Seeing is Engaging: Vlogs as a Tool for Patient Engagement

Video blogs (‘vlogs’ – pronounced as one syllable) are a popular platform for conveying know-how online and can be used as a tool for patient engagement. It can be challenging to engage patients in their own care, and the unique attributes of vlogs overcome some of the barriers to engagement such as high treatment burden and a lack of the sense of community. While some clinicians may distrust social media and question its place in patient care, we present The Frey Life, one example of a patient vlog, to show how the platform models and fosters engagement, and provides the patient perspective. We discuss potential concerns regarding health vlogs, and suggest implications for physicians, researchers, and medical institutions regarding how to use patient vlogs as a resource

Glu: An Online Type 1 Diabetes Information Community

This research paper examines the online health community Glu (MyGlu.org), a type 1 diabetes social media site. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic medical condition that requires constant and specialized medical attention. Online health communities like Glu, are an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for many of its members. This study discusses the composition of this information community, the motivations of its members, and the benefits members gain through their participation. It describes the major characteristics of the community and focuses on the information needs of type 1 diabetics. It concludes with reflections on how libraries and LIS professionals can better serve the information needs of health communities like Glu and accommodate their needs in the physical space of the library

Communicating knowledge and embodied experiences of personal menstrual cup use through YouTube

Background: Despite being a normal part of life for many, menstruation is often stigmatized resulting in reduced knowledge of reusable products such as menstrual cups. YouTube videos can raise awareness of menstrual cups and challenge stigma, but little is known about the content creators or what content is communicated in the videos. Aim: Firstly, to examine vlogger characteristics and the content of videos sharing personal experiences of cup use. Secondly, to evaluate the potential of these videos as a way of communicating about menstrual health. Methods: A content analysis of the 100 most popular menstrual cup videos on YouTube followed by a qualitative thematic analysis of 50 videos containing personal experiences. Results: The content of the videos was captured in four themes: embodied knowledge; technology enabled intimacies; persuasive narratives and a collective sense of community. Discussion: Vloggers communicated knowledge and embodied experiences of personal cup use. This represents a step towards destigmatizing menstruation and menstruants’ bodies, but issues around the complexities of vloggers’ motivations and the situatedness of vloggers remain. Conclusions: Given the paucity of information on menstruation and reusable menstrual products, YouTube videos provide a potentially valuable resource for health communication and education especially for younger menstruants

Exploring the experiences of people vlogging about severe mental illness on YouTube: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Background: Evidence suggests that, compared to the general population, individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) are more likely to engage in online social networking and share personal experiences through blogging. However, little is known about the impact of creating and publicly sharing mental health videos (vlogging) on individuals with self-identified SMIs. Aims: The present study aims to investigate the experiences of individuals with self-identified SMIs who vlog about their SMI on YouTube. Methods: YouTube was systematically searched using four key search items (“schizophrenia”, “bipolar disorder”, “major depressive disorder” and “schizoaffective disorder”). After manually screening approximately 50 channels, a set of 30 videos by individuals with self-identified SMIs discussing their experience of vlogging was selected and transcribed verbatim. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed for the analysis of the data. Results: The analysis produced three global themes: Minimising Isolation; Vlogging as Therapy; and Fighting stigma. Limitations: The data collected was limited as regards depth of content by the inability to ask follow-up questions. Conclusions: The findings suggest that engaging in the act of vlogging about mental illness may benefit and encourage recovery in individuals with SMIs by providing them with peer support, enhancing self-efficacy, and reducing self-stigma. Future research should employ interviews to produce more robust data for analysis

A Descriptive Analysis of Health Influencer Videos on YouTube in the Ostomy Community

The expansion of YouTube into the mainstream media and its place as the second most-used website in the world makes it a prime place for health information seeking. However, content can be created and uploaded by anyone and thus, the threat of misinformation on YouTube is high. Medical researchers have established that videos created by health professionals on YouTube promote accurate information whereas videos by non-professionals promote generally inaccurate or misleading information. Yet, videos created by non-professionals have more views and higher relevance rankings on YouTube. To begin to understand this phenomenon, a descriptive study is used to lay a foundation for this area of health communication This study focused on the ostomy community of non-professional content creators on YouTube to. The goal of this study was to thoroughly describe the innate features of the videos using media richness theory, and to describe social support and illness narrative using the framework of social presence theory. The results from the study provide deep description into this particular community of non-professional health influencers and make way for a new line of research in the communication of health information

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationDiabetes is a complex condition that can significantly affect quality of life and economic burden. New approaches to promoting diabetes knowledge and support to enhance diabetes management are necessary. Peer health is occurring within the diabetes online community (DOC), although very little is known about how it is being used to help manage diabetes. The purpose of this research was to better understand peer health within the nonmoderated, nontrained peer context of the DOC. In this multiple method approach, a cross-sectional survey was posted to DOC social media sites to describe adult DOC users, indicators of their health status, and perceived credibility of DOC information. A baby boomer subset of participants were interviewed to understand why they participated in the DOC, how they anticipated continued DOC use as they aged, and how they determined credibility of DOC information. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Apomediation Theory guided this research. There were several significant findings. Individuals highly engaged with the DOC had better glycemic control. DOC users had high levels of diabetes self-care, health-related quality of life, and social capital. Baby boomers were using the DOC to increase their knowledge to improve self-care and for emotional support. The DOC was used in adjunct to, not in place of, regular healthcare visits to fill gaps in tacit knowledge and support. Baby boomer participants valued the wisdom of experienced individuals, "diabetes elders." Participants employed a process to find credible health information through the guidance of peers. Overall, DOC users found the DOC to be helpful with very little harm reported, suggesting DOC use is beneficial with low risk. Finally, DOC users found information from their healthcare providers to be more competent and trustworthy than information from the DOC, indicating DOC users still find their healthcare providers valuable. The findings from this research are promising. DOC users engage in a reciprocal process of sharing diabetes related experiences, encouraging knowledge attainment and support. Peer health in a naturally occurring online environment has the capacity to augment the traditional healthcare model by providing health information and peer support conveniently and at a low cost

Effects of vlogger race on perceived credibility, self-efficacy and behavioral intentions towards weight loss

Abstract Spokesperson race and expertise have exhibited an impact on audiences. This study examines the effect of race congruency between vlogger and audience in regards to weight loss. Using social psychology and communication theories, including Elaboration Likelihood Model, spokesperson effects, the Theory of Planned Behavior, social cognitive theory, and self-efficacy theory, the current study features independently produced vlogs (video blogs) discussing weight loss strategies. The race and expertise of the vloggers in the videos were manipulated to test the effects on perceived message and source credibility, self-efficacy towards exercising and dieting, and behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting. Results reveal that, although race congruency demonstrates limited effect on the outcome variables, it interacts with participant race, ethnic identity, and vlogger expertise to predict perceived message credibility, self-efficacy towards exercising and dieting, and behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting. Asian American participants report greater perceived message credibility and behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting after watching an Asian American vlogger compared to a White American vlogger. Asian American participants with low ethnic identity report greater self-efficacy towards exercising and dieting after watching an Asian American vlogger compared to a White American vlogger, while White American participants with low ethnic identity report greater self-efficacy towards exercising after watching an Asian American vlogger compared to a White American vlogger. Furthermore, perceived message credibility mediates the effect of the interaction of race congruency and participant race on participant’s behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting. This study provides insights for understanding spokesperson effect and designing health campaigns in the interactive media environment