A visual affective analysis of mass media interventions to increase antimicrobial stewardship amongst the public

Langdridge, D., Davis, M., Gozdzielewska, L., McParland, J., Williams, L., Young, M., Smith, F., MacDonald, J., Price, L. and Flowers, P. (2019) A visual affective analysis of mass media interventions to increase antimicrobial stewardship amongst the public. British Journal of Health Psychology, 24(1), pp. 66-87. (doi: 10.1111/bjhp.12339) (PMID:30221433)

Abstract

Objectives: In an innovative approach to improve the contribution of health psychology to public health we have analysed the presence and nature of affect within the visual materials deployed in antimicrobial stewardship interventions targeting the public identified through systematic review. Design: A qualitative analysis focused on the affective content of visual materials garnered from a systematic review of antibiotic stewardship (k = 20). Methods: A novel method was devised drawing on concepts from semiotics to analyse the affective elements within intervention materials. Results: Whilst all studies examined tacitly rely on affect, only one sought to explicitly deploy affect. Three thematic categories of affect are identified within the materials in which specific ideological machinery is deployed: (1) monsters, bugs, and superheroes; (2) responsibility, threat, and the misuse/abuse of antibiotics; (3) the figure of the child. Conclusions: The study demonstrates how affect is a present but tacit communication strategy of antimicrobial stewardship interventions but has not – to date – been adequately theorized or explicitly considered in the intervention design process. Certain affective features were explored in relation to the effectiveness of antimicrobial resistance interventions and warrant further investigation. We argue that further research is needed to systematically illuminate and capitalize upon the use of affect to effect behaviour change concerning antimicrobial stewardship.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Flowers, Professor Paul
• Authors: Langdridge, D., Davis, M., Gozdzielewska, L., McParland, J., Williams, L., Young, M., Smith, F., MacDonald, J., Price, L., and Flowers, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: British Journal of Health Psychology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1359-107X
• ISSN (Online): 2044-8287
• Published Online: 16 September 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Health Psychology 24(1):66-87
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License