Co-creating a Culturally Resonant Prebunking Video to Counter Vaccine Misinformation in Southeast Asia’s Nusantara Sociocultural Sphere: A Human-Centered Design Approach (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Prebunking builds psychological resistance to misinformation by preemptively exposing audiences to weakened examples of false claims and refutations. While its efficacy is established in Western contexts, few interventions have been adapted to linguistically and culturally specific regions like Southeast Asia’s Nusantara sociocultural sphere, where vaccine misinformation remains a challenge. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to co-create and refine a culturally resonant, technique-based prebunking video targeting vaccine misinformation among Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Indonesia speakers in the Nusantara region. METHODS Using a human-centered design (HCD) approach, we conducted two virtual workshops with participants from Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia to co-develop story outlines, scripts, and visual elements. The prototype was refined through focus group discussions (FGDs) in Banda Aceh, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuala Terengganu, with feedback centered on clarity, cultural relevance, and perceived credibility. RESULTS Nine participants from Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia co-created a prebunking video through virtual workshops, though some required additional support to grasp prebunking’s preventive logic. A prototype was developed and refined via focus group discussions in Banda Aceh (Sumatra, Indonesia), Kuala Terengganu (West Malaysia), and Kota Kinabalu (East Malaysia). Key revisions included simplifying tactic labels into the “3P” mnemonic (perasaan, pendedahan, and penyimpangan), localizing narrative framing, and featuring a culturally relatable narrator. Participants emphasized the importance of platform familiarity, linguistic nuance, and contextually realistic examples. CONCLUSIONS Participatory design approaches can strengthen the cultural and cognitive relevance of prebunking content. This formative study underscores the value of tailoring prebunking strategies to the sociolinguistic and media realities of target communities.