By Shaden Al Darawshe
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – Effective mobile health interventions depend on advancing technology, such as that provided by health-tracking apps, but also on communication strategies grounded in theory, American University of Sharjah faculty member Dr. Fatima Barakji said Wednesday.
An assistant professor in the Department of Media Communication, Barakji walked the audience of about 20 people through a study she conducted in the field of mobiles and health.
Theory plays an important role in designing mobile health interventions and campaigns, said Barakji, because it helps with guiding how messages are read and delivered to influence certain health behaviors.
It helps with predicting how patients are going to respond, target individuals at different stages of behavior change, and come up with strategies that increase self control while reducing resistance, she said.
“Without theory, creating health campaigns would be like throwing darts in the dark and hoping for the best,” she said.
To do this, she said the study required engagement from fields outside of communication including public health and psychology. To design effective health messages, she said, understanding medical contexts and the needs of patients is important.
“Introducing theory into these campaigns is essential,” said Barakji, noting that many health campaigns do not make meaningful results.
Her talk in the Floating Theatre was part of an ongoing series of events showcasing research by the department’s faculty.
