Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Digital storytelling approaches have been identified as a tool for influencing behavior change mainly in the political and marketing terrain, and recently in the public health field. The facilitation of deeper emotional engagement potentially en route to behavior change defines its power of influence on ‘harmful’ health behaviors. This power to influence has been tested in various studies on chronic health problems, which include cancer, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and mental health interventions. However, a concise synthesis of findings in cardiovascular disease, CVD harmful (risk factors) behaviors has not been reported in the literature in spite of the social and economic burden cardiovascular disease places on societies and individuals.This scoping review intends to map out mechanisms of change, context and outcomes of studies in which digital storytelling had been used to attempt modification of harmful health behavior among population with CVD risk factors. It also compares findings against the Digital Storytelling Transformative Framework, DSTF for behavior change. A database search, qualitative content charting and data mapping using the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Digital storytelling has been identified with various health intervention indices especially among deprived populations but has insufficient counts across risk factors to serve as a basis of clinical evidence in CVD-related behavioral risk factor modification. DSTF shows potential and sufficient indices (theories, models, behavior change constructs, processes, mechanisms, and outcomes) as a means of clinical intervention and could therefore be further tested in clinical trials across risk factors to increase its evidence base.