Adapting Effective Narrative-Based HIV-Prevention Interventions to Increase Minorities' Engagement in HIV/AIDS Services

Abstract

Disparities related to barriers to care for HIV-positive and at-risk minorities continue to be a major public health problem. Adaptation of efficacious HIV prevention interventions for use as health communication innovations is a promising approach for increasing minorities' utilization of HIV health and ancillary services. Role model stories, a widely-used, HIV prevention strategy, employ culturally tailored narratives to depict experiences of an individual modeling health risk reduction behaviors. This paper describes the careful development of a contextually appropriate role model story focused on increasing minorities' engagement in HIV/AIDS health and related services. Findings from interviews with community members and focus groups with HIV-positive minorities indicated several barriers and facilitators related to engagement in HIV healthcare and disease management (e.g., patient/provider relationships) and guided the development of role model story narratives.

Influenza Vaccination: The Persuasiveness of Messages Among People Aged 65 Years and Older

“…In this study, we used role-model stories, which, according to social learning-cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), may facilitate learning. The use of role-model stories was applied to public health communication intervention (Berkley-Patton et al 2009). This study showed that the use of role-model stories is a promising method for influencing the perceived risk of influenza and the perceptions of efficacy.…”

“…Larkey and Hecht (2010) hypothesized that the influence of narratives on attitudes and intention is explained by transportation (i.e., absorption and emotional involvement with the events of the story), identification with characters, and social contagion. Moreover, since narratives play a central role in our thinking and understanding (Schank & Berman, 2002), and are processed in an automatic, relatively effortless way (Bower, Black, & Turner, 1979), narratives facilitate comprehensibility of a message (Berkley-Patton et al, 2009;Geary et al, 2006). Finally, Slater, Buller, Waters, Archibeque, and LeBlanc (2003) found that narrative was perceived as more believable compared to didactic communication.…”

“…Health promotion interventions using narratives as a means of promoting preventative health behavior are common (e.g., Hinyard & Kreuter, 2007;Larkey & Hecht, 2010;Petraglia, 2007). Based on social learning-cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), the use of role-model stories is considered appropriate in different areas of health communication, such as in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (Berkley-Patton, Goggin, Liston, Bradley-Ewing, & Neville, 2009). Larkey and Hecht (2010) hypothesized that the influence of narratives on attitudes and intention is explained by transportation (i.e., absorption and emotional involvement with the events of the story), identification with characters, and social contagion.…”

Examining Church Capacity to Develop and Disseminate a Religiously Appropriate HIV Tool Kit with African American Churches

“…RMS, akin to storytelling in the African American heritage and particularly used in the church through parables and preaching, can be a culturally appropriate way to share experiences 33 and increase acceptability and utilization of HIV services. 34 RMS storyline elements were guided by social learning and transtheoretical theories 35 and consisted of male and female role models sharing their testimonies on moving from ambivalence about HIV testing to getting tested and experiencing the benefits of doing so (e.g., peace of mind). RMS videos were kept to 5 min to allow for viewing time during regular church services.…”

Patterns of Treatment Use and Barriers to Care Among Hospitalized Adults with HIV

“…A growing number of these models rely extensively on peers in this study (PLWHA from the targeted community; Raja, McKirnan, & Glick, 2007) or near-peers (i.e., outreach workers, peer counselors; Berkley-Patton et al, 2009) who provide emotional support, education, and a variety of outreach services such as distributing educational materials, running support groups, teaching strategies to decrease alcohol and drug use, and modeling safe sex practices (e.g., Berkley-Patton et al, 2009;Messias, Moneyham, Vyavaharkar, Murdaugh, & Phillips, 2008;Molitor et al, 2005;Raja et al, 2007).…”