Published online May 27, 2022. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i5.972
Peer-review started: January 5, 2022
First decision: February 8, 2022
Revised: February 21, 2022
Accepted: April 20, 2022
Article in press: April 20, 2022
Published online: May 27, 2022
Processing time: 138 Days and 20.5 Hours
Even though substance users have the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden, many lack knowledge about the infection. Lack of knowledge is an important obstacle to pursuing HCV care. Although printed materials are conventionally utilized to disseminate HCV-related knowledge, narrative story-telling videos may be an alternative. Data are extremely limited, however, in the ability of storytelling videos to increase HCV knowledge among substance users. In this study, we hypothesized that a story-telling narrative video would increase substance user’s immediate and 1-month HCV-related knowledge compared to a printed format.
To assess immediate and 1-month HCV-related knowledge retention among substance users comparing education delivered via a storytelling narrative video compared to a printed format.
We conducted a prospective matched, case-control study among substance users actively prescribed buprenorphine enrolled from two sites. The intervention site received the video and the control site, the brochure. Participants (n = 176) were matched on age, gender, and race. We obtained extensive patient and stakeholder input on the video’s design, validated the video’s content, and developed a recruitment plan to guide participant enrollment. Knowledge was assessed by administration of a 25-item instrument immediately before, immediately after, or one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using nonparametric and generalized linear mixed-effects models.
We recruited a total of 176 substance users, 90 and 86 individuals, from each site, respectively. One-month follow up occurred in 92% and 94% of enrollees in the control and intervention groups, respectively. In comparison with the pre-intervention scores, immediate knowledge recall increased significantly for both the intervention (P < 0.0001) and control (P < 0.0001) groups. Multivariate modeling revealed a significant improvement in HCV-related knowledge and retention (P = 0.033) among participants who viewed the storytelling video.
Storytelling narratives emphasizing HCV education appear to be an effective method to increase HCV-related knowledge among substance users. They should become an educational cornerstone to promote HCV management among this population.
Core Tip: Despite high hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden, people with opioid use disorder (PWOUD) frequently lack knowledge about HCV. Printed brochures are the conventional method of HCV knowledge dissemination, although storytelling narrative videos have attributes that suggest they may be more effective. In this study, we assessed HCV knowledge improvement among PWOUD comparing a storytelling narrative video to a written brochure. Among 176 PWOUD, we found that immediate HCV-related knowledge recall was significantly increased by both methods. Multivariate modeling revealed a significant improvement in HCV-related knowledge and retention among intervention participants. In conclusion, storytelling narratives effectively improve HCV-related knowledge among PWOUD.