Digital Storytelling Interventions to Promote Cancer Screening Among Hispanic/Latino Adults in Primary Care Settings
Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic/Latino individuals, yet many do not complete cancer screenings due to systemic barriers. To address this issue, Rochester Healthy Community Partnership (RHCP) created “Stories for Change: La detección temprana puede salvar vidas” (S4C-cancer prevention). This digital storytelling intervention involved eight Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors or co-survivors who shared their experiences by creating 2-min videos. Their heartfelt stories aim to help patients make informed decisions about cancer screenings. RHCP piloted S4C-cancer prevention at three clinical sites to assess intervention acceptability and success (cancer screenings completed).
Journal of Cancer Education Jul 2025
RHCP developed a digital storytelling project called Stories for Change: La detección temprana puede salvar vidas to encourage cancer screening among Hispanic/Latino adults who were overdue for breast, cervical, or colorectal screenings. Eight storytellers shared personal experiences in short Spanish-language videos, which were shown to 51 participants across three clinical sites. After viewing, all participants said they intended to get screened, and over half completed screening within seven months. Most who followed through said the videos strongly influenced their decision. Participants connected deeply with the stories, reporting increased confidence and motivation to act.
Despite high engagement, barriers like time, cost, fear, and lack of provider recommendation prevented some from completing screenings. Those who had previously been screened were more likely to follow through again, suggesting that newcomers may need additional support. Participants recommended adding more educational content and expanding outreach to younger audiences. The intervention was well-received and culturally resonant, showing promise for reducing disparities in cancer screening. Future efforts should include navigation support for follow-up care and address structural barriers to ensure equitable access to diagnostic and treatment services.
Digital Storytelling Intervention for Hemoglobin A1c Control Among Hispanic Adults With Type 2 Diabetes A Randomized Clinical Trial
Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more likely to develop complications and die from the disease than the US general population. Digital storytelling interventions are narrative-based videos elicited through a community-based participatory research approach to surface the authentic voices of participants overcoming obstacles to health-promoting behaviors that perpetuate health inequities; research on the effect of digital storytelling on T2D outcomes among Hispanic adults is lacking.
JAMA Network Aug 2024
A digital storytelling video created by RHCP was tested to help Hispanic adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes improve their health. The video featured four personal stories in Spanish that focused on key diabetes self-care behaviors: healthy eating, physical activity, medication use, and blood sugar monitoring. Participants who watched the video reported feeling more confident and motivated to manage their diabetes. Compared to those who received printed materials, the video group showed a modest improvement in blood sugar levels after three months, especially when adjusting for factors like age and income.
The intervention was well-received, with nearly all participants saying it captured their attention and inspired behavior change. While the video didn’t lead to significant changes in other health measures like blood pressure or cholesterol, its strong emotional impact and cultural relevance suggest it could be a useful tool in diabetes care. Because it’s short, easy to distribute, and highly engaging, the video could be integrated into clinics or community programs and paired with longer-term support strategies to help improve outcomes for Hispanic patients with diabetes.
Development of a Digital Storytelling Intervention to Increase Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Hispanic/Latino Community: a Qualitative Evaluation
Culturally tailored interventions are needed to address cancer screening disparities [6, 7]. One potential solution is using digital storytelling (DST) [8].
Journal of Cancer Education Dec 2023
To help improve cancer screening rates among Hispanic/Latino communities in Minnesota, RHCP partnered with StoryCenter to create a digital storytelling workshop called Stories for Change. Eight participants—cancer survivors, co-survivors, and recently screened individuals—shared personal stories about breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. These stories were crafted into short videos using voice narration and images. The storytellers hoped their experiences would resonate with viewers and encourage them to get screened. Themes included family responsibility, overcoming hardship, and cultural values like faith and community support. The workshop was described as empowering, emotional, and a way to give back to the community.
Participants appreciated the supportive environment, learned new skills, and felt their stories could inspire others. However, they also identified areas for improvement, such as clearer pre-workshop communication, more technical support, and faster sharing of the final videos. Some storytellers lacked access to technology to view their own stories, highlighting the need for better planning around digital access. Overall, the project demonstrated that digital storytelling can be a powerful tool for health promotion, especially when it centers the voices of those most affected. Future research will explore whether these stories lead to actual behavior change in cancer screening.
Stories for Change Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Digital Storytelling Workshop Intervention for Hispanic/Latino with Type 2 Diabetes
Hispanic/Latino adults are disproportionately impacted by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).
Contemporary Clinical Trials Jan 2023
To address the high rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Hispanic/Latino adults, RHCP and its partners developed a culturally tailored digital storytelling intervention called Stories for Change (S4C). This project used a randomized controlled trial to test whether personal stories shared through video could improve diabetes self-management. Participants were recruited from clinics in Minnesota and Arizona and randomly assigned to either view the 12-minute video or receive usual care. The video featured four storytellers discussing their experiences with diet, exercise, medication, and glucose monitoring. To reinforce the message, intervention participants received monthly text prompts and were encouraged to share the video with family and friends.
The trial enrolled 451 participants, most of whom were women with an average age of 53 and HbA1c levels above 9%. Both groups received diabetes education materials, but only the intervention group viewed the video and engaged in follow-up activities. Early findings showed that participants connected with the storytellers and felt motivated to improve their health behaviors. The study measured outcomes like HbA1c levels, self-efficacy, social support, and healthcare utilization. While the full results are pending, the protocol offers a promising model for using storytelling to promote health equity and improve chronic disease management in underserved communities.
The Use of Digital Stories As a Health Promotion Intervention: A Scoping Review
It is challenging to develop health promotion interventions created in collaboration with communities affected by inequities that focus beyond individual behavior change. One potential solution is interventions that use digital stories (DS).
BMC Public Health 2022
Digital storytelling (DST) is a creative method used to promote health by sharing personal experiences through short videos. These stories are crafted by individuals affected by health issues and are often used to raise awareness, spark conversations, and encourage behavior change among viewers. A review of ten studies using DST found that these interventions addressed a wide range of health concerns—from diabetes and cancer to HIV and food insecurity—and were implemented across diverse communities and settings. Viewers found the stories engaging, culturally respectful, and motivational, with some studies showing improvements in health knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to change behavior.
Despite promising results, most studies focused on individual-level outcomes like increased health literacy or intentions to change behavior, rather than measuring actual behavior change. Few studies addressed broader community or societal factors, and none incorporated all dimensions of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) framework. The review suggests that DST has untapped potential to promote health equity across multiple levels and domains. Future efforts should include more rigorous study designs, broader health determinants, and post-viewing discussions to deepen impact—especially when led by or in collaboration with Indigenous communities, whose approaches to health and storytelling offer valuable insights.
Facilitated Stories for Change: Digital Storytelling as a Tool for Engagement in Facilitated Discussion for Reduction of Diabetes-Related Health Disparities Among Rural Latino Patients With Diabetes
Latino populations, especially those living in rural areas, experience a disproportionately high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They are also less likely to achieve optimal glycemic control and have 1.5 times higher age adjusted diabetes related mortality rate than non-Hispanic Whites.
Journal of Transcultural Nursing SAGE 2020
A group-based digital storytelling program was tested with Latino adults living in rural Minnesota to support better management of type 2 diabetes. Participants watched a 12-minute video featuring personal stories from others in their community who live with diabetes, followed by a guided discussion. The intervention was designed to be culturally relevant and grounded in narrative and social cognitive theory. Participants reported feeling more motivated and confident about managing their diabetes after the session. They connected deeply with the storytellers and each other, sharing similar challenges and learning from one another’s experiences.
The format encouraged reflection, emotional engagement, and peer support, which helped reinforce key messages about healthy behaviors like medication adherence, diet, and exercise. Participants appreciated the opportunity to talk openly and suggested involving family members in future sessions to strengthen support at home. The intervention was rated highly for usefulness and interest, and all participants said they would recommend it to others. These findings suggest that combining storytelling with group discussion can be a powerful, scalable way to promote culturally congruent care and improve diabetes self-management in underserved communities.
Pilot Feasibility Study of a Digital Storytelling Intervention for Immigrant and Refugee Adults With Diabetes
Immigrants and refugees often arrive in the United States healthier than most Americans, but with time, their health becomes similar to that of the general population, including with regard to unhealthy cardiovascular risk factors and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
The Diabetes Educator 2017
RHCP developed and tested a culturally and linguistically tailored digital storytelling intervention to support diabetes self-management among Somali and Latino immigrants with type 2 diabetes. The intervention consisted of a 12–13 minute video featuring four personal stories, an introduction, and a closing educational message, all created through a participatory process. Delivered during routine clinic visits, the video was rated highly by participants for its usefulness, interest, and motivational impact. After viewing, 96% felt more confident managing their diabetes, and 92% reported intentions to change specific behaviors. A1C levels decreased significantly among Latino participants, particularly those with higher baseline values, suggesting potential clinical benefits.
The intervention’s success was rooted in its CBPR framework, which emphasized community ownership, cultural relevance, and authentic storytelling. Participants identified key messages aligned with diabetes self-management—healthy eating, physical activity, medication adherence, and glucose monitoring—and expressed willingness to share the video with others. While the pilot study was nonrandomized and limited in size, it demonstrated feasibility and acceptability across diverse clinical settings. These findings support further research into scalable, narrative-based interventions to address chronic disease disparities in immigrant and refugee populations.
Stories for Change: Development of a Diabetes Digital Storytelling Intervention for Refugees and Immigrants to Minnesota Using Qualitative Methods
Immigrants and refugees are affected by diabetes-related health disparities, with higher rates of incident diabetes and sub-optimal diabetes outcomes.
BMC Public Health 2015
RHCP partnered with Somali and Latino communities in Rochester, Minnesota to co-develop a culturally and linguistically tailored digital storytelling intervention aimed at improving type II diabetes management. Using a CBPR approach, they conducted focus groups to explore lived experiences across four domains: medication management, glucose monitoring, physical activity, and nutrition. Participants shared barriers such as cultural norms, family responsibilities, misinformation, and structural challenges like cost and transportation. Despite these obstacles, many found motivation through family support, faith, and fear of complications, and adopted strategies like adapting healthy behaviors to daily routines and seeking reliable health information.
Building on these insights, RHCP collaborated with the Center for Digital Storytelling to train eight community members—selected for their storytelling abilities—to create personal narratives reflecting their diabetes journeys. These stories were developed through a four-and-a-half-day workshop and compiled into two intervention packages (Somali and Spanish, both with English subtitles). The process fostered community ownership, empowerment, and capacity building, and the final products were described as powerful and motivational. While the intervention’s efficacy will be evaluated in future work, this participatory model offers a replicable framework for other communities seeking to address chronic disease disparities through culturally grounded storytelling.