Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System
Abstract Background Despite growing evidence of the potential of arts-based modalities to translate knowledge and spark discussion on complex issues, applications to health policy are rare. This study explored the potential of a research-based theatrical video to increase public capacity and motivat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10512-9 |
| _version_ | 1797363481869025280 |
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| author | Sara A. Kreindler Mikayla Hunter Graham W. Lea Mandy Archibald Kendra Rieger Christina West Shaikh Mehdi Hasan |
| author_facet | Sara A. Kreindler Mikayla Hunter Graham W. Lea Mandy Archibald Kendra Rieger Christina West Shaikh Mehdi Hasan |
| author_sort | Sara A. Kreindler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite growing evidence of the potential of arts-based modalities to translate knowledge and spark discussion on complex issues, applications to health policy are rare. This study explored the potential of a research-based theatrical video to increase public capacity and motivation to engage with the complex issues that make Emergency Department wait times such an intractable problem. Methods Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System is a digital musical micro-series developed from extensive research examining system-level causes of Emergency crowding and the ineffectiveness of prevailing approaches. We released individual episodes and a revised full-length version on YouTube, using organic promotion strategies and paid advertising. We used YouTube Analytics to track views, engagement and viewer demographics, and content-analyzed viewer comments. We also conducted five university-based screenings; 92 students completed questionnaires, rating Larry on 16 descriptors using a 7-point Likert scale. Results From June 2022 through May 2023, Larry garnered over 100,000 views (76,752 of the full-length version, 35,535 of episodes), 1329 likes, 2780 shares, and 139 comments. Views and watch time were higher among women and positively associated with age. Among YouTube comments, the predominating themes were praise for the video and criticism of the healthcare system. Many commenters applauded the show’s accuracy, humor, and/or resonance with their experience; several shared healthcare horror stories. Students overwhelmingly agreed with all positive and disagreed with all negative descriptors, and nearly unanimously deemed the video informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining. Most also affirmed that it had increased their knowledge, interest, and confidence to participate in discussions about healthcare issues. Neither gender, primary language, nor employment in healthcare predicted ratings, but graduate students and those 25+ years old evaluated the video most positively. Discussion These findings highlight the promise of research-informed musical satire to inform and invigorate discourse on an urgent health policy problem. Larry has reached tens of thousands of viewers, garnered excellent feedback, and received high student ratings. Further research should directly assess educational and behavioural outcomes and explore what facilitative strategies could maximize this knowledge translation product’s potential to foster informed, impactful policy dialogue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-059d1a049f39481abaa6750754ba8a0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-059d1a049f39481abaa6750754ba8a0b2024-01-07T12:17:59ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-01-0124111110.1186/s12913-023-10512-9Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare SystemSara A. Kreindler0Mikayla Hunter1Graham W. Lea2Mandy Archibald3Kendra Rieger4Christina West5Shaikh Mehdi Hasan6Department of Community Health Sciences, University of ManitobaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of ManitobaFaculty of Education, University of ManitobaCollege of Nursing, University of ManitobaSchool of Nursing, Trinity Western UniversityCollege of Nursing, University of ManitobaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of ManitobaAbstract Background Despite growing evidence of the potential of arts-based modalities to translate knowledge and spark discussion on complex issues, applications to health policy are rare. This study explored the potential of a research-based theatrical video to increase public capacity and motivation to engage with the complex issues that make Emergency Department wait times such an intractable problem. Methods Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System is a digital musical micro-series developed from extensive research examining system-level causes of Emergency crowding and the ineffectiveness of prevailing approaches. We released individual episodes and a revised full-length version on YouTube, using organic promotion strategies and paid advertising. We used YouTube Analytics to track views, engagement and viewer demographics, and content-analyzed viewer comments. We also conducted five university-based screenings; 92 students completed questionnaires, rating Larry on 16 descriptors using a 7-point Likert scale. Results From June 2022 through May 2023, Larry garnered over 100,000 views (76,752 of the full-length version, 35,535 of episodes), 1329 likes, 2780 shares, and 139 comments. Views and watch time were higher among women and positively associated with age. Among YouTube comments, the predominating themes were praise for the video and criticism of the healthcare system. Many commenters applauded the show’s accuracy, humor, and/or resonance with their experience; several shared healthcare horror stories. Students overwhelmingly agreed with all positive and disagreed with all negative descriptors, and nearly unanimously deemed the video informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining. Most also affirmed that it had increased their knowledge, interest, and confidence to participate in discussions about healthcare issues. Neither gender, primary language, nor employment in healthcare predicted ratings, but graduate students and those 25+ years old evaluated the video most positively. Discussion These findings highlight the promise of research-informed musical satire to inform and invigorate discourse on an urgent health policy problem. Larry has reached tens of thousands of viewers, garnered excellent feedback, and received high student ratings. Further research should directly assess educational and behavioural outcomes and explore what facilitative strategies could maximize this knowledge translation product’s potential to foster informed, impactful policy dialogue.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10512-9Research-based theatreKnowledge translationPatient accessPatient flowArts-based health research |
| spellingShingle | Sara A. Kreindler Mikayla Hunter Graham W. Lea Mandy Archibald Kendra Rieger Christina West Shaikh Mehdi Hasan Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System BMC Health Services Research Research-based theatre Knowledge translation Patient access Patient flow Arts-based health research |
| title | Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System |
| title_full | Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System |
| title_fullStr | Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System |
| title_short | Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System |
| title_sort | lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis a multi method reception study of larry saves the canadian healthcare system |
| topic | Research-based theatre Knowledge translation Patient access Patient flow Arts-based health research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10512-9 |
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