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Health Information and Libraries Journal Dec 2017The objective of this literature review was to summarise current research regarding how consumers seek health-related information from social media. Primarily, we hope... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this literature review was to summarise current research regarding how consumers seek health-related information from social media. Primarily, we hope to reveal characteristics of existing studies investigating the health topics that consumers have discussed in social media, ascertaining the roles social media have played in consumers' information-seeking processes and discussing the potential benefits and concerns of accessing consumer health information in social media.
METHODS
The Web of Science Core Collection database was searched for existing literature on consumer health information seeking in social media. The search returned 214 articles, of which 21 met the eligibility criteria following review of full-text documents.
CONCLUSION
Between 2011 and 2016, twenty-one studies published explored various topics related to consumer information seeking in social media. These ranged from online discussions on specific diseases (e.g. diabetes) to public health concerns (e.g. pesticide residues). Consumers' information needs vary depending on the health issues of interest. Benefits of health seeking on social media, in addition to filling a need for health information, include the social and emotional support health consumers gain from peer-to-peer interactions. These benefits, however, are tempered by concerns of information quality and authority and lead to decreased consumer engagement.
Topics: Consumer Health Information; Humans; Information Seeking Behavior; Internet; Social Media
PubMed: 29045011
DOI: 10.1111/hir.12192 -
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics 2017Internet searches and social media utilization in health care has exploded over the past 5 years, and patients utilize it to gain information on their health conditions...
BACKGROUND
Internet searches and social media utilization in health care has exploded over the past 5 years, and patients utilize it to gain information on their health conditions and physicians. Social media has the potential to serve as a means for education, communication, and marketing in all health care specialties. Physicians are sometimes reluctant to engage because of concerns of privacy, litigation, and lack of experience with this modality. Many surgical subspecialties have capitalized on social media but no study to date has examined the specific footprint of pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in this realm. We aim to quantify the utilization of individual social media platforms by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, and identify any differences between private and hospital-based physicians, but also regional differences.
METHODS
Using the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America Member Directory, each active member's social media presence was reviewed through an Internet search. Members were stratified on the basis of practice model and geographic location. Individual Internet searches, social media sites, and number of publications were reviewed for social media presence.
RESULTS
Of 987 Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America members, 95% had a professional webpage, 14.8% a professional Facebook page, 2.2% a professional Twitter page, 36.8% a LinkedIn profile, 25.8% a ResearchGate profile, 33% at least 1 YouTube. Hospital-based physicians had a lower mean level of utilization of social media compared with their private practice peers, and a higher incidence of Pubmed publications. Private practice physicians had double the social media utilization. Regional differences reveal that practicing Pediatric Orthopaedists in the Northeast had increased utilization of ResearchGate and LinkedIn and the West had the lowest mean social media utilization levels.
CONCLUSIONS
The rapid expansion of social media usage by patients and their family members is an undeniable force affecting the health care industry. The Internet and social media platforms provide all physicians with a means to educate patients, collaborate with colleagues, and promote their practice and areas of interest. Our survey indicates that pediatric orthopaedic surgeons may be underutilizing their potential social media presence.
LEVELS OF EVIDENCE
Level IV.
Topics: Child; Health Communication; Humans; Information Seeking Behavior; North America; Orthopedics; Pediatrics; Social Media
PubMed: 28719545
DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001032 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Oct 2020Recruiting participants into clinical trials continues to be a challenge, which can result in study delay or termination. Recent studies have used social media to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Recruiting participants into clinical trials continues to be a challenge, which can result in study delay or termination. Recent studies have used social media to enhance recruitment outcomes. An assessment of the literature on the use of social media for this purpose is required.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to answer the following questions: (1) How is the use of social media, in combination with traditional approaches to enhance clinical trial recruitment and enrollment, represented in the literature? and (2) Do the data on recruitment and enrollment outcomes presented in the literature allow for comparison across studies?
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive literature search across 7 platforms to identify clinical trials that combined social media and traditional methods to recruit patients. Study and participant characteristics, recruitment methods, and recruitment outcomes were evaluated and compared.
RESULTS
We identified 2371 titles and abstracts through our systematic search. Of these, we assessed 95 full papers and determined that 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 17 studies reported enrollment outcomes, of which 9 achieved or exceeded their enrollment target. The proportion of participants enrolled from social media in these studies ranged from 0% to 49%. Across all 33 studies, the proportion of participants recruited and enrolled from social media varied greatly. A total of 9 studies reported higher enrollment rates from social media than any other methods, and 4 studies reported the lowest cost per enrolled participant from social media.
CONCLUSIONS
While the assessment of the use of social media to improve clinical trial participation is hindered by reporting inconsistencies, preliminary data suggest that social media can increase participation and reduce per-participant cost. The adoption of consistent standards for reporting recruitment and enrollment outcomes is required to advance our understanding and use of social media to support clinical trial success.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Social Media
PubMed: 33104015
DOI: 10.2196/22810 -
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance Nov 2020Modifiable risky health behaviors, such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, being overweight, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy eating habits, are some of the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Modifiable risky health behaviors, such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, being overweight, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy eating habits, are some of the major factors for developing chronic health conditions. Social media platforms have become indispensable means of communication in the digital era. They provide an opportunity for individuals to express themselves, as well as share their health-related concerns with peers and health care providers, with respect to risky behaviors. Such peer interactions can be utilized as valuable data sources to better understand inter-and intrapersonal psychosocial mediators and the mechanisms of social influence that drive behavior change.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review is to summarize computational and quantitative techniques facilitating the analysis of data generated through peer interactions pertaining to risky health behaviors on social media platforms.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review of the literature in September 2020 by searching three databases-PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus-using relevant keywords, such as "social media," "online health communities," "machine learning," "data mining," etc. The reporting of the studies was directed by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We extracted the required information from the selected studies.
RESULTS
The initial search returned a total of 1554 studies, and after careful analysis of titles, abstracts, and full texts, a total of 64 studies were included in this review. We extracted the following key characteristics from all of the studies: social media platform used for conducting the study, risky health behavior studied, the number of posts analyzed, study focus, key methodological functions and tools used for data analysis, evaluation metrics used, and summary of the key findings. The most commonly used social media platform was Twitter, followed by Facebook, QuitNet, and Reddit. The most commonly studied risky health behavior was nicotine use, followed by drug or substance abuse and alcohol use. Various supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches were used for analyzing textual data generated from online peer interactions. Few studies utilized deep learning methods for analyzing textual data as well as image or video data. Social network analysis was also performed, as reported in some studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Our review consolidates the methodological underpinnings for analyzing risky health behaviors and has enhanced our understanding of how social media can be leveraged for nuanced behavioral modeling and representation. The knowledge gained from our review can serve as a foundational component for the development of persuasive health communication and effective behavior modification technologies aimed at the individual and population levels.
Topics: Data Analysis; Data Management; Humans; Research Design; Risk-Taking; Social Media
PubMed: 33252345
DOI: 10.2196/21660 -
Nurse Education Today Sep 2018The potential impact of social media use in nursing education, continuing professional development, and nurses' advocacy is unfolding at a rapid pace. Nurse educators...
The potential impact of social media use in nursing education, continuing professional development, and nurses' advocacy is unfolding at a rapid pace. Nurse educators are uniquely placed to incorporate the use of social media to enhance students' learning experiences and support students to develop competency in the use of social media for patient benefit. This paper outlines a novel way in which professional education on social media use was integrated into an undergraduate nursing programme. Digital professionalism was cultivated together with collaborative active learning. Students connected using the Twitter hashtag #kclciat18 registered for the 'Connecting it all Together 2017' conference held at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London. Students were invited to participate in an education session on social media, and live activities using Twitter. The conference provided students with a forum to learn about Twitter and practice using Twitter in a professional capacity. Utilising the healthcare conference hashtag repository, Symplur, quantitative and qualitative measures were accessible indicating the reach and extent of connectivity. A combination of qualitative and quantitative outcome measures will help student nurses appreciate the power of Twitter for patient benefit.
Topics: Congresses as Topic; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; Humans; London; Patient-Centered Care; Problem-Based Learning; Professionalism; Social Media; Students, Nursing
PubMed: 29945099
DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2018.06.017 -
Gerontology 2013Maintaining social relationships has been defined as a core element of aging well. With a considerable amount of older adults living alone, social media provides the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Maintaining social relationships has been defined as a core element of aging well. With a considerable amount of older adults living alone, social media provides the possibility to engage in meaningful social contact, e.g. by joining online social networks and online discussion forums.
OBJECTIVE
The review encompasses current knowledge of prerequisites in social media use of older adults such as functional capacity, information and communications technology-related knowledge, and favorable attitudes towards social media. Then, the potential of social media use for clinical practice and possible negative consequences are outlined.
METHOD
Literature on social media use from a gerontological perspective was reviewed in July and August 2012.
RESULTS
Online communities are suitable for providing and receiving social support when confronted with a difficult life situation, regardless of geographical location or time. From a practitioner's perspective, social media can be used to advance health-related knowledge such as information on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of specific conditions and disorders. Further positive consequences have been shown to be overcoming loneliness, relieving stress, and raising feelings of control and self-efficacy. Possible negative consequences could be misuse of personal data as well as the distribution and uncritical adoption of potentially harmful information via online communities.
DISCUSSION
The potential of social media in clinical practice is reflected in a wide range of intervention possibilities for older adults. However, with the rise of social media, new threats emerge for older adults as well.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Attitude to Computers; Humans; Loneliness; Motivation; Social Behavior; Social Media; Social Support; Telemedicine
PubMed: 23594915
DOI: 10.1159/000346818 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024The rise in global temperatures due to climate change has escalated the frequency and intensity of wildfires worldwide. Beyond their direct impact on physical health,...
INTRODUCTION
The rise in global temperatures due to climate change has escalated the frequency and intensity of wildfires worldwide. Beyond their direct impact on physical health, these wildfires can significantly impact mental health. Conventional mental health studies predominantly rely on surveys, often constrained by limited sample sizes, high costs, and time constraints. As a result, there is an increasing interest in accessing social media data to study the effects of wildfires on mental health.
METHODS
In this study, we focused on Twitter users affected by the California Tubbs Fire in 2017 to extract data signals related to emotional well-being and mental health. Our analysis aimed to investigate tweets posted during the Tubbs Fire disaster to gain deeper insights into their impact on individuals. Data were collected from October 8 to October 31, 2017, encompassing the peak activity period. Various analytical methods were employed to explore word usage, sentiment, temporal patterns of word occurrence, and emerging topics associated with the unfolding crisis.
RESULTS
The findings show increased user engagement on wildfire-related Tweets, particularly during nighttime and early morning, especially at the onset of wildfire incidents. Subsequent exploration of emotional categories using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) revealed a substantial presence of negative emotions at 43.0%, juxtaposed with simultaneous positivity in 23.1% of tweets. This dual emotional expression suggests a nuanced and complex landscape, unveiling concerns and community support within conversations. Stress concerns were notably expressed in 36.3% of the tweets. The main discussion topics were air quality, emotional exhaustion, and criticism of the president's response to the wildfire emergency.
DISCUSSION
Social media data, particularly the data collected from Twitter during wildfires, provides an opportunity to evaluate the psychological impact on affected communities immediately. This data can be used by public health authorities to launch targeted media campaigns in areas and hours where users are more active. Such campaigns can raise awareness about mental health during disasters and connect individuals with relevant resources. The effectiveness of these campaigns can be enhanced by tailoring outreach efforts based on prevalent issues highlighted by users. This ensures that individuals receive prompt support and mitigates the psychological impacts of wildfire disasters.
Topics: Social Media; Humans; Wildfires; Mental Health; California; Emotions
PubMed: 38680934
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1349609 -
Journal of the Medical Library... Jan 2017This narrative review examines assessments of the reliability of online health information retrieved through social media to ascertain whether health information... (Review)
Review
This narrative review examines assessments of the reliability of online health information retrieved through social media to ascertain whether health information accessed or disseminated through social media should be evaluated differently than other online health information. Several medical, library and information science, and interdisciplinary databases were searched using terms relating to social media, reliability, and health information. While social media's increasing role in health information consumption is recognized, studies are dominated by investigations of traditional (i.e., non-social media) sites. To more richly assess constructions of reliability when using social media for health information, future research must focus on health consumers' unique contexts, virtual relationships, and degrees of trust within their social networks.
Topics: Consumer Health Information; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Social Media
PubMed: 28096748
DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2017.108 -
Dermatology Online Journal Jul 2021Social media (SoMe) refers to a variety of virtual platforms used to enhance sharing of information. To evaluate the influence of SoMe with regards to views and...
Social media (SoMe) refers to a variety of virtual platforms used to enhance sharing of information. To evaluate the influence of SoMe with regards to views and downloads of published dermatology articles, we conducted a retrospective study from July 2020-March 2021 examining articles published on Instagram and Twitter under Dermatology Online Journal (DOJ) accounts and compared these with type-matched and issue-matched articles that were not posted on social media. During this time period, 163 total articles of the three types used for social media (Case Report, Case Presentation, and Photo Vignette) were published in DOJ and 15 were promoted via SoMe. Utilization of SoMe demonstrated a significant (P<0.0001) positive effect with regards to both views (175.5±16.4) and downloads (31.5±4.0) over matched articles not published on SoMe. Similar trends illustrating the positive effect of SoMe on readership have been previously observed in the field of dermatology as well as other medical specialties. Most direct accessions to articles arrived via Instagram rather than Twitter, diverging from previous studies on SoMe use in medical journals. Social media, in particular Instagram, can be a successful platform to enhance the exposure of peer-reviewed medical information.
Topics: Bibliometrics; Dermatology; Humans; Information Dissemination; Publishing; Retrospective Studies; Social Media
PubMed: 34391326
DOI: 10.5070/D327754361 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Jul 2019Rates of suicide are increasing rapidly among youth. Social media messages and online games promoting suicide are a concern for parents and clinicians. We examined the...
PURPOSE
Rates of suicide are increasing rapidly among youth. Social media messages and online games promoting suicide are a concern for parents and clinicians. We examined the timing and location of social media posts about one alleged youth suicide game to better understand the degree to which social media data can provide earlier public health awareness.
METHODS
We conducted a search of all public social media posts and news articles on the Blue Whale Challenge (BWC), an alleged suicide game, from January 1, 2013, through June 30, 2017. Data were retrieved through multiple keyword search; sources included social media platforms Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Tumblr, as well as blogs, forums, and news articles. Posts were classified into three categories: individual "pro"-BWC posts (support for game), individual "anti"-BWC posts (opposition to game), and media reports. Timing and location of posts were assessed.
RESULTS
Overall, 95,555 social media posts and articles about the BWC were collected. In total, over one-quarter (28.3%) were "pro"-BWC. The first U.S. news article related to the BWC was published approximately 4 months after the first English language U.S. social media post about the BWC and 9 months after the first U.S. social media post in any language. By the close of the study period, "pro"-BWC posts had spread to 127 countries.
CONCLUSIONS
Novel online risks to mental health, such as prosuicide games or messages, can spread rapidly and globally. Better understanding social media and Web data may allow for detection of such threats earlier than is currently possible.
Topics: Adolescent; Games, Recreational; Humans; Self-Injurious Behavior; Social Media; Suicide
PubMed: 30819581
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.12.025