Impact of Digital Learning Platforms on Behaviour Change Communication in Public Health Education

Uduak Udoudom; Kufre George; Anthony Igiri

doi:10.59653/pancasila.v2i01.512

Authors

Uduak Udoudom Heritage Polytechnic https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1034-2227
Kufre George Heritage Polytechnic
Anthony Igiri Heritage Polytechnic

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59653/pancasila.v2i01.512

Keywords:

Digital learning, platforms, health education, behavioural change, communication

Abstract

This conceptual research explores the transformative potential of digital learning platforms in the realm of behaviour change communication within the context of public health education. With the rapid advancement of digital technology, the traditional methods of health communication are being reimagined, offering new opportunities and challenges for promoting healthier behaviours and lifestyles. The research seeks to understand the evolving landscape of digital learning platforms and their integration into public health education programs. It investigates how these platforms can be leveraged to design and disseminate behaviour change communication interventions effectively. The study examines the theoretical foundations that underpin behaviour change communication and the ways in which digital learning platforms can enhance these foundations. Furthermore, the research addresses the critical issue of accessibility and inclusivity, as digital platforms have the potential to bridge the gap between diverse populations in terms of health literacy, socio-economic status, and geographical location. By employing a conceptual framework that combines elements of health communication theory, pedagogy, and technology adoption models, this study aims to provide insights into the effective utilization of digital learning platforms for behaviour change communication. Findings indicate that the use of digital learning platforms has led to increase engagement in public health education. This exploration is expected to shed light on the potential of these platforms to drive positive health behaviour change among diverse populations and pave the way for more informed strategies in the field of public health education. Ultimately, this research aims to encourage further exploration and development of digital learning tools for behaviour change communication in public health, with the potential to make a significant impact on global health outcomes.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Berryman, C., Ferguson, C.J., & Negy, C. (2017). Social Media Use and Mental Health among Young Adults. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89, 307–314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-017-9535-6

Cantrell, J., Bingenheimer, J., Tulsiani, S., & Hair, E.C., et al. (2022). Design and pilot evaluation of a virtual experimental protocol to assess anti-tobacco digital campaign advertising exposure. Digital Health, in press.

Direito, A., Carraça, E., Rawstorn, J., Whittaker, R., & Maddison, R. (2017). mHealth technologies to influence physical activity and sedentary behaviours: Behaviour change techniques, systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Annals of Behavioural Medicine, 51(2), 226–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9846-0

Evans, W.D., Abroms, L.C., Broniatowski, D., Napolitano, M., Arnold, J., Ichimiya, M., & Agha, S. (2022a). Digital Media for Behaviour Change: Review of an Emerging Field of Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9129. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159129

Gosak, L., Štiglic, G., Budler, L.C., Félix, I.B., & Braam, K., et al. (2022). Digital Tools in Behaviour Change Support Education in Health and Other Students: A Systematic Review. Healthcare, 10, 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10010001

Gu, J., Dor, A., Li, K., Broniatowski, D.A., Hatheway, M., Fritz, L., & Abroms, L.C. (2022). The impact of Facebook’s vaccine misinformation policy on user endorsements of vaccine content: An interrupted time series analysis. Vaccine, 40, 2209–2214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.062

Ichimiya, M., Gerard, R., Mills, S., Brodsky, A., & Evans, W.D. (2022). Measurement of Dose and Response for Smoking Behaviour Change Interventions in the Digital Age: A Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/38470

Karim, F., Oyewande, A., Abdalla, L.F., & Ehsanullah, R.C., Khan, S. (2020). Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 12, e8627. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8627

Krishnan, N., Gu, J., & Abroms, L.C. (2020). Mobile phone-based messaging for tobacco cessation in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Addictive Behaviours, 113, 106676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106676

Kwasnicka, D., Dombrowski, S.U., White, M., & Sniehotta, F.F. (2015). Theoretical explanations for maintenance of behaviour change: A systematic review of behaviour theories. Health Psychology Review, 10, 277–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2016.1151372

Levy, M., Gentry, D., & Klesges, L. (2015). Innovations in public health education: Promoting professional development and a culture of health. American Journal of Public Health, 105, S44–S45.

Nesi, J., Telzer, E.H., & Prinstein, M.J. (2020). Adolescent Development in the Digital Media Context. Psychological Inquiry, 31, 229–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2020.1820219

Seiler, J., Libby, T., Jackson, E., Lingappa, J., Agha, S., & Evans, W.D. (2022). Effectiveness of Social Media-based Behavioural Interventions in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, in press.

Shojaeezadeh, D., & Heshmati, H. (2018). Integration of Health Education and Promotion Models for Designing Health Education Course for Promotion of Student’s Capabilities in Related to Health Education. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 47, 1432–1433.

Taj, F., Klein, M.C.A., & van Halteren, A. (2019). Digital Health Behavior Change Technology: Bibliometric and Scoping Review of Two Decades of Research. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(12), e13311. https://doi.org/10.2196/13311

Thrul, J., Tormohlen, K.N., & Meacham, M.C. (2019). Social media for tobacco smoking cessation intervention: A review of the literature. Current Addiction Reports, 6, 126–138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-019-00246-2

Van Kessel, R., Wong, B.L.H., Clemens, T., & Brand, H. (2022). Digital health literacy as a super determinant of health: More than simply the sum of its parts. Internet Interventions, 27, 100500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2022.100500

White, M., & Shellenbarger, T. (2018). Gamification of Nursing Education with Digital Badges. Nurse Education, 43, 78–82.

Whiteley, J.A., Faro, J.M., Mavredes, M., Hayman, L.L., & Napolitano, M.A. (2020). Application of social marketing to recruitment for a digital weight management intervention for young adults. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11, 484–494. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa032

Whiteley, J.A., Tjaden, A.H., Bailey, C.P., Faro, J., DiPietro, L., Hayman, L.L., & Napolitano, M.A. (2022). Engagement with Digital Weight Loss Intervention Components and Weight Outcomes. Manuscript under review.