Development and evaluation of four short, animated videos promoting positive health behaviours for women in midlife (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Health and health behaviours in midlife are important determinants of healthy ageing. There is evidence of unmet needs for health promoting information for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women with low literacy. OBJECTIVE The aims were to develop accessible short, animated videos promoting positive health behaviours for women in midlife and evaluate their accessibility, acceptability, understanding, and usability. METHODS In collaboration with a video production company, a multidisciplinary team of academics and health professionals developed two short, animated videos on self-management of menopause health and two promoting joint health. Their accessibility, acceptability, understanding, and usability to women were evaluated in an anonymous online survey. RESULTS In all 490 women viewed the videos and responded to the survey. Of these 353 completed all questions (72%). Almost all agreed that the information in the videos was ‘very easy to understand’. The proportions reporting that all or some of the information in the video was new to them varied between videos from 36% to 66%; the reported likelihood of using the practical tips offered in the videos varied from 70% to 89%; and between 61% and 78% of respondents stated that they would recommend the videos to others. CONCLUSIONS Most women found the videos easy to understand, learned something new from watching them, planned to use the practical tips they offered and were likely to recommend them to other women. This suggests that short, animated videos about health self-management strategies in midlife to improve the chance of healthy ageing are perceived as accessible, acceptable, easy to understand, and useful by women. CLINICALTRIAL N/A