health messaging strategies for the prevention and cessation of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. Health messaging...
This systematic review evaluates health messaging strategies for the prevention and cessation of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. Health messaging strategies were defined as the strategic process of developing messages with the intent to shape, reinforce, or change recipients' health attitudes and behaviors. McGuire's Communication/Persuasion Model guided the analysis of the messaging strategies, focusing on the model's five communication inputs (i.e. source, message, channel, audience, destination) and 14 persuasive outcomes. Nine databases were searched from January 2007 to September 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies in English that presented quantitative data on messaging strategies aimed at discouraging vaping among youth and young adults. Each study was also coded for study characteristics and the utilization of theory. Out of 6,045 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies exhibit a diverse array of research methods and a consistent integration of theories. The review emphasizes the nuanced main and interaction effects of various communication inputs, such as message features and audience characteristics, while also pointing out a research gap in message sources. In addition, the utilization of social media for effective messaging to engage the audience requires further research. Only one study specifically evaluated messaging strategies for vaping cessation. More research is imperative to develop targeted and tailored messages that effectively prevent and reduce vaping, especially among populations at higher risk of vaping-related harms, while also leveraging effective channels and innovative communication technologies to engage the audience.
PubMed: 38742648
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2352284 -
Patient Education and Counseling Feb 2024Although health promotion scholars and practitioners frequently employ video-based promotion, its effectiveness remains uncertain due to mixed findings. Nuanced details... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Although health promotion scholars and practitioners frequently employ video-based promotion, its effectiveness remains uncertain due to mixed findings. Nuanced details regarding content and design also remain under-explored.
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive search across nine databases to identify relevant empirical research articles.
RESULTS
Our systematic review included a total of 54 studies, with 38 studies eligible for meta-analysis. Findings highlight the promising potential of video messaging strategies in promoting health behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS
Future research should focus on designing video content that targets detection behaviors within an appropriate length, guided by robust theoretical frameworks to maximize the efficacy of video promotion. More substantial evidence is needed to assess whether video promotion can achieve similar persuasive effectiveness across diverse cultural, political, and economic circumstances. Factors related to the audience (e.g., distinct psychological and personality influences) and message characteristics (e.g., length, credibility) should be further explored to better elucidate the relationship between video-based health promotion and health outcomes.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Health practitioners and organizations should incorporate video-based messages in interventions as supplement or alternative means to educate audiences of positive prevention methods, establish accurate attitude and intentions toward prevention behaviors, and increase their vigilance toward risky behaviors.
Topics: Humans; Health Promotion; Health Behavior; Communications Media
PubMed: 38070298
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.108095 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Guilt appeals are widely used as a persuasive approach in various areas of practice. However, the strength and direction of the persuasive effects of guilt appeals are...
INTRODUCTION
Guilt appeals are widely used as a persuasive approach in various areas of practice. However, the strength and direction of the persuasive effects of guilt appeals are mixed, which could be influenced by theoretical and methodological factors.
METHOD
The present study is a comprehensive meta-analysis of 26 studies using a random-effects model to assess the persuasive effects of guilt appeals. In total, 127 effect sizes from seven types of persuasive outcomes (i.e., guilt, attitude, behavior, behavioral intention, non-guilt emotions, motivation, and cognition) were calculated based on 7,512 participants.
RESULTS
The analysis showed a small effect size of guilt appeals [ = 0.19, 95% CI (0.10, 0.28)]. The effect of guilt appeals was moderated by the theoretical factors related to appraisal and coping of guilt arousal, including attributed responsibility, controllability and stability of the causal factors, the proximity of perceiver-victim relationship, recommendation of reparative behaviors, and different outcome types. The effect was also associated with methods used in different studies.
DISCUSSION
Overall, the findings demonstrated the persuasive effects of guilt appeals, but theoretical and methodological factors should be considered in the design and testing of guilt appeals. We also discussed the practical implications of the findings.
PubMed: 37842697
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1201631 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Oct 2023The ubiquity of short videos has demonstrated vast potential for health communication. An expansion of research has examined the persuasive effect of health... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The ubiquity of short videos has demonstrated vast potential for health communication. An expansion of research has examined the persuasive effect of health communication in short videos, yet a synthesis of the research is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature by examining the persuasive effect of health communication in short videos, offering guidance for researchers and practitioners. In particular, it seeks to address 4 key research questions: What are the characteristics of short videos, samples, and research designs in short video-based health communication literature? What theories underpin the short video-based health communication literature? What are the persuasive effects of health communication in short videos? and What directions should future research in this area take?
METHODS
Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, an electronic search of 10 databases up to March 10, 2023, generated 4118 results. After the full-text screening, 18 articles met the eligibility criteria.
RESULTS
The current research lacks a uniform definition of short videos, demonstrates sample biases in location and education, and adopts limited methodologies. Most studies in this synthesis are theoretically grounded or use theoretical concepts, which are predominantly well examined in persuasion research. Moreover, relevant topics and suitable themes are effective in persuasive health communication outcomes, whereas the impact of diverse narrative techniques remains ambiguous.
CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that future research extends the definition of short videos beyond time constraints and explores non-Western and less-educated populations. In addition, researchers should consider diverse methods to provide a more comprehensive examination and investigate the impact of audience targeting and narrative techniques in short video health communication. Finally, investigating how the unique aspects of short videos interact with or challenge traditional persuasion theories is essential.
Topics: Humans; Persuasive Communication; Health Communication; Narration; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 37831488
DOI: 10.2196/48508