141st APHA Annual Meeting

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292195
This is my life, inspiring thoughts for stroke survivors: Patient narratives in the deserve intervention

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM

Veronica Perez, MA , Division of Social Epidemiology, Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Leigh Quarles, MPH, CPH, CHES , Division of Social Epidemiology, Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
David Huffman, MA , Red Echo Group, New York, NY
Eric Keith , Red Echo Group, New York, NY
Bernadette Boden-Albala, MPH, DrPH , Division of Social Epidemiology, Department of Health Evidence and Policy and Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Narrative approaches in interventions are emerging as a promising tool for supporting health-behavior change. The DESERVE study is an innovative multi-level discharge behavioral intervention aimed at risk factor reduction in 800 mild stroke/TIA patients with a focus on increasing risk knowledge, improving medication adherence and patient-physician communication. We have incorporated narratives as part of this culturally responsive intervention which includes a video entitled “This is My Life, Inspiring thoughts from Stroke Survivors.” Using this video as a tool may positively reinforce patients' intrinsic motivation to make behavioral changes by giving them a sense of self-actualization and self-efficacy. Our research team worked with documentary filmmakers to develop an on-camera interview in English and Spanish with 15 stroke survivors identified through support groups that elicited stories focused on survivorship, hope and DESERVE's three thematic areas. The film captures stroke survivors describing their personal and organic experiences with stroke, physical, mental and emotional challenges as well as their motivation for recovery, self-efficacy and support. Cultural differences in outlook and perspective on recovery between the English and Spanish interviews emerged during editing. While both versions maintain a focus on DESERVE's three themes, the Spanish version portrays themes on fate and spiritual recovery and the English version touches more on self-determination. Short and full length versions were created for both films and all intervention participants take home both version. Such approaches to promoting and incorporating patient narratives in interventions may be critical for motivating long-term behavior change and risk reduction in other chronic disease patients.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Chronic disease management and prevention
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe how patient narratives can be used as a tool to support health behavior change. Discuss the use of patient narratives to provide culturally tailored messages for behavior change.

Keywords: Behavioral Research, Culture

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a research coordinator I helped to develop and implement the DESERVE intervention. Involved in video production including, interviewing and editing.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.