This is my life, inspiring thoughts for stroke survivors: Patient narratives in the deserve intervention

Narrative approaches in interventions are emerging as a promising tool for supporting health-behavior change. The DESERVE study is an innovative multi-level discharge behavioral intervention aimed at risk factor reduction in 800 mild stroke/TIA patients with a focus on increasing risk knowledge, improving medication adherence and patient-physician communication. We have incorporated narratives as part of this culturally responsive intervention which includes a video entitled “This is My Life, Inspiring thoughts from Stroke Survivors.” Using this video as a tool may positively reinforce patients' intrinsic motivation to make behavioral changes by giving them a sense of self-actualization and self-efficacy. Our research team worked with documentary filmmakers to develop an on-camera interview in English and Spanish with 15 stroke survivors identified through support groups that elicited stories focused on survivorship, hope and DESERVE's three thematic areas. The film captures stroke survivors describing their personal and organic experiences with stroke, physical, mental and emotional challenges as well as their motivation for recovery, self-efficacy and support. Cultural differences in outlook and perspective on recovery between the English and Spanish interviews emerged during editing. While both versions maintain a focus on DESERVE's three themes, the Spanish version portrays themes on fate and spiritual recovery and the English version touches more on self-determination. Short and full length versions were created for both films and all intervention participants take home both version. Such approaches to promoting and incorporating patient narratives in interventions may be critical for motivating long-term behavior change and risk reduction in other chronic disease patients.