Promoting Community Health and Understanding of Science Topics by Reading Graphic-Style Stories Aloud Together

Health Educ Behav. 2023 Oct;50(5):658-661. doi: 10.1177/10901981231159681. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Abstract

Limited health literacy and access to engaging, relevant, understandable health promotion and disease prevention materials are barriers to achieving and maintaining health. The We-Engage-4-Health program co-created the graphic-style story "Foamy Soap Fun" with community members to reinforce the importance of the primary preventive strategy-handwashing-in limiting spread of COVID-19. Pre/postsurveys were administered, and a modified focus group was conducted to learn community participants' preferences for reading stories (aloud together and/or silently to themselves), versus reading typical health promotion information sheets. Three themes were identified related to reading the story aloud: increased enthusiasm, increased attentiveness, and improved interpretation skills, vocabulary, and information processing skills. Educational constructs included: empathy with the story's characters, engagement with previous health experiences, enthusiasm with sharing health information, and explanation of complex health topics. This study supports the value of graphic-style stories in helping communities to better understand the science behind health topics.

Keywords: graphic-style stories; handwashing; health literacy; health promotion; prevention; underserved communities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Health Literacy*
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Learning
  • Public Health