The Use of Narrative in Science and Health Communication: A Scoping Review

Matthew Z Dudley; Gordon K Squires; Tracy M Petroske; Sandra Dawson; Janesse Brewer

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2023.107752

The Use of Narrative in Science and Health Communication: A Scoping Review

Patient Educ Couns. 2023 Jul:112:107752. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107752. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Authors

Matthew Z Dudley¹, Gordon K Squires², Tracy M Petroske³, Sandra Dawson⁴, Janesse Brewer⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: mattdudley@jhu.edu.
² California Institute of Technology / IPAC, 1200 E California Blvd, 315 Keith Spalding, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
³ Bell Creek Science Services, Bellingham, WA, USA.
⁴ Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory, Pasadena, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

PMID: 37068426
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107752

Abstract

Background: Many people deny science and reject health recommendations despite widely distributed facts and statistics. Didactic science and health communication is often dry, and relies on the false assumption that people make purely evidence-based decisions. Stories can be a powerful teaching tool by capturing attention and evoking emotion.

Objective: We explore the impact and appeal of, and describe best practices for, using narrative (storytelling) versus didactic methods in science and health communication.

Patient involvement: No patients were involved in the review process.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science for articles either: assessing effectiveness of narrative science/health communication; assessing acceptability of (or preference for) narrative science/health communication; giving advice on how best to use narrative; and/or providing science-based explanations for how/why narrative succeeds.

Results: Narrative science/health communication is effective and appealing for audiences across a variety of topics and mediums, with supporting evidence across fields such as epidemiology, neuroscience, and psychology. Whether narrative or didactic messaging is most effective depends on the topic, audience, and objective, as well as message quality. However, combining narrative with didactic methods is likely to be more effective than using either strategy alone.

Discussion: Narrative science/health communication merits wider implementation and further research. Narrative communication creates openness to information by delaying the formulation of counterarguments.

Practical value: Science and health communicators should collaborate with cultural and storytelling experts, work directly with their target audiences throughout the message development and testing processes, and rely on popular story elements (e.g., first-person point of view, relatable protagonists) to improve the comprehension, engagement, and thoughtful consideration of their intended audience.

Funding: This work was funded by Thirty Meter Telescope, with which two authors (GKS and SD) were affiliated. Otherwise, the funding organization had no role in the study and/or submission.

Keywords: Communication; Health; Narrative; Science; Storytelling.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Communication
Health Communication*
Humans
Narration
Patient Participation