Using Digital Storytelling to Reduce Unplanned Health Care Encounters

A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Background: 

There is a growing body of literature establishing digital storytelling as an efficacious strategy to improve hypertension outcomes. The purpose of this nurse-led project was to explore the use of digital storytelling to reduce unplanned health care encounters and to determine whether the approach was feasible.

Problem: 

Half of adults in the United States have hypertension. However, only 1 in 4 has his or her condition under control. In addition, the annual economic burden is more than $51 billion.

Approach: 

Digital storytelling was employed with residents in northeast Louisiana. Videos of individuals with well-managed hypertension shared success stories with less well-managed individuals over a 16-month long program.

Outcomes: 

The study found that 55 (93%) of listeners had no unplanned provider visits, 57 (94.9%) had no emergency department room visits, and 57 (94.9%) were not hospitalized over the study period.

Conclusions: 

Digital storytelling reduced unplanned encounters, and the program was deemed feasible.