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Liikkanen J, Virtanen HEK, Mikkonen S, Laitinen AL. The role of social media in the professional sphere of Finnish registered dietitians. J Hum Nutr Diet 2024; 37:726-736. [PMID: 38534015 DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the widespread use of social media, understanding how healthcare professionals, such as dietitians, utilise these platforms for their work has gained interest. The aim of the current study was to describe how Finnish registered dietitians utilise various social media channels for professional purposes. The study also investigated the perceived social media skills of dietitians. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey administered between December 2022 and February 2023. The participants were 107 Finnish registered dietitians who held a master's degree suitable for the profession. The Fisher's exact test was employed for categorical variables, whereas the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for ordinal variables with multiple groups. RESULTS Out of the 107 participants, 62 (58%) reported using social media for professional purposes. The primary purposes across various social media channels were interaction with colleagues (80%) on Facebook, networking with professionals from other fields (86%) on LinkedIn and general monitoring of the field on Instagram (91%), Twitter (77%) and YouTube (58%). Dietitians' perceived social media skills were found to have a statistically significant relationship with age (p < 0.05) for all channels, except Twitter. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that Finnish dietitians predominantly utilise social media for passive monitoring of the field, rather than actively sharing content with the public. Professional communication tends to take place within their own professional groups. Incorporating social media use into the official job description could serve as an encouraging factor to enhance the professional utilisation of social media among dietitians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Liikkanen
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heli E K Virtanen
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Santtu Mikkonen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences and Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Aija L Laitinen
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Agostoni C, Boccia S, Graffigna G, Slavin J, Abodi M, Szajewska H. What should I eat today? Evidence, guidelines, dietary patterns and consumer's behavior. Eur J Intern Med 2024:S0953-6205(24)00233-4. [PMID: 38821785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Over the past century, dietary recommendations emphasizing food patterns as means to deliver essential nutrients have garnered widespread acceptance. The necessity for foods supplying vital nutrients and energy throughout various life stages requires the involvement of local resources and cultural practices to prevent nutrient deficiency diseases. Since the 1980s, dietary guidelines aimed at adverting chronic diseases have relied on epidemiological research to predict which dietary patterns correlate with reduced risk of chronic disease or links to health outcomes. Dietary guidelines have been broad, typically recommending avoiding excess or deficiency of single nutrients. Efforts to fine-tune these recommendations face challenges due to a scarcity of robust scientific data supporting more specific guidance across the life cycle. Consumers have become skeptical of dietary guidelines, because media coverage of new studies is often in conflict with accepted nutrition dogma. Indications to align individual and planet's health have been issued supporting the concept of sustainable dietary patterns. Whether we really have a science-based databank to support dietary guidelines is still a matter of ongoing debate, as presented in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Agostoni
- Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Stefania Boccia
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Guendalina Graffigna
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy; EngageMinds HUB, Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Cremona, Italy
| | - Joanne Slavin
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, St. Paul, United States
| | - Martina Abodi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Hania Szajewska
- The Medical University of Warsaw, Department of Paediatrics, Warsaw, Poland
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Squires K, Brighton A, Urquhart L, Kocanda L, Heaney S. Informing online professional dietetics practice: The development and pilot testing of the Social Media Evaluation Checklist. Nutr Diet 2023; 80:351-361. [PMID: 36631069 DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12794] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
AIM To develop and pilot a tool to evaluate Australian dietitians' and student dietitians' ethical and professional practice using social media. METHODS A Social Media Evaluation Checklist was developed based on checklist development literature with a four-staged process. Stage one included a literature review and input from an expert panel to ensure content validity. Stages two and three were to ensure face validity by categorising the checklist and pilot testing the tool. Instagram profiles and posts were audited by two authors using the checklist in the final stage to analyse ethical and professional use. An account purposely created for this study was used, and the first 25 dietitian and first 25 student dietitian profiles identified using the key words 'dietitian', 'student dietitian' and 'dietitian student' and the hashtag '#australiandietitian' were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 50 Instagram profiles and 250 posts were audited based on seven categories; (1) financial disclosure, (2) cultural awareness, (3) evidence-based information, (4) transparency, (5) privacy/confidentiality, (6) professionalism and (7) justifiability. Areas for improvement included advertising transparency which was met in only 12% of dietitian posts, and the provision of evidence-based information, which was met in 56% of dietitian posts and 72% of student dietitian posts. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into the ethical and professional use of social media by Australian dietitians and dietetics students. With the evolving nature of social media, guidance is required. This will ensure dietitians remain, now and in the future, the credible source of nutrition information for the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Squires
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Alisha Brighton
- Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton, Australia
| | - Lisa Urquhart
- Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Lucy Kocanda
- Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Susan Heaney
- Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
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Mete R, Shield A, Murray K, Bacon R, Kellett J. Healthy eating blog readership: A cross-sectional survey in Australian adults. Nutr Diet 2023; 80:362-371. [PMID: 37199026 DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12816] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate whether members of the public read blogs for the purpose of accessing healthy eating information; examine demographic predictors of healthy eating blog readership, specifically education, gender, age, body mass index, and residential location; and explore the reasons for reading, and not reading, healthy eating blogs. METHODS This study used a cross-sectional online self-reported survey design collected over three time points (round 1: December 2017-March 2018, round 2: August 2018-December 2018, round 3: December 2021-March 2022). The total sample of participants comprised of 238 respondents with a mean age of 46 years old, who mostly reported gender as female (82%), being educated with a university degree (69%), and predominantly resided in urban and city areas (84%). RESULTS Fifty-one percent of respondents reported reading healthy eating blogs, suggesting that consumers were proactively seeking healthy eating information through this avenue. Participants who identified as female were 3.2 times more likely to read healthy eating blogs. Commonly, healthy eating blogs were read to receive practical information that aligned with current food choices. The main reason participants reported not reading healthy eating blogs was not thinking about using them (29%). CONCLUSIONS Understanding who is seeking healthy eating information through blogs, and their reasons doing so, is important to continue research into the potential effectiveness of blogs as a platform to communicate healthy eating and nutrition messages. This study provides direction for further investigation into how dietetics professionals could effectively use blogs to disseminate healthy eating information and positively influence consumer food choices and dietary intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Mete
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison Shield
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - Kristen Murray
- Research School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Rachel Bacon
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - Jane Kellett
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
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Hamel V, Hennessy M, Mialon M, Moubarac JC. Interactions Between Nutrition Professionals and Industry: A Scoping Review. Int J Health Policy Manag 2023; 12:7626. [PMID: 38618820 PMCID: PMC10590255 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7626] [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: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, interactions between nutrition professionals (NPs) and the food industry, such as sponsorship arrangements, have raised concerns, particularly as these may negatively impact the trustworthiness and credibility of the nutrition profession. This study aimed to map the literature and identify knowledge gaps regarding interactions between NPs and industry. We sought to examine the nature of such interactions and NPs perspectives about these, as well as the risks and solutions. METHODS We conducted a scoping review according to a pre-registered protocol, searching eight electronic databases and grey literature sources in March 2021 to identify documents for inclusion. Two independent reviewers screened citations for inclusion and conducted data extraction. Quantitative and qualitative syntheses were conducted. RESULTS We identified 115 documents for analysis, published between 1980 to 2021, with a majority from the United States (n=59, 51%). Only 32% (n=37) were empirical studies. The food industry was the most frequent industry type discussed (n=91, 79%). We identified 32 types of interactions between NPs and industry, such as continuing education provided by industry and sponsorship of professional bodies and health and nutrition organizations. The financial survival of nutrition organizations and continuing education access for NPs were the most frequently cited advantages of industry-NPs interactions. On the other hand, undermining public trust, NPs credibility and public health nutrition recommendations were pointed out as risks of these interactions. Following a code of ethics, policies, or guidelines was the most frequently proposed solution for managing these interactions. CONCLUSION Despite the increasing attention given to this issue, few empirical papers have been published to date. There is a need for more research to better and systematically document industry interactions with NPs and the impacts associated with these, as well as more research on effective management strategies. Registry Name and Number: Interactions between nutrition professionals and industry actors: A scoping review protocol. doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/Q6PUA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Hamel
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche en Santé publique, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marita Hennessy
- College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Mélissa Mialon
- Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jean-Claude Moubarac
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche en Santé publique, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Eaton MC, Probst YC, Smith MA. Characterizing the Discourse of Popular Diets to Describe Information Dispersal and Identify Leading Voices, Interaction, and Themes of Mental Health: Social Network Analysis. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2023; 3:e38245. [PMID: 37159259 DOI: 10.2196/38245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media has transformed the way health messages are communicated. This has created new challenges and ethical considerations while providing a platform to share nutrition information for communities to connect and for information to spread. However, research exploring the web-based diet communities of popular diets is limited. OBJECTIVE This study aims to characterize the web-based discourse of popular diets, describe information dissemination, identify influential voices, and explore interactions between community networks and themes of mental health. METHODS This exploratory study used Twitter social media posts for an online social network analysis. Popular diet keywords were systematically developed, and data were collected and analyzed using the NodeXL metrics tool (Social Media Research Foundation) to determine the key network metrics (vertices, edges, cluster algorithms, graph visualization, centrality measures, text analysis, and time-series analytics). RESULTS The vegan and ketogenic diets had the largest networks, whereas the zone diet had the smallest network. In total, 31.2% (54/173) of the top users endorsed the corresponding diet, and 11% (19/173) claimed a health or science education, which included 1.2% (2/173) of dietitians. Complete fragmentation and hub and spoke messaging were the dominant network structures. In total, 69% (11/16) of the networks interacted, where the ketogenic diet was mentioned most, with depression and anxiety and eating disorder words most prominent in the "zone diet" network and the least prominent in the "soy-free," "vegan," "dairy-free," and "gluten-free" diet networks. CONCLUSIONS Social media activity reflects diet trends and provides a platform for nutrition information to spread through resharing. A longitudinal exploration of popular diet networks is needed to further understand the impact social media can have on dietary choices. Social media training is vital, and nutrition professionals must work together as a community to actively reshare evidence-based posts on the web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa C Eaton
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Yasmine C Probst
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Marc A Smith
- Social Media Research Foundation, Redwood City, CA, United States
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Dietary interventions using Facebook: a systematic review. Porto Biomed J 2023; 8:e185. [DOI: 10.1097/j.pbj.0000000000000185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
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Diekman C, Ryan CD, Oliver TL. Misinformation and Disinformation in Food Science and Nutrition: Impact on Practice. J Nutr 2023; 153:3-9. [PMID: 36913465 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Food and nutrition are popular topics in the media and on social media. The ubiquity of social media has created new opportunities for qualified or credentialed experts in the scientific community to connect with clients and the public. It has also created challenges. Health and wellness gurus, or self-proclaimed experts, utilize social media platforms to garner attention through compelling narratives, build audience followings, and influence public opinion by sharing (often) misleading information about food and nutrition. The consequence of this can be the perpetuation of misinformation, which not only undermines a well-functioning democracy but also diminishes support for policies that are science or evidence based. Nutrition practitioners, clinician scientists, researchers, communicators, educators, and food experts need to encourage and model critical thinking (CT) to participate in our world of mass information and mitigate misinformation. These experts can play a vital role in the evaluation of information about food and nutrition against the body of evidence. This article explores the role of CT and ethics of practice in the context of misinformation and disinformation by providing a framework for engaging with clients and offering a checklist for ethical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie Diekman
- Food and Nutrition Consultant, Former President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, St Louis, MO, USA.
| | | | - Tracy L Oliver
- M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
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Cao JX, Jiang WJ, Yan MH, Wang DD, Hou JW, Song JY, Sun ZG. Anxiety and depression among pregnant women undergoing IVF-ET and WeChat group peer support during the COVID-19 pandemic: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e32515. [PMID: 36595832 PMCID: PMC9794246 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The psychological well-being of pregnant women following assisted reproductive has increasingly gained attention in recent years. Anxiety and depression may be associated to pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to determine whether peer support and the WeChat group platform will reduce anxiety and depression among in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) women. METHODS AND ANALYSIS In the present randomized controlled study, 296 patients with confirmed clinical pregnancy following IVF-ET will be randomly assigned to receive standard intervention support or WeChat peer support on a 1:1 basis. The levels of anxiety and depression are the primary endpoints. Assessments will be performed at baseline measurements, first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester, and data will be collected. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study has been approved as ethical by the affiliated hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Reproductive Ethics Committee. Each patient will sign a written statement of informed permission. All information and biological samples will be legally protected. A peer-reviewed academic journal will publish the findings of this investigation. DISCUSSION Given the inconvenience of visits due to the current pandemic of COVID-19, this study addresses the patient's visit needs by combining WeChat, the most widely used social software in China, with peer support, while helping improve maternal anxiety, depression, and pregnancy outcomes following IVF-ET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Xian Cao
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Wen-Jing Jiang
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Meng-Han Yan
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dan-Dan Wang
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jin-Wei Hou
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jing-Yan Song
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Reproductive Center of Integrated Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- * Correspondence: Jing-Yan Song, The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 42, Wen Hua Xi Road, Lixia district, Jinan 250011, China (e-mail: )
| | - Zhen-Gao Sun
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Reproductive Center of Integrated Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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10
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Biruete A, Kistler BM, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Moore LW. Kidney Nutrition in the Era of Social Media: Bridging the Gap of Nutrition Education and Kidney Health Literacy by Leveraging Resources of Social Networking. J Ren Nutr 2022; 32:629-632. [PMID: 36113811 PMCID: PMC10411502 DOI: 10.1053/j.jrn.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Biruete
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; Division of Nephrology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
| | - Brandon M Kistler
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
| | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, CA
| | - Linda W Moore
- Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
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Chen A, Kayrala N, Trapeau M, Aoun M, Bordenave N. The clean label trend: An ineffective heuristic that disserves both consumers and the food industry? Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2022; 21:4921-4938. [PMID: 36076364 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13031] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
What started around the late 2000s as the "Clean Label" (CL) trend has now become a meaningful segment of the food market, appealing to consumers who want foods made of a limited number of simple and recognizable ingredients. However, this description and tentative definitions of CL foods are vague, subject to multiple interpretations, and CL remains an informal denomination for foods, making consumers' demands and food manufacturers' offerings hardly compatible. Therefore, rather than attempting an illusory definition of CL foods, this narrative review aims to (1) show how CL appears to be a heuristic used by consumers to attempt to make safe and healthful food choices, (2) discuss how this heuristic overlooks many critical aspect of food safety and healthfulness and is consequently ineffective to guide consumers' choices, and (3) discuss the implications of the CL trend on the food chain's stakeholders and their relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Chen
- School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Kayrala
- School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maëliss Trapeau
- School of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Aoun
- School of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicolas Bordenave
- School of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Naaman RK. Nutrition Behavior and Physical Activity of Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Saudi Arabia. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14193994. [PMID: 36235647 PMCID: PMC9572763 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As people get older, their nutritional status deteriorates, resulting in increased vulnerability to chronic diseases. The adoption of a healthy lifestyle has been linked to improved health throughout the aging process. The current study aimed to assess nutritional behaviors, dietary patterns, and physical activity among middle-aged and older adults in Saudi Arabia. An electronic questionnaire was completed between September and November 2021 by 419 participants aged 45 years and older. Of those, 65% reported that nutrition was important to them and 19% stated that they were consuming a healthy diet. Participants reported consuming an average of around 6 servings/week each of fruit and vegetables, with mean intake scores of 5.92 ± 0.25 and 5.57 ± 0.22, respectively. It was reported that around 3 servings/week of red meat, 4 servings/week of poultry, and 1 serving/week of fish were consumed, with mean intake scores of 2.65 ± 0.13, 4.34 ± 0.16, and 1.36 ± 0.08, respectively. Most of the participants (60%) reported being inactive. Middle-aged and older adults living in Saudi Arabia have poor dietary patterns and nutritional behaviors. Education and guidance on nutrition are needed for this population to help them improve their diet and lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouba Khalil Naaman
- Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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13
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Landry MJ, Bailey DA, Lee M, Van Gundy S, Ervin A. The Impostor Phenomenon in the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095558. [PMID: 35564953 PMCID: PMC9099444 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The impostor phenomenon (IP) (also known as impostor syndrome) describes high-achieving individuals who, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or impostor. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of IP within a sample of nutrition and dietetics students and practitioners. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted and utilized a non-random, convenience sampling approach. A total of 1015 students, dietetic interns, and currently practicing and retired registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetic technicians registered provided complete responses. IP was assessed with the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). Self-reported job satisfaction and well-being were assessed using validated scales. Average CIPS score was 66.0 ± 16.3 (range 22−99), and higher scores indicate more frequent or severe IP experiences. Frequent or intense IP was reported by 64% of survey respondents (n = 655). Older age, greater educational attainment and professional level, and membership in Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics groups were associated with lower IP scores. Greater social media use was associated with higher IP scores. Job satisfaction and overall well-being were inversely correlated with IP (p < 0.001). Findings suggest that IP experiences were common among a majority of nutrition and dietetics students and practitioners surveyed. Additional research and development of preventative strategies and interventions is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Landry
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
- Correspondence:
| | | | - MinJi Lee
- Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Recreation, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA;
| | | | - Audrey Ervin
- Department of Counseling Psychology, Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA 18901, USA;
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Sbardelotto J, Martins BB, Buss C. Use of Social Networks in the Context of the Dietitian's Practice in Brazil and Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploratory Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e31533. [PMID: 35023837 PMCID: PMC8887558 DOI: 10.2196/31533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social networks have been pointed out as 1 of the greatest means of spreading information. A large part of the population is already present on these platforms, looking up subjects such as health, nutrition, and food. To reach this audience, it may be important for dietitians to explore social networks. However, there is a gap in scientific studies on exploring the ways in which these platforms are used by dietitians in Brazil, and the roles they play in the profession have not been well defined. Objective This study aims to describe the roles that social networks play in dietitians' practice in Brazil and their mode of use of social networks. This study also aims to identify professionals’ perceptions and opinions regarding the use of these tools, as well as changes in behavior on social network usage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We carried out a quantitative cross-sectional study, collecting data through an online questionnaire, submitted between October 2020 and January 2021 to dietitians registered on the Federal Council of Dietitians. All participants included in the study answered questions about the use of social networks in their professional context. Results In total, 264 (91.7%) of the 288 participants reported using social networks for professional practice. Instagram was the social network most often used by professionals (224/264, 84.8%). Dietitians (N=288) related to the use of social networks (always to almost always) for sharing information about their services (n=114-72 [39.6%-25%], respectively), following the work of other dietitians (n=172-64 [59.7%-22.2%], respectively), and writing about topics related to food and nutrition (n=166-53 [57.6%-18.4%], respectively). The roles played by social networks in the professional context of dietitians were attracting more clients (210/289, 72.7%) and keeping in touch with them (195/289, 67.5%). Furthermore, 227 (78.5%) of the 289 dietitians strongly agreed that social networks are good tools to promote their services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 216 (74.7%) of the 289 participants noticed changes in their behavior, feelings, or beliefs on the use of social networks related to professional practice, and 149 (51.6%) have increased the frequency of sharing information about nutrition and health in general on social networks. Conclusions The main roles of social networks in the professional context of dietitians are to attract clients and to facilitate the contact between professional and client. The modes of use reported by the professionals included sharing information about their services, following the work of professional colleagues, and writing about topics related to nutrition. Most of them reported believing that social networks are an effective way to disseminate their services. Moreover, most professionals claimed to have noticed changes in their behaviors or beliefs on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Sbardelotto
- Nutrition Course, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Birck Martins
- Nutrition Course, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Caroline Buss
- Department of Nutrition, Graduate Study Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Vijaykumar S, Raamkumar AS, McCarty K, Mutumbwa C, Mustafa J, Au C. Themes, communities and influencers of online probiotics chatter: A retrospective analysis from 2009-2017. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258098. [PMID: 34673767 PMCID: PMC8530318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We build on recent examinations questioning the quality of online information about probiotic products by studying the themes of content, detecting virtual communities and identifying key influencers in social media using data science techniques. We conducted topic modelling (n = 36,715 tweets) and longitudinal social network analysis (n = 17,834 tweets) of probiotic chatter on Twitter from 2009–17. We used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to build the topic models and network analysis tool Gephi for building yearly graphs. We identified the top 10 topics of probiotics-related communication on Twitter and a constant rise in communication activity. However the number of communities grew consistently to peak in 2014 before dipping and levelling off by 2017. While several probiotics industry actors appeared and disappeared during this period, the influence of one specific actor rose from a hub initially to an authority in the latter years. With multi-brand advertising and probiotics promotions mostly occupying the Twitter chatter, scientists, journalists, or policymakers exerted minimal influence in these communities. Consistent with previous research, we find that probiotics-related content on social media veers towards promotions and benefits. Probiotic industry actors maintain consistent presence on Twitter while transitioning from hubs to authorities over time; scientific entities assume an authoritative role without much engagement. The involvement of scientific, journalistic or regulatory stakeholders will help create a balanced informational environment surrounding probiotic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Vijaykumar
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Kristofor McCarty
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Cuthbert Mutumbwa
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jawwad Mustafa
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Cyndy Au
- Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
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Grantham JL, Verishagen CL, Whiting SJ, Henry CJ, Lieffers JRL. Evaluation of a Social Media Campaign in Saskatchewan to Promote Healthy Eating During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Media Analysis and Qualitative Interview Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e27448. [PMID: 34133314 PMCID: PMC8297600 DOI: 10.2196/27448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic presented many sudden challenges regarding food, including grocery shopping changes (eg, reduced store hours, capacity restrictions, and empty store shelves due to food hoarding), restaurant closures, the need to cook more at home, and closures of food access programs. Eat Well Saskatchewan (EWS) implemented a 16-week social media campaign, #eatwellcovid19, led by a dietitian and nutrition student that focused on sharing stories submitted by the Saskatchewan public about how they were eating healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to describe the implementation of the #eatwellcovid19 social media campaign and the results from the evaluation of the campaign, which included campaign performance using social media metrics and experiences and perspectives of campaign followers. METHODS Residents of Saskatchewan, Canada, were invited to submit personal stories and experiences to EWS about how they were eating healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic from April to August 2020. Each week, one to three stories were featured on EWS social media platforms-Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter-along with evidence-based nutrition information to help residents become more resilient to challenges related to food and nutrition experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who submitted stories were entered into a weekly draw for a Can $100 grocery gift card. Social media metrics and semistructured qualitative interviews of campaign followers were used to evaluate the #eatwellcovid19 campaign. RESULTS In total, 75 stories were submitted by 74 individuals on a variety of topics (eg, grocery shopping, traditional skills, and gardening), and 42 stories were featured on social media. EWS shared 194 #eatwellcovid19 posts across social media platforms (Facebook: n=100; Instagram: n=55; and Twitter: n=39). On Facebook, #eatawellcovid19 reached 100,571 followers and left 128,818 impressions, resulting in 9575 engagements. On Instagram, the campaign reached 11,310 followers, made 14,145 impressions, and received 823 likes and 15 comments. On Twitter, #eatwellcovid19 made 15,199 impressions and received 424 engagements. Featured story submission posts had the best engagement on Facebook and the most likes and comments on Instagram. The EWS social media pages reported increases in their following during the campaign (Instagram: +30%; Facebook: +14%; and Twitter: +12%). Results from the interviews revealed that there were two types of campaign followers: those who appreciated hearing the stories submitted by followers, as it helped them to feel connected to the community during social isolation, and those who appreciated the evidence-based information. CONCLUSIONS Numerous stories were submitted to the #eatwellcovid19 social media campaign on various topics. On Instagram and Facebook, posts that featured these stories had the highest engagement. During this campaign, EWS's social media following increased by more than 10% on each platform. The approach used for the #eatwellcovid19 campaign could be considered by others looking to develop health promotion campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordyn L Grantham
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Carrie L Verishagen
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Susan J Whiting
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Carol J Henry
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Jessica R L Lieffers
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Khan MN, Faraz A, Jamal AB, Craig S, Ilyas W, Ahmad F, Jamshed M, Riaz W. A Study to See the Effect of Social Media Usage Among Healthcare Providers. Cureus 2021; 13:e16350. [PMID: 34395130 PMCID: PMC8360324 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to assess how healthcare professionals (HCPs) use social media to determine how it influences the quality of patient care. Materials and methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted over eight months, between August 2020 and March 2021 using a questionnaire and checked amongst investigators. Results One hundred fifty-eight participants had electronic devices and 145 (91.9%) used social media at work. 26.6% of these HCPs said they spent less than an hour on social media forums, 31% said they spent one to two hours, 28.5% said two to three hours, and 13.9% said they spent more than four hours. As compared to nurses (46%), consultants and pharmacists use social media at a much lower rate (1% for each group). Compared to junior doctors, a higher percentage of nurses (40%) said they were aware of a social media policy at their hospital (8%). A quarter of healthcare employees (20%) were unaware of their workplace policy, potentially exposing sensitive medical details to the public. More research is needed to assess the particular effects of these results on patient care quality and can help in providing literature informing applications encrypted and secure patient data. Conclusion According to our results, a large percentage of healthcare quality professionals used social media networks. A significant proportion of doctors and nurses use it to visit online medical forums for improving education. A large portion of surveyed sample was unaware of hospital policy on social media usage. Further education is required to improve the right use of social media in the hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmad Faraz
- Trauma and Orthopaedics, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, GBR
| | | | - Sarah Craig
- Cardiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, GBR
| | - Waqas Ilyas
- Orthopaedics, Southampton General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, GBR
| | - Fatima Ahmad
- Anesthesia, Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, PAK
| | - Muhammad Jamshed
- Internal Medicine, Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Shrewsbury, GBR
| | - Waleed Riaz
- Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, GBR
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18
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Alanzi T, Altuwailib M, Saadah AM, Alanezi F. Perception of Healthcare Providers About the Use of Social Media to Manage a Healthy Diet in Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health 2021; 9:543913. [PMID: 34195165 PMCID: PMC8238119 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.543913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the perceptions of healthcare providers about the use of social media for healthy diet management in Saudi Arabia. Participants and Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the use of social media healthy diet management. The sample constituted 308 healthcare professionals from Saudi Arabia. The social media application, WhatsApp is employed to distribute the questionnaire, which has achieved a response rate of 50.61%. Out of the total participants, 55% of the participants were under 30 years of age, 71% were females, and 55% of the participants had a bachelor's degree. Results: Among the total respondents, 66% used social networking applications more than four hours a day, and 78% utilized social media to get information about a healthy diet. The respondents employed the following platforms for this purpose: Instagram (27%), YouTube (19%), Snapchat (19%), WhatsApp (18%), Twitter (8%), and Facebook (5%). The respondents considered that social media is very helpful to educate (44%), communicate with specialists (33%), and get applications for a healthy diet (38%). They held an opinion that social media is very helpful in improving knowledge about a healthy diet (47%), creating diet awareness (42%), and achieving healthy diet outcomes (37%) and lifestyle (37%). Conclusion: According to the perception of health providers, social media can be used to promote healthy diet management in Saudi Arabia. Also, the growing use of social media in Saudi Arabia represents the potential to create programs that encourage and promote healthy eating habits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and WhatsApp platforms can be used for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turki Alanzi
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam Altuwailib
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amjad Mohammed Saadah
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Alanezi
- Community College, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Lynch M, Knezevic I, Ryan KL. Opportunities for Qualitative Analysis of Social Media Platforms in Dietetic Research and Practice. CAN J DIET PRACT RES 2021; 82:79-83. [PMID: 33320800 DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2020-035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
To date, most qualitative knowledge about individual eating patterns and the food environment has been derived from traditional data collection methods, such as interviews, focus groups, and observations. However, there currently exists a large source of nutrition-related data in social media discussions that have the potential to provide opportunities to improve dietetic research and practice. Qualitative social media discussion analysis offers a new tool for dietetic researchers and practitioners to gather insights into how the public discusses various nutrition-related topics. We first consider how social media discussion data come with significant advantages including low-cost access to timely ways to gather insights from the public, while also cautioning that social media data have limitations (e.g., difficulty verifying demographic information). We then outline 3 types of social media discussion platforms in particular: (i) online news article comment sections, (ii) food and nutrition blogs, and (iii) discussion forums. We discuss how each different type of social media offers unique insights and provide a specific example from our own research using each platform. We contend that social media discussions can contribute positively to dietetic research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Lynch
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.,School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
| | - Irena Knezevic
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.,School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
| | - Kennedy Laborde Ryan
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.,School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
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Jensen C, Fang K, Grech A, Rangan A. Trends in Sales and Industry Perspectives of Package Sizes of Carbonates and Confectionery Products. Foods 2021; 10:foods10051071. [PMID: 34066111 PMCID: PMC8151470 DOI: 10.3390/foods10051071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Discretionary food package sizes are an important environmental cue that can affect the amount of food consumed. The aim of this study was to determine sales trends and reported food industry perspectives for changing food package sizes of carbonates and confectionery between 2005 and 2019. Changes in package sizes of carbonates and confectionery were investigated in Australia, the USA, Canada, and the UK. Sales data (units per capita and compound annual growth rate between 2005 and 2019) were extracted from the Euromonitor database. Qualitative data (market research reports) on industry perspectives on package size changes were extracted from industry and marketing databases. Carbonate sales data showed increased growth of smaller package sizes (<300 mL) and a decrease in sales of larger package sizes (≥2000 mL) in all four countries. In contrast, confectionery sales data showed no consistent trends across the selected countries. No growth was observed for smaller confectionery package sizes but an increase in growth of larger package sizes (50–99 g, >100 g), including share packages, was observed in Australia. Qualitative data (n = 92 articles) revealed key reasons identified by industry for changes in package size related to consumer health awareness, portion size control, convenience, market growth, and government or industry initiatives. Monitoring of discretionary food package sizes provides additional insights into consumers’ food environment.
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21
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Mete R, Kellett J, Bacon R, Shield A, Murray K. The P.O.S.T Guidelines for Nutrition Blogs: A Modified e-Delphi Study. J Acad Nutr Diet 2021; 121:1219-1230. [PMID: 33781728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blogs are being used increasingly to disseminate nutrition information to consumers, including by registered dietitians (RDs). Guidelines in authoring blogs are important for dietetics professionals so that they effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition information in this format. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to obtain consensus from experts comprising RDs with active blog-writing experience on a set of guidelines for use by RDs when authoring a healthy eating or nutrition information blog. DESIGN A modified e-Delphi technique with a consensus-based approach was used in this study undertaken between June and October 2019. The purpose-built, pilot-tested e-Delphi survey was informed by a literature review and included statements from 3 domains comprising blog readers and communication; purpose and healthy eating messages; and structure, voice, and tone. Expert participants were identified purposively and via snowballing. In each survey round, statements that achieved 80% consensus were accepted. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING A total of 19 experts consented to participate. Experts resided in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. Experts were mainly women aged between 30 and 49 years and working in private practice and/or research or teaching areas of nutrition and dietetics. RESULTS Across 3 domains, a total of 33 statements were accepted, comprising a final set of guidelines named the P.O.S.T (purpose, community, structure, and tone) Guidelines for Nutrition Blogs. CONCLUSIONS Consensus from a panel of dietetics experts resulted in the P.O.S.T Guidelines for Nutrition Blogs, which can support RDs in authoring healthy eating blogs. This will ensure that evidence-based nutrition messages provided to consumers are engaging and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Mete
- Faculty of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Jane Kellett
- Faculty of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Rachel Bacon
- Faculty of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Alison Shield
- Faculty of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Kristen Murray
- Faculty of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; Australian National University, Research School of Psychology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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Chang L, Chattopadhyay K, Li J, Xu M, Li L. Interplay of Support, Comparison, and Surveillance in Social Media Weight Management Interventions: Qualitative Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e19239. [PMID: 33646130 PMCID: PMC7961396 DOI: 10.2196/19239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been a significant increase in the trend of using social media as a platform to deliver weight management interventions. This illustrates a need to develop a holistic understanding of doctor-patient communication and peer-to-peer communication in social media interventions and to determine their influences on weight management for people with overweight or obesity. Such studies will highlight how social media can be more effectively integrated into weight management programs to enhance individuals' short-term and long-term weight management behaviors. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine patients' experiences with doctor-patient communication and peer interactions in a social media-based (WeChat) weight management program, and to describe the interplay of three social influence factors-social support, social comparison, and surveillance-in their weight control practices. The program, designed and implemented by the research team located in a tertiary referral hospital in a southeastern province in China, included both diet and physical activity components that targeted people with overweight or obesity. METHODS We conducted in-depth interviews with 32 program participants of different ages (mean 35.6, SD 7.7 years), gender (18 women), duration of program membership (mean 1.4 years), and weight loss outcomes (54% weight loss to 9% weight gain). All interview data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated using the translation-backtranslation technique. Nvivo software was used to facilitate the coding process. RESULTS Results of thematic analysis indicated the distinct functions of professionally led support and peer support. Professional support was presented in the form of knowledge infusion, efficacy enhancement, and provision of timely feedback. Peer support fostered empathy and sense of belonging, and had a mutually reinforcing relationship with peer comparison and peer-based surveillance. Peer comparison enhanced motivation and positive competition. However, it also reinforced negative group norms, and resulted in downturns in reference standards and collective inactivity. Social media surveillance prompted participants' reactions to the gaze from medical professionals and peers that could be encouraging or inhibiting. Surveillance enhanced vigilance with weight control norms; however, its influence weakened when participants chose to fake weight data and turn off notifications. Findings from this study illustrated the interrelated and fluctuating influences of support, comparison, and surveillance. CONCLUSIONS The interactive traits of social media eased the practices of social support and social comparison, and created new forms of surveillance. This study contributes to an in-depth understanding of social media influences on individuals' weight control behaviors. Practical implications of the study concern improved strategies for maintaining the positive dynamics of social media interactions and preventing negative resistance to surveillance technology. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900025861; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=42497.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Chang
- Department of Communication Studies, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kaushik Chattopadhyay
- Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jialin Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Miao Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
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Factors influencing engagement and dietary behaviour change of mothers and their children in a blog-delivered healthy eating intervention: a process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial. Public Health Nutr 2020; 24:2689-2703. [PMID: 33256887 DOI: 10.1017/s136898002000484x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A randomised controlled trial found no evidence of an impact of a blog written by a registered dietitian (RD) on vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives (e.g. soya-based beverages, yogurt and cheese) consumption - two food groups included in the 2007 version of the Canadian Food Guide - in mothers and their children compared with a control condition. To investigate these null findings, the current study explored participants' perceptions of engagement with the blog and its influence on their dietary behaviours. DESIGN Mixed methods process evaluation using a post-intervention satisfaction questionnaire and a content analysis of mothers' comments on the blog (n 213 comments). SETTING French-speaking adult mothers living in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (n 26; response rate = 61·9 % of the total sample randomised to exposure to the blog). RESULTS Most mothers (n 20/26; 76·9 %) perceived the blog useful to improve their dietary habits - with the most appreciated blog features being nutritional information and healthy recipes and interactions with fellow participants and the RD. Mothers reported several facilitators (e.g. meal planning and involving children in household food activities) and few barriers (e.g. lack of time and children's food preferences) to maternal and child consumption of vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives. Lack of time was the principal reported barrier affecting blog engagement. CONCLUSIONS The findings from the current study suggest that blogs written by an RD may be an acceptable format of intervention delivery among mothers, but may not alleviate all the barriers to healthy eating and engagement in a dietary intervention.
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Dumas AA, Lemieux S, Lapointe A, Provencher V, Robitaille J, Desroches S. Recruitment and retention of mothers of preschoolers and school-aged children in a social media-delivered healthy eating intervention: lessons learned from a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:706. [PMID: 32778159 PMCID: PMC7418391 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04628-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media represent cost-effective platforms to advance the dissemination and uptake of health research to improve population health. However, there is limited evidence available to support researchers overcome methodological challenges related to recruitment and retention of participants in studies using social media for delivering behavior change interventions. This study aims to describe the recruitment and the retention strategies used in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that evaluated a blog-delivered healthy eating intervention among mothers of preschoolers and school-aged children. METHODS Eighty-four adult mothers of children aged between two and 12 years old living in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, were recruited between October 2015 and February 2017 using traditional methods (e.g. institutional email lists, flyers, newspapers, and word of mouth) and Facebook advertisements. Retention rates were calculated at the end of the 6-month intervention and at a 12-month follow-up assessment. Sociodemographic characteristics, Internet use behaviors and retention rates of mothers recruited through traditional methods and Facebook were compared using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS Of the 196 mothers who responded to the recruitment call, 87 (44.4%) were eligible and 84 (42.9%) were randomized to the trial, representing a recruitment success of 76.4% (84/110) from the planned sample size target. Among those, a minority (3.6%) were recruited using Facebook. Those mothers presented similar sociodemographic characteristics to those recruited using traditional methods. Retention rates were 73.8% and 66.7% at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with similar rates between mothers recruited using Facebook and traditional methods. Various challenges associated with population retention were highlighted with lack of time being mothers' main reason for withdrawing from the study. CONCLUSIONS The methodological challenges experienced during the conduct of the blog-delivered healthy eating intervention allowed to draw upon several lessons regarding the recruitment process and the retention of mothers of preschoolers and school-aged children to inform future social media-delivered research. Recommendations for future research include exploring mothers' perceptions and preferences to tailor social media recruitment, ensure that interventions are delivered to them using social media platforms that are already integrated into their routine, and are providing remote outcome assessments to increase participant retention. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trial Protocol NCT03156803 . Registered on 17 May 2017, retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrée-Anne Dumas
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Pavillon des services, office 2729-P, 2440 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Simone Lemieux
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Pavillon des services, office 2729-P, 2440 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Annie Lapointe
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Pavillon des services, office 2729-P, 2440 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Véronique Provencher
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Pavillon des services, office 2729-P, 2440 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Julie Robitaille
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Pavillon des services, office 2729-P, 2440 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Sophie Desroches
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Pavillon des services, office 2729-P, 2440 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
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Alsisi EA, Al-Ashaab A, Abualfaraa WA. The Development of a Smart Health Awareness Message Framework Based on the Use of Social Media: Quantitative Study. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e16212. [PMID: 32459627 PMCID: PMC7413284 DOI: 10.2196/16212] [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: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social media has recently provided a remarkable means of delivering health information broadly and in a cost-effective way. Despite its benefits, some difficulties are encountered in attempting to influence the public to change their behavior in response to social media health messages. Objective This study aimed to explore the factors that affect individuals’ acceptance of using social media as a tool for receiving health awareness messages and adapting such content accordingly by developing a smart health awareness message framework. Methods A quantitative method was adapted to validate the hypotheses and proposed framework through the development of a survey based on the technology acceptance model with the extension of other constructs. The survey was distributed on the web to 701 participants from different countries via Qualtrics software; it generated 391 completed questionnaires, and the response rate was 55.8% (391/701). Results Of the 391 respondents, 121 (30.9%) used social media platforms often during the week, and 27 participants (6.9%) did not use social media. In addition, 24.0% (94/391) of the respondents used these platforms to seek health information. On the basis of the results, perceived usefulness (β=.37; P<.001), gain-framed message (β=.04; P<.001), and loss-framed message (β=.08; P<.001) were seen to positively and significantly influence people’s intention to use social media as a means to spread information about health promotion. The proposed smart health awareness message framework identifies 64.2% of the variance in intention to use, 55.4% of the variance of perceived usefulness, and 26.2% of the variance of perceived ease of use. Conclusions This study sheds light on the factors that are associated with people’s intention to use and adopt social media in the health promotion domain. The findings reveal that the intention of using social media for health awareness purposes is positively impacted by the perception of usefulness of social media and the design of health messages. Future research might seek to explore other factors that relate to people’s behavior. This point of view will assist health organizations in developing their health messages more effectively and to be patient friendly.
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Ziese T, Truthmann J. Summary of World Café Discussions Table 3: Dissemination. JOURNAL OF HEALTH MONITORING 2020; 5:23. [PMID: 35146293 PMCID: PMC8734074 DOI: 10.25646/6509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Ziese
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring,Corresponding author Dr Thomas Ziese, Robert Koch Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, General-Pape-Straße 62–66, 12101 Berlin, Germany, E-mail:
| | - Julia Truthmann
- Formerly Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring
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Dumas AA, Lemieux S, Lapointe A, Provencher V, Robitaille J, Desroches S. Long-term effects of a healthy eating blog in mothers and children. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2020; 16:e12981. [PMID: 32141188 PMCID: PMC7296799 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In the context of low consumption of vegetables and fruits and milk and alternatives among Canadian mothers and children, novel strategies are needed to improve maternal and child nutrition. This study evaluated the long‐term effects of an evidence‐informed healthy eating blog on dietary intakes and food‐related behaviours of mothers and their child. The study presents a secondary outcome analysis of a randomised controlled trial in which 84 mothers (mean age of 37.6 ± 6.7 years) of 2‐ to 12‐year‐old children living in Quebec City, Canada, were randomly assigned to a dietary intervention delivered through a healthy eating blog written by a registered dietitian (RD; n = 42) or a control group (n = 42) during a period of 6 months. Dietary intakes, maternal eating behaviours, food parenting practices, and body weight were measured at baseline, 3 months, at the end of the intervention (6 months), and 6‐month post‐intervention (12 months). Differences between groups were assessed with mixed linear models. Globally, this study found no evidence of long‐term differences in mean dietary intakes in mothers exposed to the blog and their children as well as other food‐related outcomes and body weight compared with the control condition. Potential predictors of adherence to dietary recommendations in mothers and children (e.g., involvement of children in household food activities) were identified. In conclusion, a healthy eating blog written by an RD did not result in evidence of any long‐term differences in dietary intakes and food‐related behaviours in mothers and their children compared with the control condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrée-Anne Dumas
- Centre de recherche Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Simone Lemieux
- Centre de recherche Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Annie Lapointe
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Centre de recherche Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Véronique Provencher
- Centre de recherche Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julie Robitaille
- Centre de recherche Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sophie Desroches
- Centre de recherche Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Griauzde DH, Kieffer EC, Domoff SE, Hess K, Feinstein S, Frank A, Pike D, Pesch MH. The influence of social media on child feeding practices and beliefs among Hispanic mothers: A mixed methods study. Eat Behav 2020; 36:101361. [PMID: 31923649 PMCID: PMC8005295 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2019.101361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES (1) To identify factors that influence child feeding practices and beliefs among Hispanic mothers in a low-income community; (2) to describe the use of social media, other internet websites, and text messaging among Hispanic mothers; and (3) to explore mothers' perceptions of social media and/or text messaging interventions to prevent childhood obesity. METHODS Mixed methods descriptive study with a sequential explanatory design. Hispanic mothers (N = 66) from Detroit, Michigan with children between 6 and 36 months of age completed surveys regarding their child feeding practices, the source (s) influencing these practices, and their use of social media, internet, and text messaging. During qualitative interviews (N = 19), we explored mothers' use of social media and internet websites to find child health information as well as mothers' perspectives on social media/internet/text messaging interventions to promote child health. RESULTS Most survey respondents were between the ages of 20 and 39 years. One-third of mothers breastfed their child for >6 months; 68% did not introduce solids until their child was older than 6 months. The majority (96%) owned a cellphone; 75% used social media at least once daily. Few mothers indicated that social media and other internet websites influenced their child feeding decisions. During qualitative interviews (N = 19), almost all mothers expressed interest in social media and/or text messaging as a tool to communicate information regarding child health and feeding. CONCLUSIONS Hispanic mothers had high rates of social media use and most desired social media/internet/text messaging interventions to promote child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina H Griauzde
- Ann Arbor VA Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Edith C Kieffer
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sarah E Domoff
- Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Kristen Hess
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Amy Frank
- Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Denise Pike
- Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Megan H Pesch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Effects of an Evidence-Informed Healthy Eating Blog on Dietary Intakes and Food-Related Behaviors of Mothers of Preschool- and School-Aged Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Acad Nutr Diet 2020; 120:53-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Mete R, Curlewis J, Shield A, Murray K, Bacon R, Kellett J. Reframing healthy food choices: a content analysis of Australian healthy eating blogs. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1711. [PMID: 31856783 PMCID: PMC6923928 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-8064-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blogs are widely being used by health professionals and consumers to communicate and access nutrition information. There are numerous benefits for dietitians to establish and contribute to healthy eating blogs. In particular, to disseminate evidence-based nutrition information to promote healthier dietary practices. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of popular healthy eating blogs and inform the provision of healthy eating information in the Australian context. METHODS A content analysis approach was used to identify characteristics of popular Australian healthy eating blogs. A purposive and snowball sampling approach was used to identify healthy eating blogs from search engines including Google, Bing and Yahoo. Blogs were deemed eligible if: (1) the author self-identified as a health professional; (2) the blog was written by a single author; (3) the blog was written by an Australian author; (4) the blog had a minimum of one post per month, and (5) the blog focused on communicating healthy eating information to the general adult population. RESULTS Five popular blogs were followed over a three-month period (December 2017-March 2018), with 76 blog posts included for analysis. Characteristics of these popular blogs were examined and four main features were identified: (i) clearly conveying the purpose of each post; (ii) developing a strong understanding of the reader base and their preferences; (iii) employing a consistent writing style; use of vocabulary and layout; and (iv) communicating healthy eating information in a practical manner. These findings reveal important insight into the features that promote effective nutrition communication within this context. CONCLUSION Findings from this study highlight common characteristics of popular healthy eating blogs. Future research into the development of blog guidelines which incorporate the characteristics identified in this study can support dietitians in establishing or contributing to the successful provision of evidence-based nutritional information through blogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Mete
- Faculty of Health, The University of Canberra, University Dr, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia.
| | - Jayne Curlewis
- Faculty of Health, The University of Canberra, University Dr, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Alison Shield
- Faculty of Health, The University of Canberra, University Dr, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Kristen Murray
- Faculty of Health, The University of Canberra, University Dr, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Rachel Bacon
- Faculty of Health, The University of Canberra, University Dr, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Jane Kellett
- Faculty of Health, The University of Canberra, University Dr, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to explore how healthy food choices are translated into everyday life by exploring definitions of healthy food choices, perceptions of own food choice, and healthy food choice drivers (facilitators) and barriers. DESIGN An exploratory qualitative study design was employed using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and cross-checked for consistency. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns emerging from the data. SETTING Canberra, Australia, October 2015-March 2016. PARTICIPANTS A total of twenty-three participants aged 25-60 years were interviewed. The mean age was 38 years and the mean BMI was 29·1 kg/m2. All male participants (n 4) were within the healthy weight range compared with 58 % of female participants, with 26 % being overweight and 16 % being obese. RESULTS (i) Healthy food choices are important but are not a daily priority; (ii) healthy eating information is known but can be difficult to apply into everyday life; (iii) popular diets are used in attempts to improve healthy eating; and (iv) social media inspires and connects people with healthy eating. CONCLUSIONS Social media facilitates healthy food choices by providing access to healthy eating information. In addition to Facebook and Instagram, healthy eating blogs were highlighted as a source of nutrition information. Research should consider exploring the use of healthy eating blogs and whether these blogs can be used as a tool by dietitians to communicate procedural healthy eating information more effectively in the future.
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Drug information, misinformation, and disinformation on social media: a content analysis study. J Public Health Policy 2018; 39:343-357. [PMID: 29795521 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-018-0131-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Dissemination of misleading drug information through social media can be detrimental to the health of the public. This study, carried out in Bahrain, evaluated the truthfulness of 22 social media claims about drugs (72.7%), dietary supplements (22.7%), and toxic bisphenol-A (4.5%). They circulated on WhatsApp platform, as case studies. We categorized claims as objectively true, false, or potentially misleading. The content analysis revealed that "potentially misleading" claims were the most frequent messages (59.1%). They tend to exaggerate the efficacy or safety without sufficient evidence to substantiate claims. False claims (27.3%) were likely due to unfair competition or deception. Overall, 13.6% of the messages were objectively true claims that could withstand regulatory scrutiny. Majority of the drug-related messages on social media were potentially misleading or false claims that lacked credible evidence to support them. In the public interest, regulatory authorities should monitor such information disseminated via social media platforms.
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Hazzam J, Lahrech A. Health Care Professionals' Social Media Behavior and the Underlying Factors of Social Media Adoption and Use: Quantitative Study. J Med Internet Res 2018; 20:e12035. [PMID: 30404773 PMCID: PMC6249501 DOI: 10.2196/12035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last decade, social media has emerged as a newer platform for knowledge dissemination, information exchange, and interpersonal communication for health care professionals (HCPs). However, the underlying behaviors of HCPs and the ethical use of social media for productivity enhancement and a sustainable health care system remain ambiguous. OBJECTIVE This study seeks to understand the factors that relate to the frequency use of social media in the health care discipline. It also aims to explore the underlying online behaviors of HCPs, which include the exchange of medical information with peers, interpersonal communication, and productivity enhancement in their daily practice. METHODS This study adopted the quantitative method in collecting and analyzing data. A survey instrument based on the behavioral and technology acceptance theories was developed for this purpose. The survey was distributed via social media platforms to 973 participants that included physicians, pharmacists, and allied HCPs working in the United Arab Emirates. The responses from 203 completed questionnaires (response rate 20.3%) were analyzed. RESULTS Of 203 respondents, 133 HCPs used WhatsApp (65.5%); therefore, WhatsApp had the highest number of users compared to Facebook and YouTube, with 101 users out of 203 (49.7%). Overall, 109 of 203 (53.6%) HCPs used social media platforms for the exchange of peer medical information and 108 of 203 (53.2%) used social media several times during the day to improve their interpersonal communication with colleagues. However, only 71 of 203 (34.9%) utilized social media to enhance their productivity in general. The structural model equation showed that behavioral intention (beta=.47; P<.001), habit (beta=.26; P=.001), attitude (beta=.20; P=.002), and perceived usefulness (beta=.12; P=.09) were positively and significantly related to frequency of use. The model explained a rate of 45% variance in the frequency of use and a rate of 17% variance in the social media intention of use. CONCLUSIONS The research highlights the significant factors that relate to the adoption of social media platforms in health care practice. Based on the findings of this study, the use of online platforms facilitates the exchange of medical information among peers and enhances the share of experiences that support HCP's learning and development. Moreover, social media platforms foster a higher level of communication among practitioners and might improve daily productivity. Future researchers might explore other variables such as training and external factors. For instance, they may draw on areas related to guidelines and policies. From this standpoint, the health care discipline can benefit from highly interactive platforms and adopt them for development, collaboration, and better health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Hazzam
- Faculty of Business and Law, The British University in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdelmounaim Lahrech
- Faculty of Business and Law, The British University in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Probst YC, Peng Q. Social media in dietetics: Insights into use and user networks. Nutr Diet 2018; 76:414-420. [PMID: 30370651 DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM Social media has transformed the interaction between healthcare professionals and consumers, yet research of its use in dietetics is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dietetic user networks on use of social media and test the applicability of a social media metrics tool to determine influential users. METHODS An online survey about social media use and practices based on the scientific literature was developed and implemented online with dietitians. Feasibility of a social media metrics analysis was conducted via Twitter using the NodeXL metrics tool to determine influential dietetic networks based on four measures of network centrality (betweenness, eigenvector, closeness and degree). RESULTS The survey (n = 340) revealed social networking sites were the most widely used (by user) (n = 282) and micro-blogging was the most regularly used (by frequency of use). Among respondents who used social media in a professional capacity (n = 130), the greatest benefit was communicating internationally and remotely while the delivery of health care was of least benefit. The majority of respondents (87.3%) indicated their primary efforts were to maintain e-professionalism. Time restraints (18.6%) and not knowing where to start (18.6%) were common barriers to use. Highly influential connections between users were observed from network visualisations of dietitians in Australia and the United States. CONCLUSIONS Professional use of social media among dietitians needs to be monitored over time for shifts of influential networks. Influential users from key networks can be identified from metrics analyses and should be engaged via professional bodies to upskill new users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine C Probst
- School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Qingcai Peng
- School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Sax Institute, Sydney
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Inan-Eroglu E, Buyuktuncer Z. What images and content do professional dietitians share via Instagram? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1108/nfs-03-2018-0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
In the age of information, where people can have an easy access to knowledge, the ethical and content-based examination of dietitians’ sharing in the social media is an important step in determining what to share in the social media in the future. The purpose of this study was to analyse the content of Instagram shares of dietitians, a profession group that is becoming more and more widespread in Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
Publicly available dietitian Instagram profiles, aiming specifically at those with =500 followers, were included in the study. The hashtag was chosen as #onlinediyet (Turkish for online diet). A total of 1,986 images were identified for analysis. When these images were identified, 883 images were excluded. Thus, overall 1,103 Instagram images were chosen to analyse during a week’s period. Each Instagram image was classified into one of seven categories by authors as food, individual, nutrition information, motivational, miscellaneous, physical activity and recipe. Food and individual groups were also coded into subgroups.
Findings
A descriptive analysis of the 1,103 online-diet-related images shared by dietitians showed that 53.5 per cent of the images were in food category. There were no differences between female and male dietitians in terms of categories of shared images (p > 0.05). Dietitians also shared individual images (34.5 per cent) including weight loss follow-up (56.2 per cent), self-portrait (22.0 per cent) and conversation with clients (14.0 per cent) images on Instagram.
Originality/value
The results of this study set a baseline for future studies. Given the rapid growth of this platform in recent years, not only the field of dietetics but also other health-care fields would benefit from clear guidelines about what information can or cannot be shared on social media.
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