How can storytelling be used to promote health education?

In my experience as an ophthalmic surgeon, there are a number of steps required before a patient makes a decision to proceed with surgery for example. 1. Does the surgery address a need that they have or improve performance e.g. better reading without spectacles? 2. Have they heard about the procedure, your clinic, you, from word of mouth, advertising, social media etc.? 3. Have they been exposed to real life stories where someone in a relatable situation resolved the problem or challenge that they themselves are facing? This tends to be the most powerful evidence for most people. It's not generated by the service provider but rather is coming from a peer's experience. It's simply more credible.

In my experience, sharing a humorous story is one of the best ways to connect with an audience. Be sure to avoid controversial areas such as politics and religion. Never make fun of others (especially patients) - self depreciating jokes are one of the safest ways to avoid offending others.

I’d add a 5th element “speaker”. As important as the audience is - in healthcare we often take for granted the speaker will unintentionally have an effect on the story which in turn influences how the audience will receive it and what they’ll take from it. Examining our own lenses of the story we’re trying to tell (why it matters to us personally, why we are the ones delivering it) is a critical first step before understanding what the audience needs to hear and why. It helps us understand the gap between the speaker and the audience. The size of this gap determines if/how/when the audience will listen and act upon what they've learned. Ultimately we want health education to change behaviors which impacts outcomes.

Considerar os diferentes estilos de aprendizagem, como visual, auditivo ou cinestésico, pode ajudar a adaptar a entrega da mensagem. A utilização de ilustrações, gráficos ou até mesmo elementos interativos em mídias digitais pode enriquecer a experiência do público e facilitar a compreensão.

One thing I’ve found helpful as a nursing leader is to share my experiences in my own authentic way whether it is in the form of a formal lecture with nursing students or an informal interview format where the students are empowered and enabled to ask me any question they choose. Innovative ways need to be explored to connect with audiences from diverse backgrounds.

Outro recurso valioso na criação de histórias para a educação em saúde é a inclusão de elementos de gamificação. A gamificação envolve a incorporação de elementos de jogos, como desafios, recompensas e competição, para engajar o público e tornar a experiência de aprendizado mais interativa e envolvente. No entanto, é importante equilibrar a gamificação com a seriedade da temática de saúde. Certifique-se de que os elementos de jogo sejam aplicados de forma relevante e coerente com os objetivos educacionais, evitando a trivialização ou a banalização dos assuntos abordados.

Storytelling can be a powerful tool to promote sexual health when used to share accurate information about sexual health. It can address common misconceptions, provide information about safe sex practices, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, consent, and other critical sexual health topics.

Several tips can help create and deliver a compelling story to audiences in healthcare settings. First, think about who your audience is, their background, their clinical history, and their interests and use this to tailor your story in the way they can best relate to. Second, keep the audience engaged in the storytelling process. This creates a sense of ownership and can help inspire change a lot faster. Third, consider adding a call to action as part of the story being told. Audiences are more likely to spend more time pondering on a story and attempting to use it to create change if they have a sense of impending action needing to be taken.

Indigenous Australians have rich oral traditions, that features storytelling to transmit knowledge, customs, and values from one generation to the next. Storytelling also has a role in healing, in fact, the We Al-Li program developed by Jiman and Bundjalung woman, and professor at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. This culturally informed model utilises a socio-cultural model of health, addresses trauma integrated healing. Storytelling in a culturally appropriate manner can be utilised to improve health and mental health of populations, especially in neglected and most in need populations like indigenous Australians.

Effective story telling can also contribute to revenue generation, example When healthcare managers need to engage with stakeholders, such as board members, donors, or the public, storytelling can make a compelling case for investments or support by illustrating the impact of healthcare initiatives.