Abstract

JAUREGUI-LOBERA, Ignacio; MARTINEZ-GAMARRA, Mar; MONTES-MARTINEZ, María Ángeles  and  MARTINEZ-QUINONES, José Vicente. Storytelling as instrument of communication in health contexts. JONNPR [online]. 2020, vol.5, n.8, pp.863-890.  Epub July 12, 2021. ISSN 2529-850X.  https://dx.doi.org/10.19230/jonnpr.3488.

Storytelling (ST) has emerged as an instrument that helps us in the learning and management of the disease, by taking advantage of the teachings transmitted by other patients who have gone through the same illness: sharing experiences. It requires an interaction between the one who relates (implicit emotional and corporal language: visual, auditory and gestural) and the listener, allowing the listener to conceptualize and create more valuable ideas. The use of ST can serve as a means, establishing a network of trust and equality among participants, allowing a way of expression that would eliminate the stigmatization of suffering from a disease. In addition, telling stories can be a vehicle that breaks resistance to the messages promoting a healthy lifestyle, or that dilutes them to face behavioral changes facilitating the incorporation of new behaviors that improve health or overcome the disease. ST facilitates support for the disease by allowing the patient to examine their emotions and problem-solving strategies, set objectives and exchange social support. With this article we intended to conduct a review of empirical studies on ST and health education, considering contexts, purposes, learning, attitudes and behaviors improvements related to the use of this tool of communication.

Keywords : Storytelling; doctor-patient communication; health education; health support; coping skills; care; self-care.

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