Entertainment-Education Narrative Versus Nonnarrative Interventions to Educate and Motivate Latinas to Engage in Mammography Screening
Published online on August 23, 2016
Abstract
Background. The evidence is limited comparing the effects of entertainment-education (E-E) narrative versus nonnarrative interventions to educate and motivate Latinas to engage in mammography screening. Aims. This study compared an E-E narrative intervention to two nonnarrative interventions’ effects among Latinas on breast cancer knowledge and motivation, as measured by changes in self-efficacy, behavioral norms, and behavioral intentions to engage in mammography screening. Method. A sample of 141 Spanish-speaking Latinas was randomly assigned to one of three arms: an E-E narrative video, a nonnarrative educational video, and printed educational materials. Using a repeated measures design, the influence of the E-E narrative on pretest to posttest measures was assessed and compared to the influence of the other two interventions. Results. The E-E narrative and nonnarrative interventions significantly increased Latinas’ breast cancer knowledge, mammography self-efficacy, and behavioral norms from pretest to posttest. However, the E-E narrative participants’ pretest to posttest difference in mammography self-efficacy was significantly higher when compared to the difference of the other two interventions. The effect of the E-E narrative intervention on self-efficacy and behavioral norms was moderated by the participants’ absorption in the story and identification with the story characters. Conclusion. E-E narrative and nonnarrative interventions significantly educated and motivated Latinas to engage in mammography screening. The effects on mammography self-efficacy, an important precursor to behavior change, can be more strongly influenced by E-E narratives. Discussion. Although E-E narrative and nonnarrative interventions were effective, the need still exists to assess if they can ultimately influence lifesaving breast cancer screening behaviors.