Narratives that address affective forecasting errors reduce perceived barriers to colorectal cancer screening

Narratives from similar others may be an effective way to increase important health behaviors. In this study, we used a narrative intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening. Researchers have suggested that people may overestimate barriers to colorectal cancer screening. We recruited partici...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 45 - 52
Main Authors:	Dillard, Amanda J., Fagerlin, Angela, Cin, Sonya Dal, Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J., Ubel, Peter A.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2010 Elsevier Pergamon Press Inc
Series:	Social Science & Medicine
Subjects:	Affect Affective forecasting Age Barriers Biological and medical sciences Cancer Cancer screening Colon cancer screening Colon cancer screening Barriers Narratives Affective forecasting Tailoring Risk perception USA Intervention Colonoscopy - methods Colonoscopy - psychology Colorectal cancer Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis Colorectal Neoplasms - psychology Constraints Early Detection of Cancer - psychology Early Detection of Cancer - statistics & numerical data Empirical research Errors Female Forecasting Forecasts Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen Health Behavior Health education Health Promotion - methods Health Services Accessibility Humans Intervention Male Medical sciences Medical screening Middle Aged Miscellaneous Narration Narratives Patient Acceptance of Health Care Perceptions Prevention and actions Public health Public health. Hygiene Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine Risk Risk Assessment Risk perception Social sciences Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus Surveys and Questionnaires Tailoring Tests Tumors U.S.A United States of America USA United States North America America United States > US Intervention USA Narratives Barriers Affective forecasting Risk perception Colon cancer screening Tailoring Testimony Rectal disease Accessibility Customization Colorectal cancer Barrier Colon cancer Narrative Intestinal disease Public health Human Social perception Error Malignant tumor Medical screening Forecasting Care Colonic disease Digestive diseases Social medicine Discourse analysis Cancer
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Summary:	Narratives from similar others may be an effective way to increase important health behaviors. In this study, we used a narrative intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening. Researchers have suggested that people may overestimate barriers to colorectal cancer screening. We recruited participants from the US, ages 49–60 who had never previously been screened for colorectal cancer, to read an educational message about screening for the disease. One-half of participants were randomly assigned to also receive a narrative within the message (control participants did not receive a narrative). The narrative intervention was developed according to predictions of affective forecasting theory. Compared to participants who received only the educational message, participants who received the message along with a narrative reported that the barriers to screening would have less of an impact on a future screening experience. The narrative also increased risk perception for colorectal cancer and interest in screening in the next year.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Undefined-3 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1
ISSN:	0277-9536 1873-5347
DOI:	10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.02.038