Narcan Can Save your Loved One: Designing Messages for the Opioid Crisis Using the Extended Parallel Process Model

In 2017, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. The opioid epidemic has become widespread because of over prescription and extreme addiction. In recent years, the crisis has become dire because of the staggering annual death toll from overdoses. Although the number of opioid-related deaths has risen, so too have the innovations designed to combat opioid abuse and overdoses. The use of naloxone is a safe and reliable option for treating overdose victims. In fact, many first responders are primarily relying on the medication in such emergencies. This study explored message-design components for persuading individuals to purchase Narcan nasal spray (a Nalaxone product). Guided by the Extended Parallel Process Model, the project employed three message framing techniques, including gain-frame/loss-frame, labeling and medical stigmatization through language, and linguistic agency assignment. 304 participants read one of eight messages and completed a corresponding survey. The first measure of behavioral intent, which was acceptance or refusal of the coupon code for the Narcan nasal spray, was predicted only by susceptibility and system-efficacy. The second measure, intent to seek additional information regarding Narcan, was predicted by severity, susceptibility, and system-efficacy. The third measure, intent to own Narcan in the future, was predicted by susceptibility and response-efficacy. Optimistic bias and self-efficacy did not predict any of the three behavioral intent variables. However, when separate from the other independent variables, optimistic bias predicted all three behavioral intent variables

A false sense of security: The perceptions of threat and efficacy contributing to vaccine hesitancy in the Gulf States

Background: Since the release of the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine hesitancy has been an issue in the southern states. Public health officials and communication experts have since been tasked with creating messages aimed at eliminating vaccine hesitancy.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify which perceptions regarding threat and efficacy are contributing to vaccine hesitancy in the Gulf States.Method: 226 participants from two groups, including the Gulf States and remaining U.S. states, responded to a survey measuring threat and efficacy perceptions, as well as vaccination status. Binary logistic regression was used to identify differences between the two groups.Results: Significant differences were detected between the two models in regard to self-efficacy, susceptibility, system-efficacy, and biological sex.Conclusion: This research brief recommends a variety of public health communication strategies specific to the Gulf States. Public health communicators should attempt to increase perceptions of self-efficacy and susceptibility. Messages successful in accomplishing this should increase vaccination rates. Second, two demographics should be targeted with this messaging, including men and those who may feel a false sense of security in their social support systems

Gulf States Health Policy Center Community Research Fellows Birmingham, AL Evaluation Report

The Gulf States Community Research Program (GSCRP) program took place in Birmingham between January 10th, 2017 and May 16th, 2017. This report reflects the implementation and evaluation of a community based participatory training (CBPR) program for this cohort of community members. The report provides data on the assessment of the program’s effectiveness in promoting the role of underserved populations in research by enhancing the capacity for CBPR. In assessing the social network development of the cohort, we seek to understand effectiveness in bridging many community roles to serve the purpose of addressing health disparities. Specifically, the report assesses if the Birmingham GSCRP program has met its specific aim: To enhance community knowledge and understanding of research

Gulf States Health Policy Center Community Research Fellows Mobile, AL Evaluation Report

The Gulf States Community Research Program (GSCRP) program took place in Mobile between January 10th, 2017 and May 9, 2017. This report reflects the implementation and evaluation of a community based participatory training (CBPR) program for this cohort of community members. The report provides data on the assessment of the program’s effectiveness in promoting the role of underserved populations in research by enhancing the capacity for CBPR. In assessing the social network development of the cohort, we seek to understand effectiveness in bridging many community roles to serve the purpose of addressing health disparities. Specifically, the report assesses if the Mobile GSCRP program has met its specific aim: To enhance community knowledge and understanding of research

Election, News Cycles, and Attention to Disasters

Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether 60 mins of intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPC) could acutely increase leg blood flow-induced shear stress and enhance vascular endothelial function in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Pretest with multiple posttests, within subject randomized control design. Setting: University of Southern Mississippi, Spinal Cord Injury Research Program within the School of Kinesiology, recruiting from the local community in Hattiesburg, Jackson, and Gulfport, MS. Participants: Eight adults with SCa Purpose: Political elections, especially presidential elections, have a tendency to overshadow other events, including disasters. Response to disasters during elections, such as Hurricane Matthew and the Baton Rouge flooding in 2016, are often dependent on attention given to them from the media, as well as prominent political figures and political candidates candidates. The purpose of this paper is to explore how election cycles affect government response to disasters and ultimately demonstrate the dependency of crisis communication on media agenda-setting for presenting saliency of disaster risk and needs. Design/methodology/approach: Responses from presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, as well as President Barack Obama, in regards to the Baton Rouge flooding and Hurricane Matthew, were observed using media reports and social media accounts. These results were matched with key events from the presidential election timeline. Findings: There is a positive relationship between news exposure and attention, and also between attention and civic response. In regards to the 2016 presidential election, news coverage of the release of the Donald Trump-Billy Bush tape distracted national attention from the approach, landfall, and recovery of Hurricane Matthew. Information subsidies provided by the candidates directed the media agenda away from the needs of the communities and individuals impacted by these disasters. Originality/value: Disasters are often assumed to be value-free because they are “blind to politics.” Here, it is argued that this was not the case in relation to these two disasters. Thus, the authors encouraged more research be conducted to clarify the impact that political elections have on strategic news coverage of disasters and ultimately on disaster response. (injury level: T3 and below; ASIA class A-C; age: 41±17 yrs). Interventions: A 60-min IPC session was performed in one leg (experimental leg; EXP), with the other leg serving as a control (CON). Outcomes Measures: Posterior-tibial artery shear rate (Doppler-ultrasound) was examined at rest, and at 15 and 45 mins during IPC. Endothelial function was assessed using the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) technique, before and after IPC. Results: Resting FMD (mm) was similar between legs at rest. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA (leg x time) revealed that during IPC, peak shear rate increased in the EXP leg (215±137 to 285±164 s-1 at 15 mins; +39±29%, P = 0.03), with no change occurring in the CON. In addition, FMD significantly increased in the EXP leg (Pre IPC: 0.36±0.14 vs. Post IPC: 0.47±0.17 mm; P = 0.011, d = 0.66), with no change occurring in the CON leg. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggests that IPC therapy may acutely increase leg shear stress within 15 mins, with a resultant moderate-large improvement in vascular endothelial function after 60 mins in people with SCI

A Social Network Study To Improve Collaborative Partnerships Among the Southeastern Health Equity Council (SHEC)

This report presents research conducted on the relationships among and attributes of members of the Southeastern Health Equity Council (SHEC, herein Council) to provide recommendations for partnerships, collaboration, and the recruitment of new members. The background, methods, results, and recommendations are outlined in detail throughout this report. Social networks are measured and defined as connections among people, organization, and/or other units. SNA is a valuable and innovative tool for recognizing strengths and weaknesses in collaborative partnerships. The evaluative study presented herein can be replicated in other councils within the Regional Health Equity Councils to improve collaborations not only among SHEC partnerships, but also the nine remaining regions as well. Among the SHEC, social networking models will be designed in an efforts to better understand partnerships, reach the desire goal to analyze partnerships among SHEC, and develop a better understanding of the broad-based constituency served by the Council for the purposes of improving collaborative partnerships

“Those People Count”: Naloxone Media Coverage in Mississippi

There is a movement to promote naloxone adoption by law enforcement and other stakeholders in the state of Mississippi. The purpose of this study is to understand how local media are framing the conversation about naloxone products, and to better understand how it might affect naloxone adoption among law enforcement. We searched for news articles published in Mississippi from January 2012 to July 2018 mentioning the words Narcan® and/or naloxone. Four main themes emerged from 25 articles: (a) positive and informative discussion of naloxone, (b) full articles persuading readers to use and/or advocate the use of naloxone, (c) government or organizational effort to increase the availability and use of naloxone products, and (d) negative or misleading information about naloxone. Better efforts to disseminate correct and persuasive information about the drug will have a profound and positive effect on the opioid epidemic in Mississippi and in the United States

Framing, Agency, and Optimistic Bias: Message Design Considerations For the Opioid Crisis

While vastly overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s deadly opioid crisis worsened dramatically in recent years. Despite the deadliness of these drugs, the lifesaving medication Narcan (a naloxone product) has saved more than 93.5% of potential victims from an overdose death. However, several factors have contributed to a lack of uptake of the medication. The current study explored message-design components for persuading individuals to 1) seek more information regarding Narcan 2) accept a coupon code for Narcan, and 3) purchase the Narcan nasal spray. Guided by the Extended Parallel Process Model, this study implemented strategic message design to see if heightened perceptions of threat (i.e. severity and susceptibility) and efficacy (self, response, and system efficacy) promote behaviour change to either seek information about or purchase Narcan. We employed three message framing techniques, including gain/loss-frame, labelling and stigmatisation through language, and linguistic assignment of agency. Based on an experimental design with 304 participants and eight message conditions, the study revealed the following: high perceptions of susceptibility and system-efficacy predicted the acceptance of a coupon code for Narcan; high perceptions of severity, susceptibility, and system-efficacy predicted information-seeking behaviour; finally, susceptibility and response-efficacy predicted an intent to own Narcan in the future

Social Vulnerability and Perceptions of Recovery From the 2011 Tuscaloosa Tornado

Environmental hazards and natural disasters disproportionately affect socially vulnerable individuals and communities. However, studies of social vulnerability are often limited to socio-demographic measures of sensitivity to disaster impact without controlling for the effect of social networks on response capabilities. This paper assesses the role of socio-demographic and social network variables when controlling for the preparation for and impact of a disaster using the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado as a case study. Using the results of a random digit dialing survey of individuals impacted by the Tuscaloosa tornado (n = 115), we model the factors of personal recovery from the disaster. We find that race, age, and education significantly affected one’s perceived recovery from the tornado; however, exclusive of religious attendance, social network variables did not affect recovery perception. Time to recovery or to reach their personal “new normal” was longer for older respondents. Moreover, race and education, while statistically significant in degree of recovery, were not factors in speed of recovery. Social capital measures of recovery were consistent for degree and speed, further confirming that further investigation is needed into the role of religious involvement in both degree and speed of recovery