A new study has found that successful messages promoting clinical conversations about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) should include information from a medical authority and information about susceptibility,  signs and symptoms of the disease.

The findings by Janice Krieger, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Advertising professor, Samantha Paige, Ph.D. 2018, UF Health Family Medicine Physician Maribeth Williams and UF Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics Associate Professor Ramzi Salloum were featured in “Patient Message Preferences to Promote Clinical Conversations About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Discrete Choice Experiment” published online in PEC Innovation on May 25, 2023.

The authors identified message features that motivated patients to initiate clinical conversations about COPD, especially those from subgroups who are disproportionately at-risk for a late-stage diagnosis. They found that patients prefer screening messages conveying symptom susceptibility vs. risk behaviors, that messages from medical authorities are preferred, a call-to-action that supports patient autonomy to talk with a clinician is important, and evoking hope for early detection with screening self-efficacy is a key message feature.

According to the authors, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate which messages motivate adults to speak with their clinician about COPD. The preference for symptom-based susceptibility messaging was strongest among current smokers and non-Hispanic adults, as compared with former smokers and their Hispanic counterparts. It is possible that perceptions of stigma were a driving force in preferences surrounding the symptoms of COPD rather than behavioral risks”

They add, “The source of the message also had a strong impact on motivations to talk with a clinician about COPD. Participants preferred messages from medical authorities, which included a clinician and a healthcare organization dedicated to advancing COPD research and care. Messages that include hope appeals should incorporate self-efficacy to ensure that the emotion is maximized, and a key ingredient of behavior change is present.”

Posted: May 31, 2023
Category: Alumni News, College News, Health Communication News
Tagged as: Health Messaging, Janice Krieger, Samantha Paige