Mothers' Facebook posts about infant health: findings from the Grow2Gether study

Assessing the Feasibility of Using Parents' Social Media Conversations to Inform Burn First Aid Interventions: Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Burns are common childhood injuries, which can lead to serious physical and psychological outcomes. Appropriate first aid is essential in managing the pain and severity of these injuries; hence, parents who need timely access to such information often seek it from the web. In particular, social media allow them to reach other parents, hence these conversations may provide insight to aid the design and evaluation of burn first aid interventions for parents.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine the feasibility of finding, accessing, and analyzing parent burn first aid conversations on social media to inform intervention research.

METHODS

The initial choice of the relevant social media was made based on the results of a parent focus group and survey. We considered Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc), Mumsnet (Mumsnet Limited), Netmums (Aufeminin Group), Twitter (subsequently rebranded as "X"; X Corp), Reddit (Reddit, Inc), and YouTube (Google LLC). To locate the relevant data on these platforms, we collated a taxonomy of search terms and designed a search strategy. A combination of natural language processing and manual inspection was used to filter out irrelevant data. The remaining data were analyzed manually to determine the length of conversations, the number of participants, the purpose of the initial post (eg, asking for or offering advice), burn types, and distribution of relevant keywords.

RESULTS

Facebook parenting groups were not accessed due to privacy, and public influencer pages yielded scant data. No relevant data were found on Reddit. Data were collected from Mumsnet, Netmums, YouTube, and Twitter. The amount of available data varied across these platforms and through time. Sunburn was identified as a topic across all 4 platforms. Conversations on the parenting forums Mumsnet and Netmums were started predominantly to seek advice (112/116, 96.6% and 25/25, 100%, respectively). Conversely, YouTube and Twitter were used mainly to provide advice (362/328, 94.8% and 126/197, 64%, respectively). Contact burns and sunburn were the most frequent burn types discussed on Mumsnet (30/94, 32% and 23/94, 25%, respectively) and Netmums (2/25, 8% and 14/26, 56%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a suite of bespoke search strategies, tailored to a range of social media platforms, for the extraction and analysis of burn first aid conversation data. Our methodology provides a template for other topics not readily accessible via a specific search term or hashtag. YouTube and Twitter show potential utility in measuring advice offered before and after interventions and extending the reach of messaging. Mumsnet and Netmums present the best opportunity for informing burn first aid intervention design via an in-depth qualitative investigation into parents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Analyzing Engagement: A Study of Teething-Related Discussions and Trends on Facebook

BACKGROUND

Caregivers often use Facebook to seek advice on children's health issues, including teething. However, the lack of professional oversight on this platform can lead to the spread of misinformation, emphasizing the need for research on user engagement with teething content.

AIM

This longitudinal study assesses public interaction with teething-related information on Facebook, aiming to inform children's health organizations about creating accurate social media content.

METHODS

A year-long analysis of English-language Facebook posts tagged "teething" was conducted, focusing on public pages and groups, while excluding unrelated or private content. Sources were categorized, and engagement was measured against page likes or group memberships. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate statistical differences in post types and engagement by source (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

Out of 193 relevant posts, interactive content was the most common (112 posts (58%)), followed by miscellaneous (59 posts (30.6%)) and educational content (22 posts (11.4%)). Noticeable confusion among users was observed concerning teething symptoms and processes. Misinformation was prevalent, particularly regarding the use of amber necklaces, amber teething toys, topical anesthetics, and nocturnal bottle feeding for relief. The engagement rate for teething content was low at 1.09%, with significant variations in content strategies by source (P < 0.001), though engagement rates were consistent (P = 0.406).

CONCLUSIONS

The study uncovers active but misinformed discussions about teething on Facebook, marked by a lack of evidence-based advice and low engagement rates. These findings emphasize the immediate need for children's health organizations to provide scientifically accurate information to foster a better-informed online community.

Parental Decision-Making Around Introducing Complementary Foods: An Integrative Review

A primary role in infant parenting is feeding, and this role undergoes a significant transition when introducing complementary foods (CF), with important long-term health implications. Understanding the influences on parental decision-making around timing the introduction to CF can help health care providers provide parents with effective support for feeding; however, the factors that influence parental decision-making have not been recently reviewed in the United States. To determine influences and information sources, this integrative review examined the literature from 2012 to 2022. Results indicated that parents are confused and distrustful of inconsistent and changing guidelines around CF introduction. Instead, developmental readiness signs may be a more appropriate way for practitioners and researchers to support parents in appropriate CF introduction. Future work is needed to evaluate interpersonal and societal influences on parental decision-making, as well as to develop culturally sensitive practices to support healthful parental decisions.

The COVID-19 Infodemic Through Facebook: Comparison of Content and the Accuracy of Breastfeeding Information

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the number of people seeking online support and information, particularly on social media. Nevertheless, the nature and trend of internet information, as well as its accuracy, are questionable. This study aimed to assess and compare the content, type/form, and degree of accuracy of breastfeeding information on Facebook before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 288/phase).

Methodology

The data were gathered from Malaysian public and group/page Facebook posts (n = 456). Keyword searches were conducted using Malay and English breastfeeding terms. The dataset was screened and entered into a structured codebook. The Delphi approach was used to assess the accuracy of posts’ content performed by breastfeeding experts.

Results

Sharing personal experience (53.2%) was the most common topic in breastfeeding-related posts, followed by seeking questions (39.3%) and knowledge (8.0%). Sharing personal stories and knowledge posts were higher during COVID-19 than before (p = 0.001), although the seeking questions category was higher before the pandemic (p = 0.001). Most information posted was in text form (94.5%). About half of the posts (46.5%) were misleading, while (43.7%) were accurate. There was a significant difference in the accuracy of online posts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Compared to the pre-pandemic phase, forms/types of information on Facebook remained consistent, whereas the breastfeeding information content and its degree of accuracy differed during the pandemic.We need to explore other aspects of breastfeeding online content as well as its engagement, especially during a pandemic. Knowing the infant feeding-related topics that have been discussed and questioned on social media, as well as the accuracy of the data, allows policymakers and scientific communities to plan strategies for spreading credible breastfeeding information online. This includes creating interactive online media types of visual guidelines, web resources, and breastfeeding apps.

Understanding Information Needs and Barriers to Accessing Health Information Across All Stages of Pregnancy: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Understanding consumers' health information needs across all stages of the pregnancy trajectory is crucial to the development of mechanisms that allow them to retrieve high-quality, customized, and layperson-friendly health information.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify research gaps in pregnancy-related consumer information needs and available information from different sources.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, and Web of Science for relevant articles that were published from 2009 to 2019. The quality of the included articles was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. A descriptive data analysis was performed on these articles. Based on the review result, we developed the Pregnancy Information Needs Ontology (PINO) and made it publicly available in GitHub and BioPortal.

RESULTS

A total of 33 articles from 9 countries met the inclusion criteria for this review, of which the majority were published no earlier than 2016. Most studies were either descriptive (9/33, 27%), interviews (7/33, 21%), or surveys/questionnaires (7/33, 21%); 20 articles mentioned consumers' pregnancy-related information needs. Half (9/18, 50%) of the human-subject studies were conducted in the United States. More than a third (13/33, 39%) of all studies focused on during-pregnancy stage; only one study (1/33, 3%) was about all stages of pregnancy. The most frequent consumer information needs were related to labor delivery (9/20, 45%), medication in pregnancy (6/20, 30%), newborn care (5/20, 25%), and lab tests (6/20, 30%). The most frequently available source of information was the internet (15/24, 63%). PINO consists of 267 classes, 555 axioms, and 271 subclass relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

Only a few articles assessed the barriers to access to pregnancy-related information and the quality of each source of information; further work is needed. Future work is also needed to address the gaps between the information needed and the information available.

Feasibility of Using Facebook to Engage SNAP-Ed Eligible Parents and Provide Education on Eating Well on a Budget

This study examined the use of Facebook to provide education on food resource management and healthy eating on a budget to parents of preschool aged children participating in Head Start. A convenience sample of 25 parents participated in a Facebook group based on Sesame Street's Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget curriculum over a 3-week period. Parent engagement was assessed by examining views, likes, and comments on posts. Qualitative data were used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and barriers experienced related to healthy eating on a budget. The results suggest that parents were engaged throughout the intervention, as evidenced by views, likes, and comments on Facebook posts, as well as by study retention (90%). Interactions with the intervention materials varied by post content, with discussion questions having the highest level of interaction. Facebook was found to be a feasible platform for delivering the intervention, and the Facebook-adapted version of the Sesame Street curriculum was shown to engage Head Start parents living in rural areas. Further research should explore the use of social media platforms for delivering nutrition education interventions to rural populations that are otherwise difficult to reach.

Food parenting topics in social media posts: Development of a coding system, examination of frequency of food parenting concepts, and comparison across Reddit and Facebook

This study presents development of a coding system to examine food parenting topics presented in posts on social media, and compared topics between two social media platforms (Facebook, Reddit). Publicly available social media posts were gathered from Facebook (2 groups) and Reddit (3 subreddits) and a coding system was developed based on the concept map of food parenting proposed by Vaughn et al. (2016). Based on the developed coding system, we coded posts into overarching food parenting practice constructs (coercive control: attempts to dominate, pressure or impose parents' will on child, structure: organization of child's environment to facilitate competence, autonomy support: supporting child's ability to self-regulate through allowing food choices, conversations about food, and a positive emotional climate) and recipes. We also coded posts dichotomously as including a question or advice-seeking. Differences in frequencies of food parenting constructs presented in posts on Facebook and Reddit were considered using chi-square tests of independence. Of the 2459 posts coded, 900 were related to food parenting (37%). In the subsample of 900, posts related to structure (43%) and recipes (40%) were the most frequent. Close to half of the posts (44%) included questions about food parenting. Frequency of food parenting topics in posts was related to social media platform, with coercive control and structure more frequently discussed on Reddit and recipes more commonly posted on Facebook. Results suggest that food parenting topics discuss on social media differ by platform, which can aid researchers and practitioners in targeting social media-based outreach to the topics of most interest for users. Findings give insight into the everyday food parenting topics and questions that parents and caregivers may be exposed to on social media. TAXONOMY: Development of Feeding; Parenting; Online Information Services.

An investigation of the information provided to the parents of young people with mental health needs on an internet forum

BACKGROUND

Access to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) can be difficult, with lengthy wait times. Many of the young people and their parents are not signposted to any form of support during their wait for initial assessment or treatment and people are increasingly turning towards web-based resources for help and advice. However, there are some concerns about the quality of the information shared online. Research on the use and quality of information shared on online platforms for mental health inquiries is limited.

AIMS

We aimed to investigate the content and quality of the responses shared by forum users on an online forum for parents of young people with mental health needs (Mumsnet 'Talk'). Forum users were primarily parents, but 8 posts were written by posters identifying as a healthcare worker, teacher, or autism spectrum specialist.

METHODS

Qualitative methodology was adopted for this study. Forum content from Mumsnet was extracted in an anonymised form and thematic analysis was conducted to explore the content. Information shared in the online forum was assessed for quality by comparing the responses with clinical guidelines.

RESULTS

Thread topics related to 16 mental health problems. "Autistic Traits/Autism Spectrum Disorder", "Obsessions and Intrusive Thoughts/ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" and "Comorbid Anxiety and Depression" were the most prevalent thread topics, consisting 38.3% of the extracted content. The investigation focused on "Information Offered" as the general dimension. Based on the thematic analysis, there were four second-order themes regarding the information offered by forum users; referral, advice, anecdotal information and opinion on case. The quantitative assessment of responses found that 58.3% of the knowledge exchange on Mumsnet was congruent with evidence-based clinical guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Themes indicate that parents of children and young people with mental health needs seem to use online fora for informational support. It is promising that a significant proportion of the information shared within the extracted forum content is congruent with evidence-based knowledge. However, further investigation is needed to generate better understanding of the overall quality of mental health information available on online platforms.

Online data collection strategies used in qualitative research of the health field: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To identify and map the online data collection strategies used in qualitative researches in the health field.

METHODS

This is a scoping review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) from the Joanna Briggs Institute. We analyzed scientific articles, theses and dissertations from 12 databases. The analysis was made by descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 121 researches. It was found that the number of publications increased sharply in the last five years, with predominance of studies from the United Kingdom. The highlight fields were psychology (28.1%), medicine (25.6%) and nursing (12.4%). The publications used 10 online data collection strategies: Online questionnaires, online forums, Facebook, websites, blogs, e-mail, online focus group, Twitter, chats, and YouTube.

CONCLUSIONS

Online data collection strategies are constantly expanding and increasingly used in the health area.

Study Protocol of the Parents in Child Nutrition Informing Community (PICNIC) Peer Education Cohort Study to Improve Child Feeding and Dietary Intake of Children Aged Six Months to Three Years Old

One in five Australian pre-schoolers are overweight or obese, meaning the first years of life are vital for obesity primary prevention. Parent child feeding practices impact on children’s dietary intake, which in turn impacts on their weight status. Parents’ child feeding beliefs are heavily influenced by parenting peers. The aim of this cohort study is to evaluate the impact of the Parents in Child Nutrition Informing Community (PICNIC) study on parents feeding practices and diet quality. The secondary outcomes are the perceptions of trained peer educators and education recipients based on their involvement in PICNIC. One hundred parents with a child aged 0–2 years at time of recruitment will participate in peer educator training, then disseminate nutrition and child feeding content to other parents over an intervention period of 12 months, supported by project-specific, evidence-based social media pages and website. An additional 100 new parents, recruited by peer educators, will participate in the study as nutrition education recipients. Both peer educators and education recipients will complete quantitative child feeding surveys before and during the 12 month intervention and a dietary intake survey at a time point 12 months post intervention. Following the intervention, 30 education recipients will be asked to participate in semi-structured phone interviews about their experiences with PICNIC. Peer educators will contribute as co-researchers and active participants in the evolution of the PICNIC model. This study will contribute to enhanced understanding of contemporary health literacy strategies for communicating nutrition and feeding messages to new parents and the impact of these strategies on parents feeding practices and children’s dietary intake in a community setting.

Mothers' Perceptions of the Internet and Social Media as Sources of Parenting and Health Information: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, guidance and support to new parents have come from family, friends, and health care providers. However, the internet and social media are growing sources of guidance and support for parents. Little is known about how the internet and social media are used by parents of young infants and specifically about parental perceptions of the internet and social media as sources of parenting and infant health information.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore, using qualitative methods, parental perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of the internet and social media as sources of parenting and health information regarding their infant.

METHODS

A total of 28 mothers participated in focus groups or individual interviews. Probing questions concerning parenting and health information sources were asked. Themes were developed in an iterative manner from coded data.

RESULTS

The central themes were (1) reasons that mothers turn to the internet for parenting and health information, (2) cautionary advice about the internet, and (3) reasons that mothers turn to social media for parenting and health information. Mothers appreciated the ability to gather unlimited information and multiple opinions quickly and anonymously, but recognized the need to use reputable sources of information. Mothers also appreciated the immediacy of affirmation, support, and tailored information available through social media.

CONCLUSIONS

The internet and social media are rapidly becoming important and trusted sources of parenting and health information that mothers turn to when making infant care decisions.