Health-Promotion
Health Promotion
Media Campaigns
Think of as many slogans as you can from health promotion campaigns
(3 min)
There are three methods of health promotion:
Media campaigns
Legislation
Fear arousal
In today’s lesson we will be looking at media campaigns and the research that indicates they are effective.
Why is it important that we have evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of health promotion by the media?
What are the common means of getting health messages across to the general public?
Radio adverts (informational and jingles)
Television adverts
Posters
Leaflets
Major sporting events sponsorship
Magazine/newspaper articles
Speakers go into schools etc.
A Scottish media campaign on drink driving showed that the numbers of people drinking at home between August 2006 (before the campaign) and December 2006 (after the campaign) did not change significantly.
However, there was a gradual decline among those who claimed to drink at home at least once a week from 75% in December 2005, to 73% in
August 2006 and 71% in December 2006 (Scottish Government, 2007).
What can you conclude from this media campaign?
Some campaigns do not work as they result in change of attitude which does not result in a behavioural change
Television Campaigns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Dc7bqU_Dg
Do you think it is effective?
How could you test the effectiveness of this type of advert?
Methodology:
A quasi experiment where a media areas between 1976 and 1984.
An analysis of the number of chip pan
1976 and 1982.
Two quantitative consumer surveys to see pan fire hazards.
Procedure:
There were two television campaigns, one called overfilling and the other, in-attendance.
Each were 60 seconds long and showed the initial cause of the fire and how to put it out.
Three of the 10 areas were shown the campaign a year later.
The number of chip pan fires was analysed for each area.
Findings:
The net overall decline in each area over the 12 month period was between 7 and 25%.
The largest decline was during the campaign. IN one area there was a decline of 33% during the campaign, 17% 6 months afterwards and 15% over the next 15 weeks.
‘Overlap’ areas, which received two television stations showed the least impact.
Questionnaires showed an increase in the awareness of chip pan fire advertising and the mention of a chip pan fire being a danger increased.
Conclusions:
The advertising proved effective as shown by the decline in chip pan fires.
The behaviour change is seen more during the campaign and decreases over time.
The individual is less likely to be influenced by the comparison if overexposed to it- living in overlap areas.
Evaluation
Methodological issues?
Social desirability bias
Self-report measures- not wanting to be seen as being ‘dangerous’
Not all fires are reported
If the person puts the fire out themselves
Ecological validity
A real advert on TV
Usefulness
Being informed gave people power to act in dangerous situations
Legislation
BICYCLE HELMET LAWS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS
Legislation - background
Is a law of set of laws that have been enacted by a legislative body (Parliament)
How does this work?
How is this helpful? Relate to health?
Health can be promoted in this manner.
Any examples?
2007- Smoking ban in all enclosed and public spaces
Legal age to buy cigarettes
Discuss – Legislations vs. educational campaigns
Is legislation an effective means of encouraging healthy behaviour?
Aim:
To review the impact of the passing of a law promoting cycle helmet wearing in children.
Methodology:
A natural experiment – data collected by survey
(children answered the questions with help from parents)
Howard County, Maryland, USA, requiring children under 16 years of age riding bicycles to wear a helmet.
into one of 3 counties.
(Howard County,
Montgomery County and Baltimore
Participants:
Children from 47 schools in Howard County and 2 control groups;
Montgomery county where a bicycle helmet law was already passed.
Baltimore county
Age ranges were; 9-10 years, 12-13 years and 14-15years.
7322 children were sent questionnaires.
Details
1.
2.
3.
Howards county – brought in the legislation
Montgomery – used extensive educational campaigns
Baltimore – acted as control. No particular measures to increase helmet use.
Procedure:
A questionnaire was sent out, containing a 4-point likert.
Topics covered by the questionnaire;
Bicycle use
Peer pressure
Awareness of the law
Helmet ownership
Findings:
Response rates were between 41 and 53% across the age ranges in all
3 counties.
Howard county (legislation passed) - Reported bicycle helmet usage increased from 11.4% to 37.5% after the passing of the law
Montgomery (educational) 8.4 to 12.6%
Baltimore (control) 6.7% to 11.1%
The self report method used here correlated with an observational study by Cote et al (1992), which found similar rates of cycle helmet usage
Conclusions:
Although many children did not routinely wear a helmet, Howard County did show a significant increase in the reporting's of helmet wearing.
The area using educational campaigns was not significantly different to the area using no campaign.
Passing legislation is more effective than using educational campaigns alone and educational campaigns are not necessarily effective at all.
Issues:
Had a control group
Shows the difference that the legislation campaign makes
Not due to chance
Generalisability
Large sample – 7322 children
From USA only
Ecological validity
Legislation was passed in natural environment
Social-desirability bias
Self-report
Do not want to be seen as breaking the law
Debates:
Usefulness
Legislation has more of an effect on promoting healthy behaviours than educational campaigns
Shows how educational campaigns are not significantly different to no campaign
Free will vs Determinism – does society have the right to override our free choices?
In class – peer mark activity
How has legislation been used as a method of health promotion? (10)
H/W
Peer mark the 10 marker on Legislation using this mark scheme and the scheme from your folders.
Janis and Feshbeck
THE EFFECTS OF FEAR AROUSAL
Key facts about dental health
Worldwide, 60–90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities.
Dental cavities can be prevented by maintaining a constant low level of fluoride in the oral cavity.
Severe periodontal (gum) disease, which may result in tooth loss, is found in
15–20% of middle-aged (35-44 years) adults.
Globally, about 30% of people aged 65–74 have no natural teeth.
Oral disease in children and adults is higher among poor and disadvantaged population groups.
Risk factors for oral diseases include an unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use and poor oral hygiene, and social determinants.
A fear appeal is......
a persuasive message which emphasises the harmful physical/social consequences of failing to comply with the recommendations of the message
The HEALTH BELIEF MODEL suggests that perceived threat is necessary for a person to change their behaviour.
The most obvious way to introduce this threat is through FEAR APPEALS. Think about recent anti-smoking campaigns, healthy eating, and drink driving…. The list is endless! What we need to ask ourselves is how EFFECTIVE these appeals are.
What do you think of the following?..............
Consider whether each one is a mild, moderate or strong fear appeal.
Why?
Would it alter your behaviour? Why or why not?
What emotions does it arouse for you?
1
2
3
4
5
6
HEALTH PROMOTION
A classic study into the use of fear in health promotion was carried out by Janis
and Feshbach in 1953 who devised a study looking at promoting oral hygiene.
AIM:
To study the motivational effects of fear arousal in health promotion
PARTICIPANTS
The entire freshman year of a large Connecticut high school, average age 15 years.
METHOD :
4 groups of Ps.
3 were given a 15 min lecture on tooth decay and oral hygiene
.
GROUP 1 were given a
Strong fear appeal
They received pictures and descriptions of diseased mouths, including explanations about the pain of tooth decay and gum disease and awful consequences like cancer and blindness.
GROUP 2 were given a
moderate fear appeal
They received similar pictures and descriptions but they were much less disturbing and dramatic.
GROUP 3 were given a lecture about teeth and cavities -
But without referring to very serious consequences and using diagrams and x-rays rather than emotive pictures.
This is a
MINIMAL FEAR APPEAL
Janis and Feshbach
LECTURE FORM STRONG MODERATE MINIMAL CONTROL
INCREASED
ANXIETY
INFORMATION
AQUIRED
APPRAISAL OF
COMMUNICATIO
N
CHANGE IN
HEALTH CARE
42 % increase
No difference
Highest appraisal
BUT
“horrible”
8% increase
No difference
27 % increase
24 % increase
0% increase
No difference
No difference
Lowest appraisal
36% increase
0 % increase
CONCLUSIONS; The strong fear appeal created the most worry in the students and was rated as more interesting.
BUT
The overall effectiveness of a health promotion campaign is likely to be REDUCED by the use of strong fear appeal. It produced the least change in behaviour.
Aims:
To investigate the consequences on behaviour and emotions of fear appeals in health promotions.
Methodology:
A lab experiment showing fear arousal material.
Data collected through questionnaires on emotional reactions and changes in dental practice.
Independent measures including the same speaker and same content on the causes and preventions of tooth decay.
Procedure:
Questionnaire given one week before the lecture on dental health.
A 15 minute illustrated lecture delivered in a standard manner by the same lecturer.
Questionnaire handed out immediately after the lecture asking about emotional response to it.
A follow up one week later about the long-term effects.
Findings:
All lectures conveyed the required information and there was no difference in the amount of knowledge on dental health in the 3 groups.
Strong fear appeal was seen in a positive light and a high level of dislike was reported.
Moderate and minimal arousal has increased brushing by 44 and 50% whilst strong fear arousal only increased by 28%. Necessary
Conclusions:
Fear appeals can be effective in changing behaviours, but the level of fear must be right for each audience.
Minimal fear was the most effective with the highest conformity rate to recommended practice.
Issues:
Generalisability
Only from one school
Social desirability bias
Self report change
Control group
Changes were due to health promotion and not chance
Independent measures design
Participant variables
Debates:
Usefulness
Showed how a minimal fear appeal is the best option
Fear arousal should be tailored to the audience
Ethnocentrism
All from one school
Health Promotion
TASK 1:
YOU WILL BE GIVEN ONE OF THE THREE METHODS OF HEALTH
PROMOTION.
-
-
-
YOUR TASK, IN PAIRS, IS TO:
CHOOSE AN ISSUE
DESIGN A MEDIA CAMPAIGN/SUGGEST LEGISLATION/METHOD
OF FEAR AROUSAL FOR THAT ISSUE
EXT: EVALUATE YOUR DESIGN
Task 2
Issue/debate
Ecological validity
Reliability
Usefulness
Free will/determinism
Reduc/holism
Nature/nurture
Quan/Qual
Methods
Media
Comparison of issues & debates
Legislation Fear
Exam questions
January 2011
How can fear arousal be used as a method of health promotion? (10)
Assess the effectiveness of methods of health promotion. (15)
June 2011
Describe one piece of research into media campaigning as a method of health promotion. (10)
Discuss the ecological validity of research into methods of health promotion. (15)
January 2013
How has legislation been used as a method of health promotion? (10)
To what extent is research into methods of health promotion limited. (15)
June 2014
How can media campaigns be used to promote healthy behaviour?
(10)
Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of research into methods of health promotion. (15)
