NCT06417762 · University of Chicago
Dime La VerDAD: Verify, Debunk, and Disseminate
What this study is about
Dime la Verdad (Tell me the truth) will evaluate the use of storytelling by community health workers as a communication strategy to disseminate reliable health information on social media and encourage informed decision-making in favor of recommended immunizations in communities with high morbidity and mortality due to respiratory virus infections.
View original scientific description
Dime la Verdad (Tell me the truth) will evaluate the use of storytelling by community health workers as a communication strategy to disseminate reliable health information on social media and encourage informed decision-making in favor of recommended immunizations in communities with high morbidity and mortality due to respiratory virus infections. Dime La Verdad is an innovative social media capacity-building program based on theoretical frameworks related to health communication that empowers community health workers to disseminate reliable information about respiratory virus protection strategies through the use of personal narratives on social media. The proposed work will use a rigorous stepped wedge design to 1) deliver a scalable program of science communicators using an adapted curriculum grounded in principles of health communication, 2) evaluate how diffusion of health messaging is perceived on social media, and 3) discern how use of personal narratives to enhance science communication can encourage informed decision-making to promote evidence-based immunization practices and improve health outcomes.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
Science Communication Curriculum Cohort 1
Community health workers will receive a tailored curriculum where they can learn to diffuse reliable information and create infographics and media as well as incorporate their personal narratives into social media posts for their communities. Community health workers will share their final infographic and final post / social media strategy.
BEHAVIORAL
Science communication curriculum Cohort 2
Community health workers will receive a tailored curriculum where they can learn to diffuse reliable information and create infographics and media as well as incorporate their personal narratives into social media posts for their communities. Community health workers will share their final infographic and final post / social media strategy.
BEHAVIORAL
Science communication curriculum Cohort 3
Community health workers will receive a tailored curriculum where they can learn to diffuse reliable information and create infographics and media as well as incorporate their personal narratives into social media posts for their communities. Community health workers will share their final infographic and final post / social media strategy.
BEHAVIORAL
Science communication curriculum Cohort 4
Community health workers will receive a tailored curriculum where they can learn to diffuse reliable information and create infographics and media as well as incorporate their personal narratives into social media posts for their communities. Community health workers will share their final infographic and final post / social media strategy.
Primary outcome measures
Uptake of respiratory virus protection strategies among Community health workers' social media followers
Time frame: Year 2 - Year 4
Community health workers social media followers' intent to use respiratory virus protection strategies. Members of community health workers' social media circles will be surveyed to understand the reach and effectiveness of various types of social media posts. Investigators will measure effectiveness by surveying the social circles of the community health workers six months after the implementation of the curriculum (see recruitment and retention plan), and after the completion of the campaign. Specific items will include which posts the social circle members remembered most and why. Investigators will also ask whether this changed their thinking about respiratory virus protection strategies and or the specific call to action that was put in the infographic.
Community health workers Social Media Self-Efficacy
Time frame: Year 1 - Year 3
Compare Community health workers confidence with disseminating reliable information on social media before and after completing the science communication curriculum. 15-minute survey to assess their work-related social media communication self-efficacy. The baseline survey will also gather demographics, social determinants of health and baseline usage of Facebook and other social media (e.g., social media apps they use, the number of friends on each social media platform, the frequency of reading from and posting/sharing on each platform), and confidence and preparedness to disseminate reliable information in their communities regarding about respiratory virus protection strategies
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- 18 years or older
- Fluent in English or Spanish
- Provide services as a community health worker or similar designation in at least one of the seven communities with high morbidity and mortality due to respiratory virus infections
- Have a social media presence (personal or work related)
Exclusion criteria
- Plan to stop working as a community health worker or similar designation before spring of 2028 (end of data collection planned)
- Do not wish to participate in a social media campaign
Where
- Chicago, Illinois
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
Collaborators
University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Rush University Medical Center, Bedford Research Corporation, Inc., Tanoma Consulting, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Aug 26, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations