Open AccessA systematic review of humour‐based strategies for addressing public health priorities
Author(s) -
Miller Elaine,
Bergmeier Heidi J.,
Blewitt Claire,
O'Connor Amanda,
Skouteris Helen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.13142
Subject(s) - health promotion , public health , systematic review , medicine , persuasion , mental health , psychological intervention , psychology , public relations , applied psychology , medline , social psychology , nursing , psychiatry , political science , law
Objective : To systematically review research into the use of humour‐based health promotion strategies for addressing public health issues during the past 10 years. Method : The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results : Thirteen studies were included in the review. Mental health, breast and testicular cancer self‐examination, safe sex, skin cancer and binge drinking public health issues were targeted. Humour‐based strategies were used to influence health attitudes and behaviours, encourage interpersonal sharing to indirectly affect health behaviour, and investigate the level of threat and humour associated with positive outcomes. Findings provided some evidence to support the use of humour‐based strategies as determined by the right combination of audience characteristics, level of humour and amusement evoked, and message persuasion and behaviour change methods underpinning strategies. Conclusion : Methodologies varied limiting comparability, although overall results indicate that humour‐based health promotion strategies may be a useful tool for increasing awareness and help‐seeking behaviour for public health priorities, particularly those associated with stigma. Implications for public health : Humour interventions vary widely because there can never be a standardised approach to evoking humour. Further research examining humour and public health promotion is needed.