Motivational Effects of a Diabetes Animation Video
If you have diabetes, you have probably seen a diabetes animation video. The purpose of such animations is to help people understand the symptoms of type 1 diabetes. An animation video consists of a series of short scenes that describe the symptoms of diabetes in detail. Participants’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the messages were examined. Believability was also studied. This article examines the motivational effects of diabetes animations for people with type 1 diabetes.
Participants’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the animated video messages
In the study, participants were asked to rate the relevance of the animation video messages in terms of their own health. This resulted in a six to ten-point scale, with a higher score indicating greater relevance. The animation video messages were perceived to add value to participants’ health, and participants’ perceptions of them were highly positive. However, some participants found the messages confrontational.
Although most participants felt the spoken animated video messages were effective in influencing PA behavior, most indicated that they were not motivated to increase their PA. These participants had adequate knowledge about diabetes and were not interested in receiving additional information. However, some of them expressed their intention to use the animation video messages as a tool. They categorized the animated messages as a manual or a guideline. The majority of the participants rated the messages as not meeting their needs due to being sufficiently active or due to other impedimental health factors.
Some participants were pleased to see the diversity of the figures. Others noted the lack of cultural diversity in the figures. Others liked the movement and mimicry of the figures. Lastly, some participants found the characters to be stigmatizing and said that they felt the animation was not representative of the reality of type 2 diabetes. Overall, participants were pleased with the animations. They found the animated films entertaining and relatable.
Believability of the animated video messages
Researchers used a negative binomial regression to examine the influences of the video’s content on viewer’s positive or negative attitudes toward diabetes. In this study, they found that the type of media, post period, gender, and role of the presenter significantly influenced viewers’ positive or negative attitude. The positive attitude was greater than the negative attitude, despite the negative content of the videos. Among these factors, the video’s duration was found to have no effect.
A video that featured an individual with a positive attitude toward diabetes received more favorable attitudes than a video featuring a medical professional or journalist. Videos featuring medical experts and journalists were less likely to create a negative attitude, while videos featuring a patient had a negative impact. But the presence of a real human person in the video may be important to the message’s success. Regardless of the content, users are likely to believe diabetes animated video messages if they’re presented by an actual person who has diabetes.
The subjects and settings of the videos also affect viewers’ perception of the content. Animated videos that focus on diabetes education, for example, have higher levels of beliefability than those featuring other diabetes topics. Videos that depict diabetes symptoms and treatments, in contrast, tend to be more realistic and less threatening to viewers. Furthermore, videos with positive emotions are likely to increase the viewer’s trust in the presentation. Ultimately, the viewers of these videos will benefit from the message.
Motivation to increase PA
We investigated whether the spoken messages of an animated diabetes video can change participant’s PA behavior. This approach connects better with the patients’ needs and abilities, and may improve their perception of its relevance and utility.
We noted that the content of spoken animated videos was comparable to the information provided by health professionals. The animation videos also helped patients to understand and remember the content of the messages. The messages should be personalized and tailored to the patient’s individual circumstances. It is also important to consider the user’s preferences, stage of change, and timing of the program after diagnosis.
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