Talking about Decisions: The Facilitating Effect of a Celebrity Health Announcement on the Communication of Online Personal Experiences around Decision-making

• Published in: Health communication 2020-10, Vol.35 (12), p.1447-1454
• Main Authors: Sillence, Elizabeth, Martin, Rachel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Announcements; Catalysts; Celebrities; Communication; Communication devices; Decision making; Electronic devices; Genetic screening; Genetic testing; Health education; Health information; Internet; Narratives; Personal experiences; Personal health; Surgery; Talking
• ISSN: 1041-0236; 1532-7027
• DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2019.1652064

This study examines how posters on an online forum discussed their own current and past decision-making in response to a celebrity health announcement. We examined messages in response to a celebrity narrative, and extracted those explicitly related to decision-making around genetic testing and preventative surgery. Using deductive coding we identified different types of decision-making narratives, and with inductive coding we examined how users discussed decision-making activities. Guided by the literature on narrative content types in decision-making, and on celebrity health narratives, we found that the celebrity decision announcement facilitated social sharing in relation to two key decision-making activities. First, identifying with the celebrity allowed people to reflect and compare their own personal health circumstances. This empowered readers to appraise and select options about their current decision-making regarding preventative surgery. Second, the announcement allowed an extension of the discussion beyond the celebrity, and acted as a catalyst encouraging other people to share their own previous decision-making experiences. These experiences contained a mix of narratives content types, and provided an opportunity for posters to evaluate their decisions, and to contribute to a repository of decision-making examples for others. Health narratives act as communication devices in decision-making, and we discuss the findings in relation to the extension of the educational and persuasive function of celebrity health narratives.