Health literacy plays a crucial role in empowering individuals to access, understand, and apply health information to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. But achieving this goal is no small task. Different communities require tailored resources that cater to their unique needs, and designing these resources involves drawing on proven frameworks and theories.
While theories are essential for guiding and predicting outcomes, creating health literacy materials that are grounded in theory can be a challenge. The first hurdle is identifying the right theory to use, and the next is translating its complex variables into a practical, accessible resource.
Thanks to the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its power to process natural language, we can now craft theory-based health literacy content more effectively. In this post, we’ll explore how AI can help generate health literacy materials that are both theory-informed and accessible.
Step 1: Identify Your Content Goal
Start by defining your content goal. You can use AI to help refine and make it SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound). For example, ask AI to rewrite a goal to make it SMART: “Rewrite this goal to make it SMART: Raise awareness about bird flu precaution behaviors, specifically targeting farm owners and those with backyard chickens.” This will help you clarify the outcome you seek and make the goal more actionable.
ChatGPT prompt and output for refining the content goal
Step 2: Choose the Right Theory
For this case, you may turn to the Health Belief Model (HBM), which emphasizes that individuals are more likely to take preventive health actions if they perceive a health threat as serious and believe that taking action will reduce that threat. The HBM focuses on factors like perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits, and barriers to taking action. You may choose to focus on the most relevant variables, such as the perceived severity of bird flu and the perceived benefit of adopting precautionary behaviors. These factors can help shape the narrative and persuade your target audience to take action. If you’re unsure which theory to apply, you can also ask a generative AI tool, like ChatGPT or Perplexity AI, to suggest theories based on your specific health communication goals.
Step 3: Craft Your AI Prompt
Create a prompt that clearly defines your content goal, population description, and theoretical framework. Once you’ve done that, you can give the AI tool more specifics. For example: “Create a 50-word health information resource for farm owners, aiming to raise awareness about bird flu precautions. Apply the Health Belief Model, highlighting the perceived severity of bird flu and the benefits of adopting precautionary behaviors.”
ChatGPT prompt and output for applying the Health Belief Model to bird flu precaution content
Remember, while AI can generate content efficiently, always evaluate its output for accuracy, relevance, and alignment with your goal. With the right tools and a thoughtful approach, AI can be a powerful ally in crafting effective, theory-driven health literacy materials.
In summary, this post explores how generative AI can enhance the creation of theory-driven health literacy resources. By using AI to refine content goals, select appropriate theories, and craft clear prompts, health communicators can develop practical and accessible educational materials. The post demonstrates how AI can apply the Health Belief Model to create tailored health content, improving engagement and understanding in diverse communities.