A bilingual webnovela on the human papillomavirus: Will Latinas and health professionals use it?

Abstract

Background

A ‘webnovela’, an adaptation of the traditional fotonovela, is an engaging and educational story told with photographs and dialog, and specifically designed for use online. We developed a bilingual, interactive webnovela prototype to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and knowledge-imparting capabilities to help address the disproportionate incidence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer among United States Latinas. The primary aim of the study was to test the webnovela format. The secondary aim was to test content related to the HPV vaccine, Pap tests, HPV prevention, and early detection of cervical cancer.

Methods

To offer feedback on the webnovela: 84 Spanish- and English-speaking Latinas 18–26 years first completed a pre-survey, then engaged in a focus group discussion (10 focus groups total), and after the discussion, completed a post-survey; and 41 Latino-serving health professionals completed an online survey.

Results

Latina respondents demonstrated HPV and cervical cancer knowledge gain in post-surveys, and reported an increase in their intention to speak with someone about HPV, the HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer. They were more likely to intend to obtain the HPV vaccine in the next month compared with pre-survey reports. Latinas reported that the webnovela was age-appropriate and interactive. Health professional respondents agreed the webnovela was informative and entertaining and useful to their Latina audiences. They also offered suggestions for improvement.

Discussion

Our preliminary webnovela study indicates that this format would be well-received by, and motivational to, Latinas 18–26 years of age and the health professionals who serve them.

Keywords:

• Cervical cancer
• Digital health
• Fotonovela/webnovela
• Human papillomavirus
• Latinas/Hispanic women
• Prevention.

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Errata

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Small Business Innovation Research grant # 1R43DP003849-01. We acknowledge Corinne Shefner-Rogers, Ph.D. in the development of the pre-/post-survey and Susan Eliot and Associates for assisting in the analysis of the focus group results.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Everly Macario

Everly Macario, ScD MS, EdM, is a bilingual health communications and social marketing expert, has spent 25 years directing research, creating health education products, and assessing the impact of those products for Federal government agencies, health departments, universities, and research organizations. Dr Macario assisted in the design of the online survey instrument, collected the online survey data, analyzed the pre-/post-survey data, conducted an extensive literature review on this topic, and took the lead co-writing this article.

Ana Consuelo Matiella

Ana Consuelo Matiella, MA, is the chief executive officer of ACMA Social Marketing and The Fotonovela Production Company, and has over 25 years’ experience conducting Latino-specific and multicultural social marketing interventions and developing health communications programs. She is the most experienced health fotonovela producer in the USA. Ms Matiella conceived the idea for the project described in this paper, obtained funding and IRB approval, designed the project's research methodologies, oversaw the recruitment of study participants, assisted in the collection of the pre/post and focus group data, and co-wrote this article.