“A picture’s worth a thousand words”: A qualitative investigation of how a narrative film impacts diabetes awareness among Canadian homeless-shelter workers
This qualitative study demonstrates that a narrative film serves as an effective knowledge mobilization tool for Canadian homeless-shelter workers by enhancing diabetes awareness and reducing stigma through its accessible, relatable, and realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by individuals managing diabetes in shelter settings.
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For millions of people, managing diabetes is a daily act of careful calculation. It requires checking blood sugar levels, timing meals, and taking medication exactly as prescribed. When a person also faces homelessness, these tasks become nearly impossible. They may lack a refrigerator to store insulin, a safe place to eat, or a consistent address to receive medical follow-ups. In emergency shelters, where staff work long hours with limited resources, the situation is often misunderstood. Without specific knowledge, a shelter worker might mistake the confusion or stumbling caused by low blood sugar for intoxication or drug withdrawal. This misunderstanding can lead to stigma, where people in crisis are judged rather than helped, and their medical needs are overlooked.
To bridge this gap between reality and perception, a group of researchers and advocates created a short narrative film. They wanted to see if watching a story about a person living with diabetes while homeless could change how shelter workers think and act. The film, titled Low, follows a character named Bobby as he navigates the harsh realities of the shelter system while trying to manage his condition. The researchers gathered a group of shelter staff across Canada to watch the film and then spoke with them individually to understand what they felt and learned. Their goal was not just to see if the workers knew more facts, but to see if the story helped them connect with the human experience behind the medical condition.
The study involved eleven shelter workers from various locations, including management staff, general workers, and healthcare providers. After watching the film, the researchers conducted private interviews to hear the workers' honest reflections. The participants described the film as "digestible," a word they used to explain that watching a story was far easier and more engaging than reading a manual or sitting through a lecture. One worker noted that many people simply do not have the time to look up resources or read books, but they are willing to sit and absorb a film. The narrative structure allowed the audience to walk alongside the character, making the difficult subject matter feel approachable rather than like a lecture.
Beyond just being easy to watch, the film resonated because it felt true to life. The workers recognized the environment and the struggles depicted on screen. They saw their own clients in the character Bobby and, surprisingly, saw themselves in the film's staff members. The movie showed the shelter workers in the film as people trying their best with very few tools and too many demands. This accurate portrayal validated the real workers' own feelings of being overwhelmed and under-resourced. Instead of feeling blamed for the system's failures, they felt understood. One participant remarked that the film showed the demands placed on the job and the lack of resources, noting that it was nice to see that side of the story represented.
The most significant shift for many workers was a change in their internal awareness. The film helped them connect the dots between behaviors they had seen before and the medical reality of diabetes. A specific scene showing a character experiencing severe low blood sugar, which looked very similar to being drunk, was particularly powerful. Several workers admitted they had never considered that a person stumbling or smelling sweet on their breath might be having a medical emergency rather than being intoxicated. This realization sparked a new kind of mindfulness. They began to question their own automatic assumptions, pausing before making judgments about a client's behavior.
This new awareness translated into immediate, tangible changes in how the workers approached their jobs. One worker described a moment shortly after the screening when they noticed a client with a strange smell on their breath. Instead of assuming it was alcohol, they remembered the film, considered the possibility of diabetes, and discreetly connected the person with a nurse. Others reported discussing the film with their teams, creating a shared language where colleagues would remind each other to check if someone was having a low blood sugar event rather than assuming intoxication. The film did not just teach them facts; it inspired them to look deeper and act with more compassion.
The researchers concluded that the power of this approach lay in the film's ability to be approachable, relatable, and realistic. By telling a human story, the film allowed shelter workers to step into the shoes of someone living with diabetes and homelessness, fostering a connection that dry facts could not achieve. The study suggests that narrative films can be a highly effective tool for sharing knowledge and reducing stigma, especially when the audience sees their own struggles and the realities of the people they serve reflected on the screen. While the group of workers interviewed was small, their experiences indicate that storytelling can successfully inspire mindfulness and action in complex social and health environments.
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