With love or authority? Vesting people in their healthcare

4^th International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

October 05-07, 2015 San Francisco, USA

Aparna A Labroo

Northwestern University, USA

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

People usually make decisions that impact health when health practitioners are not present. So how can practitioners motivate them to make better health decisions? We investigate whether reminders can improve a persons food choices. If so, what kind of reminders are most effective-those that simply remind people to take care of their health or those that additionally associate an image of authority (e.g., doctor) or of social support (e.g., teddy-bear hug) with the message? A simple health message should be more effective than no message and as effective as a message with an image, if people are rational. A doctor�s image may work best if people comply with authority. But if social connection and feeling of belonging improve healthy choices, the reminder with a social connection image could improve social belonging and work best. In study 1, people at a cafe were randomly assigned a lottery ticket with one of the four messages (i.e., no message, health message, health message+doctors image, health message+teddy bear). We found those assigned a social connection health reminder added significantly less sugar to their coffee and chose low calorie options more often. In study 2 (n=457), diabetic patients at a hospital were provided one of the four reminders (fridge-magnet) before they went home. Again, the social connection magnet significantly improved health outcomes of the patients as measured by their blood sugar levels one month and three months later but especially if they initially indicated they have few friends.

Biography :

Email: a-labroo@kellogg.northwestern.edu