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Folotiya M, Ngoma C. Social media influence on COVID-19 vaccine perceptions among University students: a Malawi case study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1312. [PMID: 38745173 PMCID: PMC11094968 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18764-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic relies significantly on vaccination. The collective international effort has been massive, but the pace of vaccination finds hindrance due to supply and vaccine hesitancy factors. Understanding public perceptions, especially through the lens of social media, is important. This study investigates the influence of social media on COVID-19 vaccine perceptions among university students in Malawi. METHODS The study utilized a quantitative methodology and employed a cross-sectional study design to explore the relationship between social media dynamics and COVID-19 vaccine perceptions among 382 randomly sampled students at MUBAS. Data, collected by use of a Likert-scale questionnaire, was analyzed using IBM SPSS 20 for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS The findings reveal crucial correlations. Specifically, trust in online vaccine information shows a positive correlation (r = 0.296, p < 0.01) with active engagement in social media discussions. Conversely, a negative correlation surfaces concerning individuals' reactions to vaccine availability in Malawi (r = -0.026, p > 0.05). The demographic overview highlights the prevalence of the 16 to 30 age group, representing 92.9% of respondents. CONCLUSIONS The identified correlations emphasize the need for careful communication strategies tailored to combat misinformation and enhance vaccine acceptance among the younger demographic in Malawi. The positive correlation between trust in online vaccine information and social media engagement underscores digital platforms' potential for disseminating accurate information. Conversely, the negative correlation with vaccine availability reactions suggest the presence of complex factors shaping public perceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mervis Folotiya
- Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Chimwemwe Ngoma
- Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
- Department of Research and Innovation, ThinkSmart Consulting, Lilongwe, Malawi.
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Bardy TLC. Assessing health insurance literacy in Switzerland: first results from a measurement tool. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:237-243. [PMID: 37873586 PMCID: PMC10990528 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health insurance literacy (HIL) is crucial for individuals to make informed-decisions and navigate complex choice-based health insurance systems. However, there is a lack of evidence on HIL in countries outside the US, with Switzerland no exception. METHODS Using the HILM-CH, a survey instrument developed to measure HIL in Switzerland, this study first describes the answers to the HILM-CH. Second, the study uses ordinary least squares and quantile regressions to investigate the associations between the HIL score and demographic, socioeconomic, health, and preference factors in the German, French, and Italian Swiss regions. RESULTS A third of the population faces difficulties in finding health insurance information. Understanding it and managing the financial aspects of the Swiss health insurance system pose the biggest barriers to the population. The HIL score significantly and positively correlates with age and financial risk, while non-Swiss individuals have lower HIL scores. No association was found between HIL, gender, education and time preference. There is a small health gradient, with more doctor visits associated with higher HIL in the lowest quantiles of the HIL score. Similarly, wealthier individuals in the Swiss German part of Switzerland have a higher HIL when choosing their health insurance. CONCLUSION This study provides important insights into Swiss HIL and its associated factors. These findings contribute to the international literature on HIL and highlight the importance of understanding variations in HIL and various factors in choice-based health insurance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess L C Bardy
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine and Center for Health, Policy and Economics, University of Lucerne, Alpenquai 4, Lucerne, 6005 Switzerland
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Wong LP, Alias H, Lee HY, AbuBakar S, Lin Y, Hu Z. Has Zika been forgotten? A qualitative exploration of knowledge gaps, perceived risk and preventive practices in pregnant women in Malaysia. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:190. [PMID: 38515067 PMCID: PMC10956172 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-02999-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although Zika virus infection is rarely reported now, continuous prevention is needed to achieve sustained eradication. This study aimed to explore the knowledge gaps, risk perception and preventive measures against Zika virus infection (ZIKV) in pregnant women in Malaysia. METHODS We conducted in-depth virtual interviews with pregnant women between February and April 2022. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were analyzed by content analysis. RESULTS The majority of the participants demonstrated a commendable level of awareness regarding the signs and symptoms associated with ZIKV infection. They also exhibited a clear understanding of preventive measures, particularly emphasizing the importance of avoiding mosquito bites to minimize the risk of ZIKV transmission. However, a noteworthy gap in knowledge surfaced as a subset of participants remained uninformed about the potential for sexual transmission of ZIKV, which could lead to congenital ZIKV in pregnant women. Even among women who were cognizant of ZIKV and its potential negative health outcomes, associated with the infection, many of them did not perceive themselves to be at risk, mainly because ZIKV infection is infrequently discussed or heard of, leading to a sense of infections' rarity. While the adoption of preventive measures such as mosquito bite prevention during pregnancy was a common practice, however, prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika is low. A minority of women express concerns about the sensitivity surrounding discussions and prevention of STIs within the context of marriage. Most of the participants were supportive of the provision of awareness of ZIKV infection in women during pregnancy and the involvement of men, especially in initiatives aimed at preventing transmission through sexual contact. CONCLUSION This study uncovered gaps in both knowledge and practices pertaining ZIKV infection among pregnant women in the aftermath of the ZIKV pandemic. The insights gleaned from our research are valuable for shaping future interventions geared towards preventing the resurgence or facilitating the sustainable eradication of ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ping Wong
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian Province, China.
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Haridah Alias
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hai Yen Lee
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Educational Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Educational Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Yulan Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Zhijian Hu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian Province, China.
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Alhraiwil NJ, Alghaith L, Alharbi W, AlAjaji S, Alhumaid A, Aldossary MS. Mobilizing a Kingdom During a Pandemic: The Health Marketing Campaigns Applied by the Saudi Ministry of Health to Promote (COVID-19) Vaccine Confidence and Uptake. Cureus 2024; 16:e53734. [PMID: 38455787 PMCID: PMC10919942 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy is threatening the global intended herd immunity. Social marketing integration rocketed in promoting public health through awareness campaigns. Saudi Arabia was one of the countries that used social marketing to promote COVID-19 vaccinations for all age groups through successive campaigns. This study aims to describe the content of the campaigns held by the Saudi Ministry of Health to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake. METHODS A track's working strategy was created to contain COVID-19 spread in Saudi Arabia followed by a vaccination track. Six tracks were maintained over six months extended from June 2020 to December 2020. As a result, different campaigns were launched, and key performance indicators were identified and collected. Data from campaigns and key indicators were collected to determine outreach and impact. RESULTS Five campaigns were initiated receiving high interactions from governmental entities and the public. The individuals' percentage who received full vaccination doses and booster vaccinations increased. Moreover, the last campaign promoting vaccinations in children achieved a 60% willingness rate among adults to vaccinate their children. CONCLUSION COVID-19 awareness campaigns achieved successful outcomes in Saudi Arabia and currently the Kingdom sustained higher vaccination proportions than the average vaccination attainment worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lamay Alghaith
- Communication, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Walid Alharbi
- Communication, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Sarah AlAjaji
- Communication, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Anas Alhumaid
- Communication, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU
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Kim SY, Yoo DM, Min C, Bang WJ, Choi HG. Investigation of changes in the physical activity and fall experience before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Res Sports Med 2024; 32:201-212. [PMID: 35852182 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2022.2102914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the changes in physical activity levels and the rate of falls during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Korean population. The Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) conducted in 2019 was compared with that conducted in 2020. Simple or multiple linear regression with complex sampling was conducted to calculate the estimated value (EV) of physical activity in the 2020 group vs. the 2019 group. The odds ratio (OR) of fall histories was calculated using simple or multiple logistic regression with complex sampling for the 2020 group compared to the 2019 group. The time spent on vigorous and moderate physical activity was lower in the 2020 group than in the 2019 group (EV = -10.0, 95% CI = -12.1 to -8.0, P < 0.001 for vigorous exercise and EV = -24.0, 95% CI = -26.7 to -21.4, P < 0.001 for moderate exercise). The rate of falls was lower in the 2020 group than in the 2019 group (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.70, P < 0.001). Vigorous and moderate exercise decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. The occurrence of falls was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Young Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Dae Myoung Yoo
- Hallym Data Science Laboratory, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
| | - Chanyang Min
- Hallym Data Science Laboratory, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woo-Jin Bang
- Department of Urology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
| | - Hyo Geun Choi
- Hallym Data Science Laboratory, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
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Bates G, Titi M, Dickson-Gomez J, Young S, Keval A, Meurer J. Navigating misinformation and political polarization of COVID-19: interviews with Milwaukee, Wisconsin county public health officials. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1215367. [PMID: 38179566 PMCID: PMC10764567 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The spread of misinformation combined with the political polarization of the COVID-19 vaccine created major challenges for public health officials responding to the COVID pandemic and vaccine roll-out. The challenges public health officials faced when making safety recommendations and promoting the vaccine only exacerbated the already exhausting work conditions they experienced since the start of the pandemic. Combating misinformation while receiving inadequate political support led to burnout for many public health officials. As such, they had to adapt and develop new strategies for increasing vaccine acceptance and decreasing vaccine hesitancies. Method This study was conducted through qualitative interviews with seven Milwaukee County public health officials. This study aimed to determine how public health officials perceived misinformation and political polarization during the pandemic. Additionally, the study aimed to learn more about strategies county health officials used to combat misinformation while increasing vaccine uptake in their communities. Results Thematic analysis of the interviews identified three major challenges faced by public health officials in promoting vaccination: dissemination of misinformation in media, political polarization of COVID and its contribution to vaccine acceptance and COVID fatigue, and assessment of the risks associated with disease severity versus vaccine safety considering limited public health resources. Discussion Learning from public health officials allows us to better understand their perceptions of the extent of local vaccine hesitancies and their advice on how to counteract fears and misinformation and to promote COVID vaccine uptake. Political polarization of COVID and misinformation affected community vaccine acceptance and challenged local public health leadership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett Bates
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Mohammad Titi
- School of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Julia Dickson-Gomez
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Staci Young
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Aliyah Keval
- School of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - John Meurer
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Nicolla S, Lazard AJ, Austin LL, Freelon D, Reyes HLM, Moracco KE. TikToks Lead to Higher Knowledge and Perceived Severity of Sexual Violence among Adolescent Men. J Youth Adolesc 2023; 52:2449-2463. [PMID: 37733120 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01867-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Social media communication is a promising way to deliver important health messages about sexual violence to a key population of adolescent men. The researchers conducted an online, between-participants experiment to examine the impact of personal narrative TikToks about sexual violence on adolescent men. Participants were adolescent men (n = 580) aged 15 to 19 (M = 17.3, SD = 1.43). Participants were randomly assigned to treatment (personal narrative TikToks about sexual violence) or control (hair braiding TikTok tutorials) conditions. Adolescent men who viewed personal narrative TikToks about sexual violence had higher knowledge of consequences and higher perceived severity of sexual violence. Additionally, adolescent men found personal narrative TikToks more attention-grabbing (vs. control) and did not have negative reactions. Findings that short (approximately one-minute) TikTok videos led to differences in knowledge and beliefs among, and were interesting and not aversive to, adolescent men are important for sexual violence prevention research. Health messages on TikTok can help shift adolescent perceptions of sexual violence, which is a key starting point towards changing norms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Lucinda L Austin
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Deen Freelon
- Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Heathe Luz McNaughton Reyes
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Kathryn E Moracco
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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Oh J, Lee M, Lee H, Yang H, Park J, Rahmati M, Koyanagi A, Smith L, Fond G, Boyer L, Kim MS, Lee SW, López Sánchez GF, Dragioti E, Woo HG, Yon DK. Hand and Oral Hygiene Practices of South Korean Adolescents Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2349249. [PMID: 38147331 PMCID: PMC10751599 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.49249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Only a few studies have examined the long-term trends of hand and oral hygiene, especially among adolescents. Objective To investigate the 15-year trends in frequency of handwashing and toothbrushing and examine the factors associated with hand and oral hygiene, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study, performed from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2022, used general population-based data from 963 644 individuals in a national representative survey (Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey [KYRBS]). Exposure COVID-19 pandemic. Main Outcomes and Measures Trends in hand and oral hygiene practices were measured by how frequently adolescents washed their hands and whether they fulfilled the recommended guidelines for toothbrushing. An interrupted time series analysis using linear and logistic regression models was performed to assess any associations with the COVID-19 pandemic. Hand and oral hygiene behaviors before and during the pandemic in each sociodemographic subgroup were also compared. Results In the 963 644 adolescents (495 697 [51.4%] male; mean [range] age, 15.01 [12-18] years) who participated in the KYRBS from 2008 to 2022, a 73.3% (95% CI, 59.4%-97.4%; P < .001) immediate increase was seen in overall hand hygiene behavior at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period, with a sustained decrease thereafter (β = -0.018; 95% CI, -0.022 to -0.015; P < .001). Meanwhile, no immediate increase was observed in terms of overall oral hygiene behavior (0.1%; 95% CI, -0.9% to 1.1%; P = .82); however, there was a sustained decrease during the pandemic (β = -0.018; 95% CI, -0.020 to -0.016; P < .001). Older age, female sex, nonsmoking status, alcohol use, low household economic level, and poor school performance were significantly associated with poor hand hygiene during the pandemic. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of South Korean adolescents, an increase in the prevalence of hand hygiene was observed during the early pandemic; however, this prevalence decreased over time. Meanwhile, the decrease in the prevalence of oral hygiene was more pronounced during the pandemic. This study recommends stronger guidelines for adolescent health coaches, such as teachers or public health advisers, regarding hygiene behaviors, even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Oh
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Myeongcheol Lee
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hojae Lee
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwi Yang
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jaeyu Park
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Masoud Rahmati
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Guillaume Fond
- CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Boyer
- CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Min Seo Kim
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Seung Won Lee
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Guillermo F. López Sánchez
- Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Elena Dragioti
- Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, and Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Research Laboratory Psychology of Patients, Families, and Health Professionals, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ho Geol Woo
- Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Keon Yon
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Zhao Y, Wang R, Li H, Chen C, Zhou B, Weng X, Hua Y, Jia Y, Wu Y, Li Y. Impact of Easing COVID-19 Restrictions on Fear of COVID-19 and Social Support Among Chinese Students: A Longitudinal Analysis. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:4685-4696. [PMID: 38024661 PMCID: PMC10674754 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s434765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This longitudinal study aims to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19, support-seeking behaviors, and perceived social support among Chinese college students during two distinct periods of the COVID-19 pandemic: the period of strict control (time 1) and the period following a relaxation of restrictions (time 2). Methods A total of 408 Chinese college students participated in this study. Data collection included demographic information, measures of fear of COVID-19, support-seeking behaviors, and perceived social support. Results Fear of COVID-19 at time 1 showed a significant positive association with fear of COVID-19 at time 2. The relationship between support-seeking behavior at time 1 and fear of COVID-19 at time 2 was significantly mediated through a chain mediation effect of support-seeking behavior at time 1 and perceived social support at time 2. Discussion This study contributes to the growing body of evidence on the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the significance of social support in mitigating fear of COVID-19. It calls for a re-evaluation of public health policies considering their potential psychological effects and introduces new opportunities for developing psychosocial interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Faculty of Law, Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruizhe Wang
- HeXie Management Research Center, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hebin Li
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chong Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bowen Zhou
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinying Weng
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yidi Hua
- School of Humanities and Social Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaqi Jia
- Entrepreneurs College, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yajun Wu
- Department of Applied Psychology, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Li
- School of Urban Governance and Public Affairs, Suzhou City University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Chandra A, Kumar R, Bhatnagar S, Nongkynrih B. Assessing Awareness and Palliative Care Needs in Rural Haryana, North India: A Community-Based Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e47052. [PMID: 38021604 PMCID: PMC10644208 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Community-based palliative care offers a solution to ensure continuity of treatment for patients with life illnesses or life-threatening conditions. Hence, to advocate for community-based palliative care services, it is imperative to generate evidence for palliative care needs in the community. This study aimed to assess the need for and awareness of palliative care in rural Haryana, North India. Methods This was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in six villages of Haryana. A trained investigator conducted house-to-house visits to screen the population for those who require palliative care. The screening was done using three questions, i.e., (1) the presence of a bedridden patient, (2) a person in need of help in activities of daily living, or (3) not able to go to work due to any physical chronic illness. If the answer to any of these questions was positive, a list of patients was prepared, and a community physician trained in palliative care contacted them. Patients and their caregivers were evaluated for their awareness of palliative care through the following question: 'Have you heard about the term palliative care/end-of-life care/home care for bedridden people/community-based care/supportive care?'. Data collection was done using Epicollect5 mobile application, and a descriptive analysis was conducted using the R software. Results A total of 1,983 households were visited, and 152 households were excluded as they were found locked during two separate visits. Therefore, a total of 1,831 households, comprising 9,727 individuals, were screened. The need for palliative care was found to be 3.7 per 1,000 population (95% CI: 2.5 - 4.9) and 18.6 per 1000 households (12.4 - 24.8). The most common diseases requiring palliative care were stroke with a focal neurological deficit (27.8%) and cancer (22.2%). One patient with cancer was receiving palliative care. None of the patients or their caregivers was aware of the terms palliative care/end-of-life care/home care for bedridden people/community-based care/supportive care. Conclusion The need for palliative care in rural Haryana (North India) was found to be 3.7 per 1000 population. Neither the patients nor their caregivers had an awareness of palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Chandra
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi, IND
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi, IND
| | - Sushma Bhatnagar
- Onco-Anaesthesia and Palliative Medicine, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH) All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, IND
| | - Baridalyne Nongkynrih
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi, IND
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Vahdani B, Mohammadi M, Thevenin S, Meyer P, Dolgui A. Production-sharing of critical resources with dynamic demand under pandemic situation: The COVID-19 pandemic. OMEGA 2023; 120:102909. [PMID: 37309376 PMCID: PMC10239663 DOI: 10.1016/j.omega.2023.102909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 virus's high transmissibility has resulted in the virus's rapid spread throughout the world, which has brought several repercussions, ranging from a lack of sanitary and medical products to the collapse of medical systems. Hence, governments attempt to re-plan the production of medical products and reallocate limited health resources to combat the pandemic. This paper addresses a multi-period production-inventory-sharing problem (PISP) to overcome such a circumstance, considering two consumable and reusable products. We introduce a new formulation to decide on production, inventory, delivery, and sharing quantities. The sharing will depend on net supply balance, allowable demand overload, unmet demand, and the reuse cycle of reusable products. Undeniably, the dynamic demand for products during pandemic situations must be reflected effectively in addressing the multi-period PISP. A bespoke compartmental susceptible-exposed-infectious-hospitalized-recovered-susceptible (SEIHRS) epidemiological model with a control policy is proposed, which also accounts for the influence of people's behavioral response as a result of the knowledge of adequate precautions. An accelerated Benders decomposition-based algorithm with tailored valid inequalities is offered to solve the model. Finally, we consider a realistic case study - the COVID-19 pandemic in France - to examine the computational proficiency of the decomposition method. The computational results reveal that the proposed decomposition method coupled with effective valid inequalities can solve large-sized test problems in a reasonable computational time and 9.88 times faster than the commercial Gurobi solver. Moreover, the sharing mechanism reduces the total cost of the system and the unmet demand on the average up to 32.98% and 20.96%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Vahdani
- IMT Atlantique, Lab-STICC, UMR CNRS 6285, Brest F-29238, France
| | - Mehrdad Mohammadi
- IMT Atlantique, Lab-STICC, UMR CNRS 6285, Brest F-29238, France
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600MB, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Thevenin
- IMT Atlantique, LS2N-CNRS, La Chantrerie, 4, rue Alfred Kastler, Nantes cedex 3, F-44307, France
| | - Patrick Meyer
- IMT Atlantique, Lab-STICC, UMR CNRS 6285, Brest F-29238, France
| | - Alexandre Dolgui
- IMT Atlantique, LS2N-CNRS, La Chantrerie, 4, rue Alfred Kastler, Nantes cedex 3, F-44307, France
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12
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NeJhaddadgar N, Ziapour A, Jafarzadeh M, Ezzati F, Rezaei F, Darabi F. Explaining barriers to childbearing using the risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategy: Based on action research. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1606. [PMID: 37808930 PMCID: PMC10551272 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Reluctance to childbearing and then the reduction of the total fertility rate are common experiences of developed countries and many developing countries, including Iran, therefore, the purpose of this study was explaining barriers to childbearing using the risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategy. Methods The study was conducted by action research and according to RCCE during 9 months in Ardabil city. The statistical population consisted of 41 married women aged 15-54 who were eligible for childbearing, these women were purposefully selected from among the people covered by Ardabil health centers and interviewed. Data were collected using open and in-depth interviews by the researcher and analyzed by content analysis. Results The results of data analysis led to the extraction of three main categories, personal, familial, and social barriers. The "personal barriers" category was classified into three subcategories, namely mental, belief, and awareness barriers, the "familial barriers" category was classified into two subcategories, namely social and financial barriers, and the "social barriers" category was classified into two subcategories, political and managerial barriers. Conclusions According to the results, a set of personal, familial, and social factors could affect childbearing among married women. Identification of these factors can play an effective role in designing educational and managerial programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazila NeJhaddadgar
- Social Determinants of Health Research CenterArdabil University of Medical SciencesArdabilIran
| | - Arash Ziapour
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Health Institute, Imam‐Ali HospitalKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Mohammad Jafarzadeh
- Department of Infectious DiseasesSchool of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical SciencesArdabilIran
| | - Farahnaz Ezzati
- Health Care Center ProvinceArdabil University of Medical SciencesArdabilIran
| | - Farshid Rezaei
- Health Education and Promotion Department, Health DeputyMinistry of HealthTehranIran
| | - Fatemeh Darabi
- Department of Public HealthAsadabad School of Medical SciencesAsadabadIran
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Montazeri A, Mohammadi S, M Hesari P, Yarmohammadi H, Bahabadi MR, Naghizadeh Moghari F, Maftoon F, Tavousi M, Riazi H. Exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media and consequent psychological distress and potential behavioral change. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15224. [PMID: 37710006 PMCID: PMC10502066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42459-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) news pandemic is inevitable. This study aimed to explore the association between exposure to COVID-19 news on social media and feeling of anxiety, fear, and potential opportunities for behavioral change among Iranians. A telephone-based survey was carried out in 2020. Adults aged 18 years and above were randomly selected. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to collect information on demographic variables and questions to address exposure to news and psychological and behavioral responses regarding COVID-19. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between anxiety, fear, behavioral responses, and independent variables, including exposure to news. In all, 1563 adults participated in the study. The mean age of respondents was 39.17 ± 13.5 years. Almost 55% of participants reported moderate to high-level anxiety, while fear of being affected by COVID-19 was reported 54.1%. Overall 88% reported that they had changed their behaviors to some extent. Exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media was the most influencing variable on anxiety (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.62-3.04; P < 0.0001), fear (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.49-2.56; P < 0.0001), and change in health behaviors (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.28-3.19; P = 0.003) in the regression model. The fear of being infected by the COVID19 was associated with the female gender and some socioeconomic characteristics. Although exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media seemed to be associated with excess anxiety and fear, it also, to some extent, had positively changed people's health behaviors towards preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Montazeri
- Health Metrics Research Centre, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
- Faculty of Humanity Sciences, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Samira Mohammadi
- Health Metrics Research Centre, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa M Hesari
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Hossein Yarmohammadi
- Health Metrics Research Centre, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Farzaneh Maftoon
- Health Metrics Research Centre, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Tavousi
- Health Metrics Research Centre, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hedyeh Riazi
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Li W, Zhu K, Liu E, Peng W, Fang C, Hu Q, Tao L. The impact of healthcare industry convergence on the performance of the public health system: a geospatial modeling study of provincial panel data from China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1194375. [PMID: 37766745 PMCID: PMC10520712 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1194375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This paper examines the impact of healthcare industry convergence on the performance of the public health system in the eastern, central, and western regions of China. Methods Public health performance was measured by a composite index of three standards: average life expectancy at birth, perinatal mortality, and maternal mortality. The healthcare industry convergence was measured using a coupling coordination degree method. The spatial lag, spatial error, and spatial Durbin models were used to estimate the effect of healthcare industry convergence on public health system performance and this effect's spatial dependence and heterogeneity across eastern, central, and western China using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2002 to 2019. Results The convergence of the healthcare industry significantly promotes regional public health [β =0.576, 95% CI: (0.331,0.821)]. However, the convergence does not have a spatial spillover effect on the public health system at the national level. Additionally, analysis of regional heterogeneity shows that the direct effects of healthcare industry convergence on public health are positive and statistically significant for Eastern China, statistically insignificant for Central China, and positive and statistically significant for Western China. The indirect effects are negative, statistically significant, positive, statistically significant, and statistically insignificant for these three regions, respectively. Conclusion Policy efforts should strengthen the convergence between the healthcare industry and relevant industries. It can produce more current healthcare services to improve public health and reduce regional health inequality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Data Science, Dongfang College, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Haining, China
| | - Ke Zhu
- School of Data Science, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
| | - Echu Liu
- Department of Health Management and Policy, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Wuzhen Peng
- Department of Data Science, Dongfang College, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Haining, China
| | - Cheng Fang
- School of Data Science, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Hu
- Department of Business Analytics, Business School, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Limei Tao
- Office of Human Resources, Hubei Open University, Wuhan, China
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15
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Neely S, Hao F. Diagnosis Disclosure and Peer-to-Peer Information Seeking Among COVID-19-Infected Social Media Users: Survey of US-Based Adults. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e48581. [PMID: 37669087 PMCID: PMC10509733 DOI: 10.2196/48581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research examining online health communities suggests that individuals affected by chronic health conditions can obtain valuable information and social support through participation in peer-to-peer web-based information exchanges, including information sharing and seeking behaviors. The risks and rewards of these same behaviors in the case of acute illnesses, such as COVID-19, are less well understood, though there is reason to believe that individuals with COVID-19 and other acute illnesses may accrue similar benefits. OBJECTIVE This study examines the propensity of American adults to disclose and discuss their COVID-19 diagnosis and symptoms on social media while actively infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as to engage in peer-to-peer information seeking in order to better understand the illness that they are experiencing. Additionally, this study seeks to identify the motivations for these behaviors as well as their subsequent impacts on perceived social connectedness and health anxiety in patients with COVID-19. METHODS We conducted a representative survey of 2500 US-based adults using a sample purchased through an industry-leading market research provider. Participants were selected through a stratified quota sampling approach to ensure a representative sample of the US population. Balanced quotas were determined (by region of the country) for gender, age, race, ethnicity, and political affiliation. Responses were analyzed from 946 participants who reported having an active social media account and testing positive for COVID-19 at least once since the start of the pandemic. RESULTS The results show that only a small portion of social media users (166/946, 18%) chose to disclose and discuss their COVID-19 diagnosis while infected with the virus. However, among those who did, an overwhelming majority (206/251, 82%) said that doing so helped them feel more connected and supported while infected with the virus. A larger percentage of the 946 respondents (n=319, 34%) engaged in peer-to-peer information seeking while infected with COVID-19. Among those who did, a large majority (301/319, 94%) said that doing so was "helpful," but more than one-third (115/319, 36%) said that reading about other people's experiences made them "more worried" about having COVID-19, while 33% (108/319) said that it made them "less worried." Illness severity and political affiliation were significant predictors of both information sharing and seeking. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the benefits (and risks) associated with online health communities are germane to patients with acute illnesses such as COVID-19. It is recommended that public health officials and health care providers take a proactive approach to cultivating professionally moderated forums supporting peer-to-peer engagement during future outbreaks of COVID-19 and other acute illnesses in order to improve patient outcomes and promote social support and connectedness among infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Neely
- School of Public Affairs, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Feng Hao
- Department of Sociology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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Park A, Sayed F, Robinson P, Elopre L, Ge Y, Li S, Grov C, Sullivan PS. Health Information on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis From Search Engines and Twitter: Readability Analysis. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e48630. [PMID: 37665621 PMCID: PMC10507523 DOI: 10.2196/48630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is proven to prevent HIV infection. However, PrEP uptake to date has been limited and inequitable. Analyzing the readability of existing PrEP-related information is important to understand the potential impact of available PrEP information on PrEP uptake and identify opportunities to improve PrEP-related education and communication. OBJECTIVE We examined the readability of web-based PrEP information identified using search engines and on Twitter. We investigated the readability of web-based PrEP documents, stratified by how the PrEP document was obtained on the web, information source, document format and communication method, PrEP modality, and intended audience. METHODS Web-based PrEP information in English was systematically identified using search engines and the Twitter API. We manually verified and categorized results and described the method used to obtain information, information source, document format and communication method, PrEP modality, and intended audience. Documents were converted to plain text for the analysis and readability of the collected documents was assessed using 4 readability indices. We conducted pairwise comparisons of readability based on how the PrEP document was obtained on the web, information source, document format, communication method, PrEP modality, and intended audience, then adjusted for multiple comparisons. RESULTS A total of 463 documents were identified. Overall, the readability of web-based PrEP information was at a higher level (10.2-grade reading level) than what is recommended for health information provided to the general public (ninth-grade reading level, as suggested by the Department of Health and Human Services). Brochures (n=33, 7% of all identified resources) were the only type of PrEP materials that achieved the target of ninth-grade reading level. CONCLUSIONS Web-based PrEP information is often written at a complex level for potential and current PrEP users to understand. This may hinder PrEP uptake for some people who would benefit from it. The readability of PrEP-related information found on the web should be improved to align more closely with health communication guidelines for reading level to improve access to this important health information, facilitate informed decisions by those with a need for PrEP, and realize national prevention goals for PrEP uptake and reducing new HIV infections in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Park
- Department of Software and Information Systems, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Fatima Sayed
- Department of Software and Information Systems, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Patrick Robinson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Latesha Elopre
- Division of Infectious Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Yaorong Ge
- Department of Software and Information Systems, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Shaoyu Li
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Christian Grov
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, City University of New York, New York City, NY, United States
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Gudapati JD, Franco AJ, Tamang S, Mikhael A, Hadi MA, Roy V, AlGhoul M. A Study of Global Quality Scale and Reliability Scores for Chest Pain: An Instagram-Post Analysis. Cureus 2023; 15:e45629. [PMID: 37868472 PMCID: PMC10588959 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Utilized in the healthcare sector, social media offers numerous benefits. However, its drawbacks encompass the variable quality of unregulated and unsupervised content. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the information in content related to chest pain found across Instagram and analyze the quality and reliability of chest pain-related content via Instagram posts. METHODOLOGY Instagram posts with content related to chest pain were analyzed with the help of a structured questionnaire that included the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and DISCERN score (DS). To collect Instagram posts, several distinct hashtags were employed: #chestpain, #chestpains, #angina, #anginatreatment, #heartattack, #heartattacksurvivor, #heartattackprevention. RESULTS A total of 262 posts were included, of which 29.7% of the total posts (n=78) contained information that describes the etiology of the disease. 27.8% of the total posts (n = 73) enclosed promotional content. Posts were found to be uploaded by doctors (18.7%), hospitals (15.6%), patients (17.9%), dieticians (11.1%), healthcare organizations (9.2%), and others (27.5%). Both Global Quality and DISCERN scores were statistically significant with a p-value of 0.001. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study revealed that most of the Instagram content on chest pain posted via physicians were highly reliable and had a better global quality score. Information regarding various causes, symptoms and preventive measures on Instagram can be considered as an acceptable source for patients to surf on. A major limitation is that only English content was analyzed. In the future, the use of higher quality posts produced by healthcare professionals could potentially contribute to enhancing patient education via Instagram.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ancy Jenil Franco
- Internal Medicine, Sri Muthukumaran Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IND
| | - Sweta Tamang
- Internal Medicine, Stupa Community Hospital, Kathmandu, NPL
| | - Amir Mikhael
- Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY
| | - Mohammed Abdul Hadi
- Internal Medicine, St Martinus University Faculty of Medicine, Willemstad, CUW
| | - Vivek Roy
- Internal Medicine, St Martinus University Faculty of Medicine, Willemstad, CUW
| | - Majed AlGhoul
- Internal Medicine, Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, ARE
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Alvarez-Mon MA, Pereira-Sanchez V, Hooker ER, Sanchez F, Alvarez-Mon M, Teo AR. Content and User Engagement of Health-Related Behavior Tweets Posted by Mass Media Outlets From Spain and the United States Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Infodemiology Study. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2023; 3:e43685. [PMID: 37347948 PMCID: PMC10445660 DOI: 10.2196/43685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the early pandemic, there was substantial variation in public and government responses to COVID-19 in Europe and the United States. Mass media are a vital source of health information and news, frequently disseminating this information through social media, and may influence public and policy responses to the pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the extent to which major media outlets in the United States and Spain tweeted about health-related behaviors (HRBs) relevant to COVID-19, compare the tweeting patterns between media outlets of both countries, and determine user engagement in response to these tweets. METHODS We investigated tweets posted by 30 major media outlets (n=17, 57% from Spain and n=13, 43% from the United States) between December 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020, which included keywords related to HRBs relevant to COVID-19. We classified tweets into 6 categories: mask-wearing, physical distancing, handwashing, quarantine or confinement, disinfecting objects, or multiple HRBs (any combination of the prior HRB categories). Additionally, we assessed the likes and retweets generated by each tweet. Poisson regression analyses compared the average predicted number of likes and retweets between the different HRB categories and between countries. RESULTS Of 50,415 tweets initially collected, 8552 contained content associated with an HRB relevant to COVID-19. Of these, 600 were randomly chosen for training, and 2351 tweets were randomly selected for manual content analysis. Of the 2351 COVID-19-related tweets included in the content analysis, 62.91% (1479/2351) mentioned at least one HRB. The proportion of COVID-19 tweets mentioning at least one HRB differed significantly between countries (P=.006). Quarantine or confinement was mentioned in nearly half of all the HRB tweets in both countries. In contrast, the least frequently mentioned HRBs were disinfecting objects in Spain 6.9% (56/809) and handwashing in the United States 9.1% (61/670). For tweets from the United States mentioning at least one HRB, disinfecting objects had the highest median likes and retweets, whereas mask-wearing- and handwashing-related tweets achieved the highest median number of likes in Spain. Tweets from Spain that mentioned social distancing or disinfecting objects had a significantly lower predicted count of likes compared with tweets mentioning a different HRB (P=.02 and P=.01, respectively). Tweets from the United States that mentioned quarantine or confinement or disinfecting objects had a significantly lower predicted number of likes compared with tweets mentioning a different HRB (P<.001), whereas mask- and handwashing-related tweets had a significantly greater predicted number of likes (P=.04 and P=.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The type of HRB content and engagement with media outlet tweets varied between Spain and the United States early in the pandemic. However, content related to quarantine or confinement and engagement with handwashing was relatively high in both countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Pereira-Sanchez
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth R Hooker
- VA Portland Health Care System, Health Services Research & Development Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Portland, OR, United States
- OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Facundo Sanchez
- Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, New York, NY, United States
- Devers Eye Institute, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alan R Teo
- VA Portland Health Care System, Health Services Research & Development Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Asiri MN, Bakhiet MY, Alzahrani MM, Alghamdi HA, Alsaedi MN, Alshomrani AA, Alghamdi AA, Alghamdi TM. Assessing the Knowledge and Practices of Burn First Aid in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e42879. [PMID: 37664287 PMCID: PMC10474332 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Burns are a prevalent type of injury that can result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Burn first aid knowledge is essential for reducing its complications and improving outcomes. However, evidence of the amount of burn first aid knowledge among the general population in many nations is sparse. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 346 persons over the age of 18 from the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia. The participants' knowledge of first aid for burns, including the appropriate steps to take in the event of a burn, the types of burns, and the proper application of burn dressings was assessed using a structured questionnaire. Results The majority of participants (73.6%) had inadequate knowledge of first aid for burns, while only 26.4% had adequate knowledge. The most common misconception among participants was the use of toothpaste, honey, or ice for burn treatment, which is not recommended. Additionally, hot water was the main cause of burning in this study. Conclusions This study underscores the necessity for targeted education and awareness-raising activities to improve the general population's knowledge and habits about first aid for burns. Such programs can be tailored to clarify myths and misunderstandings regarding burn treatment and encourage evidence-based strategies for preventing and treating burns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed N Asiri
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
| | - Mohammed Y Bakhiet
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, Elobeid, SDN
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Purnama SG, Susanna D, Achmadi UF, Eryando T. Attitude towards dengue control efforts with the potential of digital technology during COVID-19: partial least squares-structural equation modeling. F1000Res 2023; 11:1283. [PMID: 37441548 PMCID: PMC10333779 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.125318.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Dengue fever is still a public health issue in Indonesia, and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, integrated digital technology will be required for its control. This study aims to identify critical indicators influencing attitudes towards dengue control related to the potential for implementing digital technology. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey, with 515 people willing to fill out an online questionnaire. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). There were 46 indicators used to assess attitudes toward dengue control, which were organized into six variables: the need for digital information systems, perceptions of being threatened with dengue, the benefits of dengue control programs, program constraints, environmental factors and attitudes in dengue control. Results: The source of information needed for dengue control was mainly through social media. There was a positive relationship between perception of environmental factors to perception of dengue threat, perception of program constraints, perception of program benefits, and perception of digital technology needs. Perception of program benefits and threatened perception of dengue have a positive relationship with perception of digital technology needs. Conclusions: This model showed the variables perception of digital technology and perception of benefits had a positive association with attitude towards dengue control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Gede Purnama
- Doctoral Study Program, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, Indonesia
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Medicine Faculty, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Dewi Susanna
- Department of Environmetal Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, Indonesia
| | - Umar Fahmi Achmadi
- Department of Environmetal Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, Indonesia
| | - Tris Eryando
- Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, Indonesia
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Murshidi R, Shewaikani N, Al Refaei A, Alfreijat B, Al-Sabri B, Abdallat M, Murshidi M, Khamis T, Al-Dawoud Y, Alattar Z. Public Knowledge and Attitude towards Vitiligo: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Jordan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6183. [PMID: 37372769 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease affecting approximately 2% of the world's population. Besides vitiligo cosmetic issues, patients suffer from psychological comorbidities. This results from the stigmatization they encounter from surrounding individuals. Accordingly, the current study was the first to assess Jordanians' knowledge and attitude toward vitiligo. METHODS Data collection was completed by an online questionnaire consisting of four sections to capture participants' sociodemographic characteristics, previous exposure, and knowledge and attitude toward vitiligo. The analysis took place through R and RStudio. RESULTS Of our 994 surveyed participants, only 8.45% and 12.47% had a low level of vitiligo knowledge and negative total attitude score, respectively. Moreover, independent predictors of positive attitudes included younger age (18-30), high school education or lower, hearing about or living with a vitiligo patient, and higher knowledge scores. The highest prevalence of positive attitudes was observed when physicians were the source of knowledge. CONCLUSION Some critical misconceptions were identified despite the Jordanian public having sufficient overall knowledge. Furthermore, higher knowledge reflected a higher prevalence of positive attitudes toward the patients. We recommend that future efforts target the public understanding of the nature of the disease and its being non-communicable. Moreover, we emphasize that medical knowledge should be communicated through qualified healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rand Murshidi
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Nour Shewaikani
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Assem Al Refaei
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Balqis Alfreijat
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | | | - Mahmoud Abdallat
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Muayyad Murshidi
- Department of Dermatology, The Jordanian Royal Medical Services, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Tala Khamis
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Yasmin Al-Dawoud
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Zahraa Alattar
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
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Chen HWJ, Marzo RR, Sapa NH, Ahmad A, Anuar H, Baobaid MF, Jamaludin NA, Hamzah H, Sarrafan S, Ads HO, Kumar KA, Hadi J, Sazali H, Abdalqader MA. Trends in Health Communication: Social Media Needs and Quality of Life among Older Adults in Malaysia. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11101455. [PMID: 37239741 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While social media continues to dominate, social media platforms have become powerful health communication tools for older users. However, fulfilling their social media needs can be both detrimental and beneficial to their quality of life (QoL). This study assessed social media needs as they relate to QoL among older adults in Malaysia. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study and adopted convenience sampling to recruit participants. The participants were required to self-report their sociodemographic profile, social media use and needs, and QoL. Social media use and needs were assessed using the Social Networking Sites Uses and Needs (SNSUN) scale, and QoL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify the predictors of QoL. RESULTS The findings revealed that the fulfilment of social integrative needs was the strongest predictor of higher QoL in all domains. However, those using social media for their affective needs demonstrated lower psychological health quality. CONCLUSIONS Fulfilling social integrative needs is the key to improving the QoL among older adults. The continuous development of age-friendly applications is essential to keep up with constantly changing social media trends and bridge the gap of social media inequalities. More importantly, it would enable older adults to utilize social media to its fullest potential and enjoy a higher QoL through accessible health communication tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana W Jun Chen
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Roy Rillera Marzo
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Hafizah Sapa
- School of Graduate Studies, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Absar Ahmad
- College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi 834006, Jharkhand, India
| | - Haryati Anuar
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammed Faez Baobaid
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Akmal Jamaludin
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hazian Hamzah
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siamak Sarrafan
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hassan Omar Ads
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kavitha Ashok Kumar
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jalal Hadi
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hafsah Sazali
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
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23
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Wu X, Li Z, Xu L, Li P, Liu M, Huang C. COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Information on the WeChat Public Platform: Topic Modeling and Content Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e45051. [PMID: 37058349 PMCID: PMC10132036 DOI: 10.2196/45051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 vaccine is an effective tool in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. As the main channel of information dissemination in the context of the epidemic, social media influences public trust and acceptance of the vaccine. The rational application of health behavior theory is a guarantee of effective public health information dissemination. However, little is known about the application of health behavior theory in web-based COVID-19 vaccine messages, especially from Chinese social media posts. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to understand the main topics and communication characteristics of hot papers related to COVID-19 vaccine on the WeChat platform and assess the health behavior theory application with the aid of health belief model (HBM). METHODS A systematic search was conducted on the Chinese social media platform WeChat to identify COVID-19 vaccine-related papers. A coding scheme was established based on the HBM, and the sample was managed and coded using NVivo 12 (QSR International) to assess the application of health behavior theory. The main topics of the papers were extracted through the Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm. Finally, temporal analysis was used to explore trends in the evolution of themes and health belief structures in the papers. RESULTS A total of 757 papers were analyzed. Almost all (671/757, 89%) of the papers did not have an original logo. By topic modeling, 5 topics were identified, which were vaccine development and effectiveness (267/757, 35%), disease infection and protection (197/757, 26%), vaccine safety and adverse reactions (52/757, 7%), vaccine access (136/757, 18%), and vaccination science popularization (105/757, 14%). All papers identified at least one structure in the extended HBM, but only 29 papers included all of the structures. Descriptions of solutions to obstacles (585/757, 77%) and benefit (468/757, 62%) were the most emphasized components in all samples. Relatively few elements of susceptibility (208/757, 27%) and the least were descriptions of severity (135/757, 18%). Heat map visualization revealed the change in health belief structure before and after vaccine entry into the market. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the structural expression of health beliefs in information related to the COVID-19 vaccine on the WeChat public platform based on an HBM. The study also identified topics and communication characteristics before and after the market entry of vaccines. Our findings can inform customized education and communication strategies to promote vaccination not only in this pandemic but also in future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Wu
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziyu Li
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Department of Information, Xiaoqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Ming Liu
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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24
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Taba M, Ayre J, Freeman B, McCaffery K, Bonner C. COVID-19 messages targeting young people on social media: content analysis of Australian health authority posts. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:7143327. [PMID: 37099680 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Health authorities utilized social media during the COVID-19 pandemic to disseminate critical and timely health messages, specifically targeting priority groups such as young people. To understand how social media was used for this purpose, we investigated the content of COVID-19-related social media posts targeting young people (16-29 years old) shared by Australian health departments. Posts targeting young people with COVID-19 information were extracted from all eight Australian State and Territory health department Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts over 1 month of the Delta outbreak (September 2021) and analysed thematically. In total, 238 posts targeting young people were identified from 1059 COVID-19 posts extracted. All eight health departments used Facebook, five used Instagram and only one used TikTok. The majority of posts implicitly targeted young people; only 14.7% explicitly mentioned age or 'young people'. All posts included accompanying visuals; 77% were still images like photos or illustrations whilst 23% were moving images like videos and GIFs. Communication techniques included calls to action (63% of posts), responsive communication (32% of posts) and positive emotional appeal (31% of posts). Social marketing techniques catering to young people were used to varying extents despite receiving higher levels of engagement; 45% featured emojis whilst only 16% used humour, 14% featured celebrities and 6% were memes. Priority groups like ethnic/cultural groups and chronic health/disability communities were rarely targeted in this communication. The findings indicate a lack of health communication on social media directed towards young people, highlighting an opportunity for increased use of platforms like TikTok and trends popular with young people online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Taba
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy & Economics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julie Ayre
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Becky Freeman
- Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kirsten McCaffery
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carissa Bonner
- Sydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy & Economics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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25
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Ma N, Yu G, Jin X, Zhu X. Quantified multidimensional public sentiment characteristics on social media for public opinion management: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1097796. [PMID: 37006559 PMCID: PMC10060635 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1097796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundPublic sentiments arising from public opinion communication pose a serious psychological risk to public and interfere the communication of nonpharmacological intervention information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Problems caused by public sentiments need to be timely addressed and resolved to support public opinion management.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the quantified multidimensional public sentiments characteristics for helping solve the public sentiments issues and strengthen public opinion management.MethodsThis study collected the user interaction data from the Weibo platform, including 73,604 Weibo posts and 1,811,703 Weibo comments. Deep learning based on pretraining model, topics clustering and correlation analysis were used to conduct quantitative analysis on time series characteristics, content-based characteristics and audience response characteristics of public sentiments in public opinion during the pandemic.ResultsThe research findings were as follows: first, public sentiments erupted after priming, and the time series of public sentiments had window periods. Second, public sentiments were related to public discussion topics. The more negative the audience sentiments were, the more deeply the public participated in public discussions. Third, audience sentiments were independent of Weibo posts and user attributes, the steering role of opinion leaders was invalid in changing audience sentiments.DiscussionSince the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing demand for public opinion management on social media. Our study on the quantified multidimensional public sentiments characteristics is one of the methodological contributions to reinforce public opinion management from a practical perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Guang Yu
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Guang Yu
| | - Xin Jin
- School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoqian Zhu
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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26
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Wall R, Evers J, Haydock D. An International Systematic Review Concerning the Effect of Social Media Exposure on Public Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Infect Prev 2023; 24:103-112. [PMID: 37051306 PMCID: PMC9950031 DOI: 10.1177/17571774231159574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Effective health communication is crucial for achieving positive population health outcomes. This is important for infection prevention and control (IPC), which relies on widespread public compliance to be effective. Whilst social media (SM) platforms disseminate health information, there is conflicting evidence to suggest their influence on compliance with public health guidelines. Objective To appraise the available evidence and determine the extent to which social media exposure contributes to public compliance with IPC measures. Methods A systematic protocol based on the MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines was followed. Observational studies were identified through systematic searches of four electronic databases and a hand search. Following data extraction, eligible studies were quality assessed, and the findings were integrated using narrative synthesis. Findings 15 studies were included. The studies located presented heterogeneous designs and findings. A weak positive association was identified, with 60% of the studies observing a positive association between social media and compliance with IPC measures. 26.7% identified a negative correlation, and 13.3% identified no correlation. Several factors were identified to mediate the relationship, including knowledge and conspiracy beliefs. Discussion This systematic review identified a weak positive correlation between exposure to social media and public compliance with recommended IPC measures, suggesting that social media should be utilised in future IPC related communication strategies. Social media provides a cost-effective, publicly accessible platform to disseminate accurate information, and neutralise misinformation. Recommendations are made for further research to reduce the uncertainty created by the identification of heterogenous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Wall
- University of Chester, Riverside Campus Castle Drive Chester CH1 1SL United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Jean Evers
- University of Chester, Riverside Campus Castle Drive Chester CH1 1SL United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Deborah Haydock
- University of Chester, Riverside Campus Castle Drive Chester CH1 1SL United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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27
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Xin M, Luo S, Wang S, Zhao J, Zhang G, Li L, Li L, Lau JTF. The Roles of Information Valence, Media Literacy and Perceived Information Quality on the Association Between Frequent Social Media Exposure and COVID-19 Vaccination Intention. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:189-199. [PMID: 35972385 PMCID: PMC9382572 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221121292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the associations between frequent exposure to positive/negative information about vaccine efficacy/safety on social media and intention of COVID-19 vaccination, and to test if media literacy and perceived information quality would moderate such associations. DESIGN A multi-city cross-sectional survey. SETTING At five universities in different regions of China. SUBJECTS 6922 university students (a response rate of 72.3%). MEASURES frequency of exposure to social media information about COVID-19 vaccination, media literacy, perceived information quality, intention of COVID-19 vaccination, and sociodemographic characteristics. ANALYSIS Logistic regression analysis was conducted to test main and interaction effects. RESULTS Higher exposure to positive information about vaccine efficacy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.30, P < .001) and vaccine safety (AOR = 1.27, P < .001) were positively associated with vaccination intention. No significant associations were shown between exposure to negative information about vaccine efficacy/safety and vaccination intention. Higher net exposure to negative vs positive information was negatively associated with vaccination intention (AOR = .82, P < .001). High media literacy was further found to attenuate the effect of negative information exposure and strengthen that of positive information exposure. Perceived information quality was not a significant moderator. CONCLUSION The valence of social media information regarding the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines and individuals' media literacy jointly shaped COVID-19 vaccination intention. The findings can inform the development of effective health promotion strategies for enhancing COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqi Xin
- Department of Rehabilitation
Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sitong Luo
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Suhua Wang
- Graduate School of Baotou Medical
College, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
| | - Junfeng Zhao
- Department of Psychology, School of
Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Guohua Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of
Psychiatry, Wenzhou Medical
University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Li
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Liping Li
- Shantou University Medical
College, Shantou, China
| | - Joseph Tak-Fai Lau
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical
University, Wenzhou, China
- Affiliated Kangning Hospital of
Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Centre for Health Behaviours
Research, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Joseph Tak-Fai Lau, Jockey Club School of
Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 505,
5/F, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territory, Hong Kong, China.
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28
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Ji W, Shi W, Li X, Shan X, Zhou J, Liu F, Qi F. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Remote Monitoring to Establish a Community Health Intervention During COVID-19: A Community Intervention Trial. Telemed J E Health 2023; 29:253-260. [PMID: 35671521 PMCID: PMC9940801 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The widespread use of telemedicine systems and medical information networks has made telemedicine one of the current trends in health care. The purpose of this article is to propose a community health intervention with remote monitoring and teleconsultation during COVID-19 for the prevention and control of COVID-19 at the rural level. Methods: In this intervention study, a randomized group of 1,500 community residents was selected. A questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability was used to collect data. The study was conducted with the test group itself as a control, and the questionnaire was completed again 6 months after the health intervention through remote monitoring. The extent of the effect of the remote monitoring intervention on community health during COVID-19 was measured. The data were entered into SPSS 26, and the data were analyzed using the K-S normality test, t-test, and chi-square test. Results: After 6 months of the intervention, the differences in mean scores of the test group were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in cognition, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and behavioral outcomes, with a substantial increase in mean scores for all variables. Conclusions: The application of remote monitoring during COVID-19 in rural communities can influence the health perception, benefit perception, self-efficacy, and behavior of community residents, thus effectively preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 in rural communities. It reduces medical barriers for rural areas while meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyu Ji
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenjing Shi
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- School of Public Health, and Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xia Shan
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Junchao Zhou
- Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Fengyuan Liu
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Feng Qi
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Yancheng, China
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Gherheș V, Cernicova-Buca M, Fărcașiu MA. Public Engagement with Romanian Government Social Media Accounts during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2372. [PMID: 36767744 PMCID: PMC9915856 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Following international best practice examples, the Romanian government resorted to its social media accounts to disseminate information and unfold an awareness and persuasion campaign to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The article focuses on the use of the government's YouTube and Facebook accounts to persuade the population to get vaccinated in 2021 via video messages tailored for this purpose. The research quantified the volume of public engagement with the two waves of the persuasive campaign, finding that, while click-based reactions tended to show a positive attitude toward the campaign, the comments mainly denoted frustration, anger, and anxiety on the part of the public. Moreover, the citizens' engagement with the campaign messages was by far lower than the number of subscribers and followers of the analyzed social media accounts. The goal of the COVID-19 public health persuasion campaign was to build support for the governmental policy and minimize the risks of the pandemic while vaccination was being rolled out. The public reaction to the governmental campaign showed that a finer and more adapted approach was necessary. This study offers a qualitative basis for informing health communication strategies of the challenges posed by social media platforms used in crisis times.
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30
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Kushniruk A, Balapal N, Ankem A, Shyamsundar S, Balaji A, Kannikal J, Bruno M, He S, Chong P. Primary Perspectives in Meme Utilization as a Digital Driver for Medical Community Engagement and Education Mobilization: Pre-Post Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e40244. [PMID: 36705964 PMCID: PMC9919443 DOI: 10.2196/40244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memes have gone "viral," gaining increasing prominence as an effective communications strategy based on their unique ability to engage, educate, and mobilize target audiences in a call to action through a cost-efficient and culturally relevant approach. Within the medical community in particular, visual media has evolved as a means to influence clinical knowledge transfer. To this end, the GetWaivered (GW) project has leveraged memes as part of a behavioral economics toolkit to address one of the most critical public health emergencies of our time-the 20-year opioid epidemic. As part of a multidimensional digital awareness campaign to increase Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-X waiver course registration, GW investigated the results of meme usage in terms of impressions, website traffic, and ultimately user acquisition, as determined by web-based training enrollment and attendance outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of implementing humor-based promotional content versus the traditional educational model, and how the translation of the increase in engagement would increase the participant count and website traffic for GW's remote DEA-X waiver training. METHODS The approach to this study was based on 2 time frames (pre- and postcampaign). During April-July 2021, we developed a campaign via advertisements on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the GW website to expand outreach. These memes targeted medical professionals with the ability to prescribe buprenorphine. The time frame of this campaign measured engagement metrics and compared values to preceding months (January-March 2021) for our GetWaivered website and social media pages, which translated to registrants for our remote DEA-X waiver training. RESULTS By the end of July 2021, a total of 9598 individuals had visited the GW website. There was an average of 79.3 visitors per day, with the lowest number of daily visitors being 0 and the highest being 575. CONCLUSIONS The use of memes may provide a medium for social media engagement (likes, comments, and shares) while influencing viewers to pursue a proposed action, such as e-training registration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neha Balapal
- CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Amala Ankem
- Lab of Computer Science, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Adarsh Balaji
- American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Cupecoy, Netherlands
| | - Jasmine Kannikal
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Marlie Bruno
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shuhan He
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Innovation in Digital HealthCare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paul Chong
- Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lillington, NC, United States
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31
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Xu T, Shao M, Liu R, Wu X, Zheng K. Risk Perception, Perceived Government Coping Validity, and Individual Response in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20031982. [PMID: 36767349 PMCID: PMC9915099 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
As a major crisis event, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy, threatened the lives of the public, and caused varying degrees of impact on the public. Previous studies have shown that risk perception and government response had different impacts on the public, but they revealed more about the independent impact of risk perception and government response on the public. This study will comprehensively consider the impacts of these two factors on the behavior of the public in the early stage of the epidemic. We analyzed data from an online survey in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and categorized individual behaviors into three dimensions: entertainment and travel, work, and the stockpile of supplies. In addition, we defined the risk perception variables by two dimensions: knowledge of the epidemic itself and knowledge of the consequences of the epidemic. At the same time, we used an exploratory factor analysis to construct the variable of perceived government coping validity and then adopted the ordinal logit model for analysis. The results showed that in terms of entertainment and travel, people would not be affected even if they fully understood the epidemic itself; once they were aware of the negative social consequences of the epidemic, people would suspend entertainment and travel to prevent the spread of the virus. As for work or employment, people would not stop working or employment even if they realized the infectivity and harmfulness of the disease and its social consequences. Furthermore, fear of COVID-19 and the perception of uncontrolled COVID-19 significantly positively affected people's material stockpiling behavior. These results indicate that different risk perceptions had different effects on individual responses, and individual behaviors reflected different coping logics. In addition, the government's effective response to the epidemic would significantly reduce the negative impacts of the epidemic on the three dimensions of people's responses. These conclusions have certain policy implications for preventing and responding to outbreaks in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- School of International Culture and Social Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321000, China
- Correspondence: (T.X.); (K.Z.)
| | - Mengyuan Shao
- School of International Culture and Social Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Ruiquan Liu
- School of International Culture and Social Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Xiaoqin Wu
- School of International Culture and Social Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Kai Zheng
- Department of Economics and International Trade, School of Economics, Management & Law, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China
- Correspondence: (T.X.); (K.Z.)
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Benedict MO, Steinberg WJ, Claassen FM, Mofolo N. Enhancing public awareness and practice of prostate cancer screening among African men: A scoping review. S Afr Fam Pract (2004) 2023; 65:e1-e11. [PMID: 36744487 PMCID: PMC9983284 DOI: 10.4102/safp.v65i1.5621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PCa)-related incidence is on the increase, with black South African men presenting disproportionately with aggressive disease. Recent studies show a greater net benefit of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening of black men compared with the general population. This scoping review provides an overview of available research on strategies that have enhanced PCa screening awareness and practice in the African setting. METHODS Relevant databases were searched to identify 2010-2021 studies. Following scoping review guidelines, data were extracted, summarised and quantitatively analysed. RESULTS Of the 21 articles included, 19 were from the United States. Nine were published within the last five years and 14 were pre-test/post-test. Most articles evaluated the effect of health-promoting strategies on awareness and practice of PCa screening among black men. Community-oriented strategies enhanced awareness and practice of PCa screening. Healthcare providers and community members, including PCa survivors, participated in the strategies' planning, development and implementation. Topics that improve PCa knowledge and clear cultural misconceptions were addressed, targeting public spaces unique to these men. Prostate cancer health education methods were diverse, comprehensive, user friendly and culturally sensitive. CONCLUSION More research on strategies to enhance PCa screening awareness and practice among African men is needed, as this is scarce. Strategies enhancing PCa screening awareness and practice among African men are community oriented and entail health education methods, topics, presenters and venues. These strategies can be adopted in the South African setting.Contribution: This study recommends strategies to enhance the awareness and practice of PCa screening among African men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew O. Benedict
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Wilhelm J. Steinberg
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Frederik M. Claassen
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Nathaniel Mofolo
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Liu Y, Liu C. Protective and Overprotective Behaviors against COVID-19 Outbreak: Media Impact and Mediating Roles of Institutional Trust and Anxiety. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1368. [PMID: 36674124 PMCID: PMC9859022 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to explore how pandemic-related media use relates to both protective and overprotective behaviors and to probe the underlying mechanisms. The data were collected online during the early outbreak of COVID-19 in China, and a total of 1118 valid cases, which covered the 30 provincial administrative divisions in mainland China, were collected. Results showed that official government media use was positively associated with protective behaviors and institutional trust was an important mediator. Commercial media use was also found to be positively associated with overprotective behavior, and anxiety mediated this relationship. Findings of this study suggested that different media sources could play completely different roles. Institutional trust in government institutions and medical care systems were equally critical in translating the media effect into public compliance with the preventive measures advocated by the relevant departments. Media outlets and practitioners should also be responsible in order to avoid causing unnecessary anxiety among the public so as to reduce irrational overprotective behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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Mello S, Glowacki E, Fuentes I, Seabolt J. Communicating COVID-19 Risk on Instagram: A Content Analysis of Official Public Health Messaging During the First Year of the Pandemic. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 28:38-52. [PMID: 36760119 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2175278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, social media platform Instagram surged in popularity as a source of health information. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leveraged Instagram accounts to publicly distribute COVID-related information. The current study investigated whether WHO and CDC messaging strategies on Instagram adhered to best practices defined by two theoretical frameworks: the extended parallel process model and crisis and emergency risk communication. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of COVID-related posts (n = 726) published between January-December 2020 to determine how both agencies (1) communicated the threat of the pandemic (e.g. susceptibility and severity of negative COVID-19 consequences); (2) appealed to self-, response, and collective efficacy; (3) incorporated cues to action (e.g. preventive behaviors, information seeking); and (4) leveraged credibility cues (e.g. scientific evidence, experts). Results showed threat information was limited, whereas efficacy appeals and cues to action were abundant. The CDC relied more heavily on depictions of self- and response efficacy, whereas the WHO appealed more frequently than the CDC to collective efficacy. Neither visually modeled behaviors nor leveraged scientific evidence or experts with great frequency. Implications for future research and official communication efforts via social media are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Mello
- Department of Communication Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth Glowacki
- Department of Communication Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isabella Fuentes
- Department of Public Health, Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer Seabolt
- Department of Communication Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Yodsuban P, Pengpid S, Amornchai R, Siripoon P, Kasemsuk W, Buasai N. The roles of community health nurses for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Northeastern Thailand: A qualitative study. Int J Nurs Sci 2023; 10:53-63. [PMID: 36590312 PMCID: PMC9792194 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2022.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Community health nurses play an important role in primary health care service, especially during the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the work and activities of community health nurses focusing on the care of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Northeastern Thailand. Method This was a qualitative research study. The methods, including observation, in-depth interview, secondary data, and focus group discussion, were employed to obtain data from 46 key informants. The process started from February to August 2022 in northeastern Thailand. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results The results of this study were organized into 3 main themes focusing on 1) Community health nurses' role for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, which consists of 12 sub-themes; 2) Barriers of community health nurses in caring for older adults during the pandemic consisted of 2 sub-themes; and 3) Factors contributing to the success of community health nurses in managing health and providing care for older adults during the pandemic consisted of 4 sub-themes. Conclusions The findings showed that community health nurses had played important roles, such as educating and advocating health, providing care, promoting and empowering people in the community toward health, and giving emotional and nutritional support to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study can be used as a guideline for policymakers and health-related agencies to develop healthcare strategies and to optimize the management of community health nurses in caring for older adults during the pandemic. COVID-19 is a major public health challenge; therefore, understanding the roles and activities of community health nurses helps improve primary care cluster development, strengthens healthcare services in community, and for everyone in the community to be ready for possible challenge of future global pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pairin Yodsuban
- School of Nursing, Mahidol University, Amnatcharoen Campus, Amnatcharoen, Thailand
| | - Supa Pengpid
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand
| | - Ruangurai Amornchai
- School of Nursing, Mahidol University, Amnatcharoen Campus, Amnatcharoen, Thailand
| | | | | | - Nittaya Buasai
- Nonnamthaeng Medical Center, Social Medicine Department, Amnat Charoen Hospital, Thailand
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Ghahramani A, de Courten M, Prokofieva M. "The potential of social media in health promotion beyond creating awareness: an integrative review". BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2402. [PMID: 36544121 PMCID: PMC9770563 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14885-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developing strategies to change health behaviour is one of the biggest challenges of health promotion programs. Social media, as a popular and innovative communication and education tool, offers opportunities to modify health behaviour. While literature on using social media for health promotion campaigns is growing, there is a need to evaluate the approaches used to change health behaviour, rather than only creating awareness. OBJECTIVE The paper reviewed the literature on application of social media in health promotion campaigns with a particular focus on the methodologies used in assessing the outcome of the programs for behaviour change. This fills the void in collating evidence to extend health promotion campaigns to effect sustainable behavioural change. METHOD Peer-reviewed articles were identified through multiple science databases. A systematic electronic search was conducted to retrieve review and original papers published between January 2010 and April 2022. The titles and abstracts of the articles were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All authors independently read the full texts and discussed them to reach a consensus about the themes. Concept mapping was used to present results from analysis of the included papers. RESULTS Of the 674 citations, 28 (4.1%) studies were included in this review. The methodology approaches of 18 (2.7%) papers, that aimed to evaluate the impact of social media in health promotion campaigns towards behaviour change, were analysed further using concept mapping. The results showed that 10 studies (55.5%) adopted quantitative methods and five studies (27.7%) used mixed methods and three studies (16.6%) used qualitative methods. Facebook and YouTube were used more for intervention purposes to change health behaviour. Twitter and Instagram were used more to observe the trend of changes in health behaviour. Six studies (33.3%) adopted Social Cognitive Theory and one study (5.5%) applied the Transtheoretical Model as the framework to evaluate the outcome. Overall, the results show that though social media has potential in promoting behaviour change, the estimation of this change in long-term lies outside the scope of social media health campaigns. This is also reflected in the methodologies used in existing studies to assess such sustainable changes. The employed measures usually target immediate behaviour or social media engagement rather than addressing the change on a behavioural level. CONCLUSION Evaluating the performance of social media campaigns to promote health behaviours towards a sustainable outcome is a complex process. Emerging research is focused on evaluating the potential of social media as an opportunity to create awareness. Such measures require less effort in quantifying and isolating the effect. The design of the campaigns is required to be aligned in relation to stages of the behaviour change. The study provides suggestions on how this can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atousa Ghahramani
- grid.1019.90000 0001 0396 9544Victoria University, Business School, 300 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Maximilian de Courten
- grid.1019.90000 0001 0396 9544Victoria University, Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy, 300 Queen St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
| | - Maria Prokofieva
- grid.1019.90000 0001 0396 9544Victoria University, Business School, 300 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
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Mudenda S, Mukosha M, Godman B, Fadare JO, Ogunleye OO, Meyer JC, Skosana P, Chama J, Daka V, Matafwali SK, Chabalenge B, Witika BA. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines among Secondary School Pupils in Zambia: Implications for Future Educational and Sensitisation Programmes. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:2141. [PMID: 36560551 PMCID: PMC9784903 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in the closure of schools to slow the spread of the virus across populations, and the administration of vaccines to protect people from severe disease, including school children and adolescents. In Zambia, there is currently little information on the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among school-going children and adolescents despite their inclusion in the vaccination programme. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among secondary school pupils in Lusaka, Zambia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to October 2022. Of the 998 participants, 646 (64.7%) were female, and 127 (12.7%) would accept to be vaccinated. Those who were willing to be vaccinated had better knowledge (68.5% vs. 56.3%) and a positive attitude (79.1% vs. 33.7%) compared to those who were hesitant. Overall, the odds of vaccine acceptance were higher among pupils who had higher knowledge scores (AOR = 11.75, 95% CI: 6.51-21.2), positive attitude scores (AOR = 9.85, 95% CI: 4.35-22.2), and those who knew a friend or relative who had died from COVID-19 (AOR = 3.27, 95% CI: 2.14-5.09). The low vaccine acceptance among pupils is of public health concern, emphasising the need for heightened sensitisation programmes that promote vaccine acceptance among pupils in Zambia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steward Mudenda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
| | - Moses Mukosha
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Joseph O. Fadare
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ekiti State University College of Medicine, Ado-Ekiti 362103, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti 362103, Nigeria
| | - Olayinka O. Ogunleye
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
| | - Johanna C. Meyer
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- South African Vaccination and Immunisation and Centre, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Phumzile Skosana
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Jacob Chama
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
| | - Victor Daka
- Department of Public Health, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola P.O. Box 71191, Zambia
| | - Scott K. Matafwali
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Billy Chabalenge
- Department of Medicines Control, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, Lusaka P.O. Box 31890, Zambia
| | - Bwalya A. Witika
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
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Sun Y, Hamedani MF, Javidi G, Sheybani E, Hao F. Examining COVID-19 vaccine attitude using SEM-Artificial Neural Networks approach: a case from Reddit community. Health Promot Int 2022; 37:6823579. [DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Summary
As new coronavirus variants continue to emerge, in order to better address vaccine-related concerns and promote vaccine uptake in the next few years, the role played by online communities in shaping individuals’ vaccine attitudes has become an important lesson for public health practitioners and policymakers to learn. Examining the mechanism that underpins the impact of participating in online communities on the attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines, this study adopted a two-stage hybrid structural equation modeling (SEM)-artificial neural networks (ANN) approach to analyze the survey responses from 1037 Reddit community members. Findings from SEM demonstrated that in leading up to positive COVID-19 vaccine attitudes, sense of online community mediates the positive effects of perceived emotional support and social media usage, and perceived social norm mediates the positive effect of sense of online community as well as the negative effect of political conservatism. Health self-efficacy plays a moderating role between perceived emotional support and perceived social norm of COVID-19 vaccination. Results from the ANN model showed that online community members’ perceived social norm of COVID-19 vaccination acts as the most important predictor of positive COVID-19 vaccine attitudes. This study highlights the importance of harnessing online communities in designing COVID-related public health interventions and accelerating normative change in relation to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Sun
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Liberal Arts, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Cullimore Hall, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102 , USA
| | - Moez Farokhnia Hamedani
- School of Information Systems and Management, Muma College of Business, University of South Florida , 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620 , USA
| | - Giti Javidi
- School of Information Systems and Management, Muma College of Business, University of South Florida , 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620 , USA
| | - Ehsan Sheybani
- School of Information Systems and Management, Muma College of Business, University of South Florida , 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620 , USA
| | - Feng Hao
- Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee , 8350 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida 34243 , USA
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Faruk MO, Devnath P, Kar S, Eshaa EA, Naziat H. Perception and determinants of Social Networking Sites (SNS) on spreading awareness and panic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. HEALTH POLICY OPEN 2022; 3:100075. [PMID: 35915626 PMCID: PMC9330577 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpopen.2022.100075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented and unique fallout worldwide and creates colossal disruption in human survival. During the pandemic, social networking sites (SNS) played a significant role in disseminating news related to the pandemic. Methods This research is based on primary data collected from 400 successful respondents via online Google Form. Bivariate Pearson's Chi-square and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the impact of the explanatory variables on the study variables. Results This study reveals that most respondents (n = 360, 90 %) use SNS to get up-to-date news, and 72.5 % (n = 290) read health-related information. The highest number of participants (n = 386, 96.5 %) were Facebook users. Multivariate binary logistic regression reveals that "reading news on SNS" and "sharing information related to COVID-19 on social media" significantly influence the spread of awareness of COVID-19. "Unauthentic news sources" and "stop using social media to stay away from panic" also have a substantial impact on the spread of panic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion SNS has become an inevitable medium of information carrier nowadays. Social media users are found significantly aware of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study might assist the concerned persons in taking the necessary steps to propagate authentic news and regulate appropriate policies to prevent spreading misinformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Omar Faruk
- Department of Statistics, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh,Corresponding author
| | - Popy Devnath
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
| | - Sanchita Kar
- Institure for Developing Science and Health Initiatives, Kalshi Road, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh
| | - Eshiika Afsana Eshaa
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh
| | - Hakka Naziat
- Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
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Lazebnik T, Bunimovich-Mendrazitsky S, Ashkenazi S, Levner E, Benis A. Early Detection and Control of the Next Epidemic Wave Using Health Communications: Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Tool and Its Validation on COVID-19 Data from the US. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16023. [PMID: 36498096 PMCID: PMC9740968 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Social media networks highly influence on a broad range of global social life, especially in the context of a pandemic. We developed a mathematical model with a computational tool, called EMIT (Epidemic and Media Impact Tool), to detect and control pandemic waves, using mainly topics of relevance on social media networks and pandemic spread. Using EMIT, we analyzed health-related communications on social media networks for early prediction, detection, and control of an outbreak. EMIT is an artificial intelligence-based tool supporting health communication and policy makers decisions. Thus, EMIT, based on historical data, social media trends and disease spread, offers an predictive estimation of the influence of public health interventions such as social media-based communication campaigns. We have validated the EMIT mathematical model on real world data combining COVID-19 pandemic data in the US and social media data from Twitter. EMIT demonstrated a high level of performance in predicting the next epidemiological wave (AUC = 0.909, F1 = 0.899).
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Affiliation(s)
- Teddy Lazebnik
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | | | - Shai Ashkenazi
- Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel 4077625, Israel
| | - Eugene Levner
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel
| | - Arriel Benis
- Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Technology Management, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel
- Department of Digital Medical Technologies, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel
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Pecoraro J, Bakour C, Oberne A, Mehmood A. Masking Behaviors in the Absence of Local Mandate-An Observational Study from Hillsborough County, Florida. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15982. [PMID: 36498054 PMCID: PMC9738456 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand the predictors of masking-especially age, race/ethnicity and gender-in Hillsborough County Florida, a region without mask mandates. Masking and social distancing behaviors of individuals were observed in Hillsborough County during one-week intervals in July 2021, August 2021 and Late September-early October 2021. Demographic and behavioral observations were recorded and logistic regression was utilized to determine the odds ratio of wearing a mask amongst various groups. Overall, masking ranged from 36.80% to 48.64%, peaking during the second observation period. Masking rates were highest amongst people of color, women and seniors. Establishments posting mask-negative language, such as "masks NOT required," saw a 46% decrease in the odds of masking compared to establishments without mask-related signage (thereby defaulting to no mandate). Understanding who engaged in masking and social distancing behaviors will provide local public health officials with a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of previously used strategies, which can be leveraged in future surges of COVID-19 and other emergencies to create maximum impact. Lessons learned regarding policy implementation and understanding patterns of uptake of health guidelines are important for the continuous improvement of public health practice.
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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Kisku RR, Guria R, Mundu M, Bala R. Excessive and Unreliable Health Information and Its Predictability for Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study. Cureus 2022; 14:e31247. [PMID: 36505154 PMCID: PMC9731364 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Being ignorant or unaware is not expected in a situation like the pandemic of COVID-19 with modern internet connectivity and the era of social media. However, information overload may itself lead to health anxiety. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study investigated the predictability of health anxiety with information overload and sociodemographic profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was done among 400 caretakers of non-covid patients in a tertiary healthcare medical college. The consenting participants provided their sociodemographic details and responded to the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and Information overload scale (IOS) for COVID-19. RESULTS A total number of 400 participants aged 35.58 ± 10.57 years participated and out of which 88.2% acknowledged health-related anxiety and 56.8% for excessive use of social media. BAI measured anxiety was mild for 19.8%, moderate for 3.5% and severe for 3%. The linear regression analysis predicted health anxiety by three variables only: total anxiety as measured by the Beck anxiety inventory [β = 0.416, t = 9.318, p = 0.000], information overload (rejection of information) [β = 0.171, t = 3.126, p = 0.002], and excessive use of social media [β = 0.124, t = 2.888, p = 0.004]. CONCLUSION Information overload, its rejection and excessive use of social media were found to be predictive of health-related anxiety.
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Misinformation about medication during the COVID- 19 pandemic: A perspective of medical staff. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276693. [PMID: 36301877 PMCID: PMC9612566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare professionals had to face numerous challenges during the pandemic, their professional activity being influenced not only by the virus, but also by the spread of medical misinformation. In this regard, we aimed to analyze, from the perspective of medical staff, the way medical and non-medical information about the virus was communicated during the pandemic to encourage the development of future research or interventions in order to raise awareness about the way misinformation affected medical staff. METHODS AND FINDINGS The study was conducted on Romanian healthcare professionals. They were asked to answer to a questionnaire and the sample of the research includes 536 respondents. The findings revealed that most respondents stated that information about alternative treatments against the virus affected the credibility of health professionals, and that younger professionals believed to a greater extent that trust in doctors was affected. The research also showed that respondents were well informed about the drugs used in clinical trials in order to treat the virus. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare professionals declared that the spread of misinformation regarding alternative treatments, affected their credibility and the relationship with their patients. Healthcare professionals had knowledge about the drugs used in clinical trials, and they acknowledged the role of social media in spreading medical misinformation. However, younger professionals also believed that social media could be used to share official information about the virus.
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Ciułkowicz M, Misiak B, Szcześniak D, Grzebieluch J, Maciaszek J, Rymaszewska J. Social Support Mediates the Association between Health Anxiety and Quality of Life: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12962. [PMID: 36232258 PMCID: PMC9566112 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to test if perceived social support and cyberchondria mediate the association between health anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in a nonclinical sample. Cross-sectional research involved adult internet users (n = 538) between 16 May 2020 and 29 December 2020 in Poland who completed self-report questionnaires, including the cyberchondria severity scale (CSS-PL), the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) and the quality of life scale (QOLS). A mediation analysis was performed to examine the direct effects of health anxiety on cyberchondria, perceived social support and quality of life. Likewise, the effects of cyberchondria and perceived social support on QoL were analyzed. Hence, indirect effects of health anxiety on QoL through cyberchondria and perceived social support were explored. Health anxiety significantly impaired QoL both directly and indirectly through low-perceived social support. Perceived social support partly mediated the association between health anxiety and QoL. Cyberchondria did not have a significant direct effect on the latter. Thus, cyberchondria did not mediate the relationship between health anxiety and QoL. Boosting-perceived social support may mitigate the detrimental effect of health anxiety on QoL. Cyberchondria was not found to have a significant effect on QoL in contrast to health anxiety alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ciułkowicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Szcześniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Grzebieluch
- Department of Population Health, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julian Maciaszek
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Rymaszewska
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
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Baxi MK, Philip J, Mago V. Resilience of political leaders and healthcare organizations during COVID-19. PeerJ Comput Sci 2022; 8:e1121. [PMID: 36262139 PMCID: PMC9575867 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses the online societal association of leaders and healthcare organizations from the top-10 COVID-19 resilient nations through public engagement, sentiment strength, and inclusivity and diversity strength. After analyzing 173,071 Tweets authored by the leaders and health organizations, our findings indicate that United Arab Emirate's Prime Minister had the highest online societal association (normalized online societal association: 1.000) followed by the leaders of Canada and Turkey (normalized online societal association: 0.068 and 0.033, respectively); and among the healthcare organizations, the Public Health Agency of Canada was the most impactful (normalized online societal association: 1.000) followed by the healthcare agencies of Turkey and Spain (normalized online societal association: 0.632 and 0.094 respectively). In comparison to healthcare organizations, the leaders displayed a strong awareness of individual factors and generalized their Tweets to a broader audience. The findings also suggest that users prefer accessing social media platforms for information during health emergencies and that leaders and healthcare institutions should realize the potential to use them effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manmeet Kaur Baxi
- Department of Computer Science, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joshua Philip
- Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vijay Mago
- Department of Computer Science, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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Fung MY, Lee YH, Lee YTA, Wong ML, Li JTS, Nok Ng EE, Lee VWY. Feasibility of a telephone-delivered educational intervention for knowledge transfer of COVID-19-related information to older adults in Hong Kong: a pre-post-pilot study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:228. [PMID: 36203186 PMCID: PMC9535844 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01169-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational interventions have become necessary to prevent the spread of health-related misinformation among Hong Kong older adults. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a student-led, telephone-delivered intervention to improve COVID-19-related health knowledge among Hong Kong older adults. The secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of the intervention on the student volunteers. Methods Twenty-five participants aged 65 or above who were able to communicate in Cantonese and had no hearing or cognitive impairments were recruited for this longitudinal pre–post-study from a community center in Hong Kong. The pilot telephone-delivered intervention consisted of five telephone call sessions conducted by 25 student volunteers. Each participant was paired with the same volunteer throughout the intervention. The first four sessions included pre-tests that assessed the participants’ understanding of three COVID-19-related themes: medication safety, healthcare voucher scheme, and COVID-19 myth-busting. Standardized explanations of the pre-test questions were offered to participants during the phone calls. In the last session, a post-test on all the themes was conducted. The intervention’s feasibility was assessed based on (a) percentage changes in the participants’ test scores, (b) attrition rate, and (c) the acceptability of the intervention by the participants. The impact of the intervention on the student volunteers was evaluated based on a student feedback survey. There was no control group. Results Significant improvements in the participants’ test scores (out of 100%) for all themes were observed after the intervention: from 76 to 95.2% for medication safety, from 64.0 to 88.8% for the healthcare voucher scheme, and from 78.0 to 93.2% for COVID-19 myth-busting. The average improvement in test scores of the three themes was 18.4% (95% CI 12.2 to 24.6%). Most participants were satisfied with the program. The student feedback survey suggested that the intervention enhanced students’ communication skills and understanding of Hong Kong older adults. Conclusion This pilot study offers initial evidence of the potential and feasibility of student-led, telephone-delivered educational interventions for the transfer of COVID-19-related knowledge to older adults and their benefits for the student volunteers. Future studies should include larger samples and a control group. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-022-01169-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mong Yung Fung
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu Hong Lee
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yan Tung Astor Lee
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Mei Ling Wong
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Tik Sze Li
- Center for Learning Enhancement and Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 5/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Enoch E Nok Ng
- Center for Learning Enhancement and Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 5/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vivian Wing Yan Lee
- Center for Learning Enhancement and Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 5/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Jeffers D, Liao YC, Takahashi K, Lin RT. Asbestos awareness among the residents of St. Kitts and Nevis: a cross-sectional study. Global Health 2022; 18:83. [PMID: 36153532 PMCID: PMC9509556 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00874-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High levels of public awareness regarding the hazards of asbestos, rights to health, and benefits of an asbestos-free country can increase advocacy and political commitment to a total ban on asbestos. We aimed to investigate asbestos awareness and associated sociodemographic characteristics among the adult population of St. Kitts and Nevis. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 1009 participants completed an online questionnaire with questions about sociodemographic data and asbestos awareness. We applied multiple regression models to estimate associations between sociodemographic factors, levels of asbestos knowledge, and attitudes toward asbestos management. Results We found that 70% of residents of St. Kitts and Nevis considered asbestos exposure to be a general public concern and believed the government should prevent it. Of all participants, 54% were in favor of completely banning the use and importation of all asbestos products and materials; those with higher levels of asbestos knowledge were more likely to favor a total ban. Higher proportions and odds of favoring a total asbestos ban were also observed in participants aged ≥ 30 years, women, those with higher education, and those living in St. Kitts (vs. Nevis). Conclusions These findings support implementing policies to regulate and outright ban the use of asbestos products and materials in St. Kitts and Nevis. This data can be used to develop tailored campaigns to improve asbestos knowledge among sociodemographic groups with lower asbestos awareness, such as in the wider Caribbean and other under-resourced countries. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12992-022-00874-w.
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Azevedo D, Plácido AI, Herdeiro MT, Roque F, Roque V. How Portuguese Health Entities Used Social Media to Face the Public Health Emergency during COVID-19 Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11942. [PMID: 36231239 PMCID: PMC9564587 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media became an important and easily accessible source of information to keep the population informed. In this study, we explored how Portuguese health entities used social media during the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 disease. METHODS A retrospective study on Portuguese public health entities' communication with the public using social media platforms was performed. Data were retrieved from Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. All retrieved posts were analyzed, and the engagement of the public was calculated. A thematic analysis of all COVID-19-related posts was conducted. RESULTS The analysis of each social media platform revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, health entities reinforced their presence on social media platforms. The most published posts were related to "epidemiological context" and "encouragement to take actions" to avoid the spread of COVID-19. High engagement frames were not associated with the most frequently published posts. CONCLUSIONS Although health entities have reinforced their presence on social media platforms, they do not take full advantage of these platforms to improve health literacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Azevedo
- Research Unit for Inland Development, Polytechnic of Guarda (UDI-IPG), 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Plácido
- Research Unit for Inland Development, Polytechnic of Guarda (UDI-IPG), 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Herdeiro
- Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fátima Roque
- Research Unit for Inland Development, Polytechnic of Guarda (UDI-IPG), 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal
- Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Vítor Roque
- Research Unit for Inland Development, Polytechnic of Guarda (UDI-IPG), 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal
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Asghar MZ, Barbera E, Rasool SF, Seitamaa-Hakkarainen P, Mohelská H. Adoption of social media-based knowledge-sharing behaviour and authentic leadership development: evidence from the educational sector of Pakistan during COVID-19. JOURNAL OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/jkm-11-2021-0892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper aims to explore the influence of social media–based knowledge-sharing intentions (SMKI) on prospective authentic leadership development (ALD) to deal with the future crisis. In the existing literature, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no significant empirical evidence to test the relationship between SMKI and ALD. Thus, this study contributes to the growing literature regarding the role of SMKIs, ALD, social media–based knowledge-sharing behavior (SMKB) and facilitating conditions (FCs). However, in this study, the authors developed a conceptual framework based on technology adoption and leadership theory. It was used to identify preservice educational leaders’ SMKIs and their effect on ALD to deal with an educational crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, SMKIs are strengthening ALD, directly and indirectly, using SMKB and FCs.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the higher education students are considered preservice leaders who were enrolled in educational leadership and management programs. However, this study’s target population and sample are students enrolled in educational leadership and management programs. Therefore, higher education students are considered preservice educational leaders. Therefore, a multilevel questionnaire survey approach was adopted to collect data from preservice educational leaders (n = 451 at Time 1 and n = 398 at Time 2) enrolled in education departments in the selected universities in Pakistan. A total of 398 survey questionnaires were finalized with a return ratio of 89%. The partial least square structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 3.2.8 was used for the data analysis.
Findings
This research found that SMKIs are positively and significantly connected with ALD. This study also confirms that SMKB significantly and positively mediates the relationship between SMKIs and ALD. Therefore, this study concludes that preservice educational leaders were ready to adopt SMKB.
Practical implications
Social media–based knowledge sharing can be helpful to develop authentic leadership among preservice educational leaders during a crisis. Preservice educational leaders as authentic leaders can prove to be an asset in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Originality/value
This research integrated the technology adoption model and leadership theory to provide empirical evidence of SMKIs’ direct and indirect influence on ALD through social media–based knowledge-sharing actual use behavior by preservice educational leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the moderated mediating effect of the FCs was also studied in the relationship between SMKIs and actual user behavior as well as ALD.
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Charbonneau E, Mellouli S, Chouikh A, Couture LJ, Desroches S. The Information Sharing Behaviors of Dietitians and Twitter Users in the Nutrition and COVID-19 Infodemic: Content Analysis Study of Tweets. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:e38573. [PMID: 36188421 PMCID: PMC9511036 DOI: 10.2196/38573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an infodemic, an overabundance of online and offline information. In this context, accurate information as well as misinformation and disinformation about the links between nutrition and COVID-19 have circulated on Twitter since the onset of the pandemic.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to compare tweets on nutrition in times of COVID-19 published by 2 groups, namely, a preidentified group of dietitians and a group of general users of Twitter, in terms of themes, content accuracy, use of behavior change factors, and user engagement, in order to contrast their information sharing behaviors during the pandemic.
Methods
Public English-language tweets published between December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2020, by 625 dietitians from Canada and the United States, and Twitter users were collected using hashtags and keywords related to nutrition and COVID-19. After filtration, tweets were coded against an original codebook of themes and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) for identifying behavior change factors, and were compared to reliable nutritional recommendations pertaining to COVID-19. The numbers of likes, replies, and retweets per tweet were also collected to determine user engagement.
Results
In total, 2886 tweets (dietitians, n=1417; public, n=1469) were included in the analyses. Differences in frequency between groups were found in 11 out of 15 themes. Grocery (271/1417, 19.1%), and diets and dietary patterns (n=507, 34.5%) were the most frequently addressed themes by dietitians and the public, respectively. For 9 out of 14 TDF domains, there were differences in the frequency of usage between groups. “Skills” was the most used domain by both groups, although they used it in different proportions (dietitians: 612/1417, 43.2% vs public: 529/1469, 36.0%; P<.001). A higher proportion of dietitians’ tweets were accurate compared with the public’s tweets (532/575, 92.5% vs 250/382, 65.5%; P<.001). The results for user engagement were mixed. While engagement by likes varied between groups according to the theme, engagement by replies and retweets was similar across themes but varied according to the group.
Conclusions
Differences in tweets between groups, notably ones related to content accuracy, themes, and engagement in the form of likes, shed light on potentially useful and relevant elements to include in timely social media interventions aiming at fighting the COVID-19–related infodemic or future infodemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Charbonneau
- Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
- School of Nutrition Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
| | - Sehl Mellouli
- Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
- Faculty of Business Administration Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
| | - Arbi Chouikh
- Faculty of Business Administration Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
| | | | - Sophie Desroches
- Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
- School of Nutrition Université Laval Quebec City, QC Canada
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