Prevalence and characteristics of pictures in cancer screening information: Content analysis of UK print decision support materials

Gatting, L., Hanna, C. and Robb, K. (2023) Prevalence and characteristics of pictures in cancer screening information: Content analysis of UK print decision support materials. Health Communication, 38(8), pp. 1601-1611. (doi: 10.1080/10410236.2021.2022869) (PMID:34989627)

Abstract

This paper answers calls for further theoretical work into types of pictures used in health information. Pictures influence message reception, interpretation, and retention, making this an important area for research in health communication. A content analysis was used to produce a systematic and theory-orientated assessment of the use of pictures in cancer screening information materials (N = 44) produced for invitees to either cervical, breast or bowel screening in the United Kingdom. The main categories investigated in this study were function, content and style of the pictures. Pictures used in cancer screening information materials were twice as likely to be used to demonstrate what something looked like or depict a situation (display pictures) than to convey a specific cancer screening message (message pictures). The messages being conveyed were predominantly related to screening procedures (51%) or outcomes (38%) rather than screening experiences (6%) or decisions (9%). Pictures were rarely used to portray a narrative in the materials (n = 12). The paper brings conceptual clarity to the ways pictures can be, and have so far been used, to communicate cancer screening information. This study identifies that pictures conveying a cancer-related message, and pictures in the format of a narrative, should be used more often in print cancer screening communications.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hanna, Catherine and Gatting, Lauren and Robb, Professor Katie
• Authors: Gatting, L., Hanna, C., and Robb, K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Health Communication
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1041-0236
• ISSN (Online): 1532-7027
• Published Online: 06 January 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Health Communication 38(8):1601-1611
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence
• Data DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.14483589