THURS-090 - The Use of Storytelling in Health Care: A Systematic Review

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn about the use of storytelling as a potentially beneficial approach in specific areas of health care. This narrative method may prove effective in improving health behaviors and outcomes for patients and caregivers. The systematic review sheds light on interventions which use storytelling as a method to support health care users. The review aimed to identify areas of application, different intervention designs and evidence on the effectiveness of storytelling in different health care settings. The findings not only inform future research on interventions to maintain and improve health but also offer a practical guide for implementation in clinical settings. They enable the development and evaluation of appropriate self-help resources using storytelling for a wide range of (potential) patients and caregivers, including vulnerable groups.

Detailed abstract description: Caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding for family caregivers. In order to prevent illnesses caused by overwork and burnout, it is essential to implement user-focused preventive measures. Such interventions should address the specific needs of caregivers, enhance their self-management skills, and help them regain a sense of control and autonomy. In that respect, storytelling can be an effective method to alleviate the burden of caregiving.
Storytelling is a form of communication familiar to all individuals. Everyone has heard stories, and everyone is capable of telling them, e.g. stories about challenges they have faced with respect to different aspects of their life. In recent years, storytelling has been used specifically to activate listeners, convey information and stimulate specific reactions or actions. Existing research also identifies the use of storytelling as a potentially beneficial approach in support groups. This narrative form of communication has significant potential to improve health literacy, self-efficacy expectations, and self-management skills for both patients and caregivers.
In order to develop an appropriate and effective storytelling approach for both patients and caregivers, it is essential to identify and analyze existing interventions. The present study addresses this limitation by means of a systematic review of storytelling interventions in health care. The research question was: “What are applications of storytelling in health care settings and how do different intervention designs using storytelling impact health outcomes?”
Based on a systematic search in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, LIVIVO and Google Scholar following the PRISMA guidelines and using the PICOS search terms '(potential) health user', 'intervention', 'storytelling' and 'health' in German and English language, we identified 3,439 studies, of which 322 were retained for full-text screening and possible in-depth analysis.
Our presentation will provide insights into storytelling-based interventions that target health care users, individuals who may become health care users, and those who are particularly vulnerable to health risks (e.g., minorities or marginalized groups). In doing so, you will learn about various applications of storytelling, the different intervention designs, and the effectiveness and applicability of storytelling in different health care settings and on health behaviors and outcomes. The findings of the review indicate target groups for which storytelling interventions have been well researched and for which it may already be employed in practice, as well as others, especially for vulnerable groups, for which only little evidence is available. Furthermore, given the comparatively limited awareness of storytelling in health care compared to other areas such as business or education, this review may help to ensure that storytelling is also considered for interventions designed to improve health outcomes.