91原创

On Thursday, April 21, the 91原创鈥檚 College of Health Sciences hosted its 2022 Evelyn R. Hayes Innovations in Healthcare Symposium virtually, via Zoom. The event is sponsored by Evelyn R. Hayes, Trustees Distinguished Professor Emerita聽in the School of Nursing. The full video recording of the symposium can be .

To kick off the event, Yendelela Cuffee, Assistant Professor of 91原创's Epidemiology Program, presented her keynote titled "Storytelling as an Approach for Promoting Lifestyle and Behavioral Change.鈥� Cuffee highlighted how storytelling can be a powerful tool to improve behaviors.

The foundation of Cuffee鈥檚 research is focused on high blood pressure in African Americans. According to widespread research, 70 million Americans 鈥� roughly 1 out of 3 鈥� have high blood pressure, contributing to higher risks of developing cardiovascular diseases. Cuffee highlighted how the rate of high blood pressure is much higher in African American men and women due to social and environmental factors, and how understanding these issues can help reduce disparities.聽

During the presentation, Cuffee explained how individuals with a chronic condition sharing their stories can help others facing the condition, especially when they are members of the same communities. Through these stories, viewers see themselves making important lifestyle changes, ultimately leading to better long-term outcomes.

鈥淲e are creating a storyboard of real-life examples for how these individuals can use stories to promote wellness,鈥� Cuffee said. 鈥淥ur goal is to make it accessible throughout the community. It鈥檚 important to understand someone鈥檚 lived experiences and how they can be used to educate and encourage others.鈥�

Through a prior research study led by Drs. Jeroan Allison and Tomas Houston at the UMass Chan Medical School, Cuffee discovered significant reductions in blood pressure for participants treated through storytelling interventions. Today, storytelling interventions are being used for treatment of several health conditions such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.

鈥淎fter the study was published, we brought the participants and storytellers together to celebrate and tell them about the research discoveries and how they contributed,鈥� Cuffee said. 鈥淲e really saw how you can bring this full circle to impact the community.鈥�

To further portray the impact of storytelling, 91原创鈥檚 Healthcare Theatre created a two-minute performance portraying a hypothetical interaction between a doctor and her patient about intervention for high blood pressure.

, Assistant Professor of Theatre and Co-Director and Co-Founder of Healthcare Theatre (HT), reflected on HT鈥檚 role to 鈥渂uild communication skills through the power of storytelling鈥� for future leaders in healthcare.

鈥淲e train our HT students to be patients or family members, in health care scenarios, so the future providers can practice medical and communication skills in realistic, but safe, health care encounters,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淲e have the capability to create entire community scenarios to effectively provide career practice in a realistic setting.鈥�

The performance highlighted various examples of how patients with high blood pressure can make sustainable lifestyle changes. These examples consisted of choosing for different meal options throughout the week and adding a 30-minute walk as part of hobbies, such as gardening.

Following the performance, a live Q&A was held by Cuffee and moderated by Rita Landgraf, Director for the Partnership of Healthy Communities and recently nominated Assistant Secretary for Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services. Landgraf asked a variety of questions regarding Cuffee鈥檚 research and provided further insight.

鈥淗aving similarities to the storyteller can go beyond just race to include neighborhood, region, or ethnic backgrounds,鈥� Cuffee said. 鈥淪haring stories from other racial and ethnic groups resonated with participants, even when we used this tool internationally.鈥�

鈥淲e learn a lot through peer support,鈥� Landgraf reflected. 鈥淲hen participants see someone who looks like them sharing impactful stories, we see how that can engage people who may not traditionally go into care and build attraction to continue following up. We understand the value in storytelling as a form of peer support.鈥�

To conclude the Q&A, Landgraf recognized Cuffee鈥檚 new role in the Partnership for Healthy Communities, as Associate Director of Scholarships and Research. Landgraf discussed aspirations to use storytelling to connect with new people in need of care throughout schools and communities.

Evelyn Hayes followed up with closing thoughts and a call to action for viewers.

鈥淭his Symposium has focused on the accomplishments, opportunities, and challenges I see as yet to be achieved, especially through community-owned and managed research,鈥� Hayes said.聽鈥淢y hope is that our participants leave here today with new ideas and a desire to make a difference and improve health outcomes by advancing health equity in our community and beyond. I offer a call to action, to all viewers, to identify one thing you are going to do this year to contribute your unique skill set to address a challenge. Match your passion with a need, and work to fulfill that need.鈥�