Web-based survey on the effect of digital storytelling on empowering women to seek help for urogenital atrophy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate an online digital story aimed to empower women suffering from urogenital atrophy to seek health professional advice. Study design A questionnaire evaluating a digital story on the UK-based menopause website www.menopausematters.co.uk . Main outcome measure Answers to questions on empowerment. Results A total of 539 responses were obtained over the 62 weeks that the questionnaire was online. In women who had not previously sought help for urogenital atrophy, 145 were too embarrassed and 105 did not want to bother the health professional. Having watched the video, 73% ( n = 105/143) of women who had been too embarrassed to discuss their symptoms with their doctor would now do so and 87% ( n = 89/102) of women who had not wanted to bother their doctor would also make an appointment. Ninety-six percent ( n = 138/144) of women would be willing to try treatment. Over two-thirds of women favoured webcast information to written information; however, postmenopausal women were less likely than peri- or premenopausal to favour this method of presenting health information. Conclusion Using digital stories for health promotion is a new area for research. Our data provide preliminary evidence that women can feel more empowered to seek help for urogenital atrophy using digital storytelling.