Formative research to develop theory-based messages for a Western Australian child drowning prevention television campaign: study protocol

Public health education using social learning theory: a systematic scoping review

BACKGROUND

Public health education (PHE) in social environments plays a crucial role in mitigating the impact of public health events, especially with the recent surge in global incidents. Social learning theory (SLT) provides a strong theoretical foundation for implementing PHE. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic scoping review of PHE using SLT, synthesizing the target populations, types of research, main findings, and future directions.

METHODS

The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. We conducted a comprehensive search of five electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, and APA PsycInfo) for English articles related to PHE using SLT. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the characteristics of the articles included in the study, followed by a comprehensive narrative analysis of the results.

RESULTS

Research on PHE using SLT mainly focuses on adolescents, students, special patients, and vulnerable populations. The study sample includes seven research types and nine commonly used experimental methods. Four modes of PHE using SLT are identified, along with four types of summarized research results.

CONCLUSION

PHE research based on SLT can be prioritized for preventing widespread infectious diseases, spreading fundamental public health information, and assisting patients with particular illnesses. To enhance the implementation of PHE, researchers and policymakers should integrate online and offline health education resources, ensure the accessibility of up-to-date information, and leverage digital technologies in PHE. More highly interactive and participatory health education courses will be established in social learning environments to encourage public participation in PHE.

Fatal drowning in Indonesia: understanding knowledge gaps through a scoping review

Little is known about unintentional drowning deaths in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous and largest archipelagic country. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and risk factors of unintentional drowning in Indonesia and explore existing health promotion and drowning prevention approaches in Indonesia within a socio-ecological health promotion framework. A scoping review, guided by PRISMA-ScR, was conducted to locate peer-reviewed studies and government reports/policy documents published until May 2023, in English or Indonesian language, using MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, Informit, PsycINFO (ProQuest), Scopus, SafetyLit, BioMed Central and Google Scholar, Indonesian journal databases (Sinta, Garuda) and government agencies websites around the terms: drown, swim, flood, hurricane, cyclone, disaster, water rescue and maritime/boat safety. This review identified 32 papers. However, a paucity of information on unintentional drowning rates, risk factors and prevention in Indonesia was noted. The unavailability of a coordinated national drowning data collection system in Indonesia, from which national and subnational subcategory data can be collected, underlines the possibility of under-representation of drowning mortality. The association between various exposures and drowning incidents has not been fully investigated. An over-reliance on individual-focused, behaviour-based, preventive measures was observed. These findings highlight the need for improving drowning surveillance to ensure the availability and reliability of drowning data; and strengthening research to understand the risk factors for drowning and delivery of drowning prevention programs. Further policy development and research focusing on health promotion approaches that reflect a socio-ecological approach to drowning prevention in Indonesia is imperative.

Fifteen Years after a 10-year Retrospective: The State of Health Mass Mediated Campaigns

In 2006, a 10-year retrospective of successful mass mediated health communication campaigns reviewed the field and highlighted strategies for successful campaigns. In the 15 years since the retrospective, there have been dramatic changes in the media environment and advances in health communication research. In this article, we describe changes in the health communication media landscape and in our understanding of mass mediated health communication campaigns in the 15 years since the retrospective. Although the media environment has shifted, we argue that effective principles of health communication have remained relatively constant. We note significant advances in technology since the previous retrospective that can further advance health communication campaigns, with new technologies offering promise as channels for health communication campaigns as well as for campaign planning. We also recommend that campaign researchers report in detail on their use of theory, audience segmentation, channel selection, and the role of formative research when describing campaign efforts; that communicators continue to develop frameworks that integrate principles of effective campaign design; and that additional research focus on understanding how technology can be effectively incorporated into campaign planning, distribution, and evaluation.

Confidence and motivation to help those with a mental health problem: experiences from a study of nursing students completing mental health first aid (MHFA) training

BACKGROUND

Those studying nursing are at greater risk for developing mental health problems than other tertiary students. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training may assist students to support peers and build mental health literacy. Understanding motivation to participate in training can identify factors influencing uptake and completion. This paper explores motivators for university nursing students to participate in MHFA training and uses previous experience and confidence in assisting someone with a mental health problem to triangulate data.

METHOD

A randomised controlled trial was employed to measure the impact of the course for nursing students at a large Western Australian university. An online survey was administered prior to MHFA training with undergraduate nursing students (n = 140). Thematic analysis of open-ended questions explores motivators to participate and help provided to an individual. Baseline frequencies describe demographics, confidence in helping and exposure to someone with a mental health problem. A Chi Square test compared confidence in helping and exposure to someone with a mental health problem.

RESULTS

More than half of participants reported contact with individuals experiencing mental health problems (55%; n = 77); approximately a third (35.8%) reported limited confidence to assist. Those in previous contact with someone with a mental health problem (71.5%; n = 55) were significantly more likely to feel confident in helping (p = 0.044). Mental health literacy, helping others, career and experiences were described as training motivators.

CONCLUSION

Exploiting motivators, both intrinsic and extrinsic may increase MHFA training uptake and completion. Tertiary institutions would benefit from policy to embed MHFA training into nursing degrees. The training may have utility for university degrees more broadly.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry; ACTRN12614000861651. Registered 11 August 2014 (retrospectively registered).

"A content analysis of news media coverage of drowning events in Western Australia over two summers, 2014-2016"

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Drowning is a leading cause of death globally. Opportunities to promote drowning prevention in news media may be overlooked for attention-grabbing headlines, imagery and narrative. This study examines news media coverage of fatal drowning events in Western Australia (WA).

METHODS

Coronial fatal drowning data in WA were extracted for two summer time periods (2014-2016) by date, age, gender, location and description. Corresponding print and online news articles were captured using: (i) Media Alert; (ii) Google News; (iii) Factiva. A content and frame analysis protocol was developed. A qualitative approach was taken to analyse the news angle. A subgroup analysis was undertaken for drowning focused articles.

RESULTS

The final sample (n = 50) news articles matched 17 individual drowning events (T1, n = 9; T2, n = 8). Drowning stories rarely appeared on page 1 (n = 2), but were located in the first 2-10 pages (n = 20) (66.6%). In the subanalysis, one-fifth (22%) of the articles employed a news angle relating to community spirit and celebration of life. There were 32 mentions of "who was responsible for the drowning event." Environmental factors were most cited for "what was responsible" (20.4%). Experts were cited in 66.7% of articles and drowning prevention strategies were mentioned in nine of the 50 articles.

CONCLUSION

Drowning was considered newsworthy; however, not the front page news. Reporting infrequently prioritised drowning prevention or discussed prevention strategies. SO WHAT?: Working closely with news outlets to embed drowning prevention messages in news stories during high-risk periods such as summer is an imperative.

This Much Water: a qualitative study using behavioural theory to develop a community service video to prevent child drowning in Western Australia

OBJECTIVES

Drowning in children under the age of 5 is a frequently occurring, yet preventable event. This research used behavioural theory to test the suitability and appropriateness of a drowning prevention message in a community service video.

DESIGN

This qualitative study used content analysis of focus groups. Constructs from the Health Belief Model guided the data analysis.

SETTING

Community organisations and playgrounds in Perth, Western Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were parents or carers of at least one child under 5 years residing in Western Australia. Seven focus groups (n=57) were conducted with eight participants in each group. Most participants were parents (96%), female (95%), aged between 25 and 34 years (63%) and were born in Australia (68%).

RESULTS

Participants indicated the community service video was credible in communicating the message that young children were susceptible to drowning in shallow water and that various water hazards existed in and around the home. However, a range of external factors, such as the child's age, type of water hazard, presence of siblings and other environmental factors, influenced risk perceptions. Child drowning was seen as a serious issue. Controlling access to water and the role of supervision were understood to be important factors in preventing drowning.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of published drowning prevention interventions shaped by behavioural theory limits the understanding of best practice. Using constructs from the Health Belief Model, this research confirmed the perceived seriousness, devastating and unforgettable consequence of drowning; however, findings were mixed regarding cues to action. Future development of drowning prevention media messages should test strategies to increase susceptibility and self-efficacy among the target group and explore the impact of different message senders. The findings provide a valuable understanding of possible messages and their execution for use in media campaigns, as one component of an effective public health intervention to prevent child drowning underpinned by behavioural theory.