Reassembling nursing in the digital age: An actor‐network theory perspective

This article explores the application of actor‐network theory (ANT) to the nursing profession, proposing a novel perspective in understanding nursing in the context of modern digital healthcare. Traditional grand nursing theories, while foundational, often fail to encapsulate the dynamic and complex nature of nursing, particularly in an era of rapid technological advancements and shifting societal dynamics. ANT, with its emphasis on the relationships between human and nonhuman actors, offers a framework to understand nursing beyond traditional paradigms. This article makes two key arguments: first, that nursing can be viewed as a highly organised social assemblage, where both human (nurses, patients and policymakers) and nonhuman actors (technologies, medical equipment, institutional policies) play a crucial role, and second, that ANT can be used to enhance existing nursing theory to better understand the role of technology in nursing practice. The article considers how ANT can provide a more holistic and adaptable model for describing the nursing profession, particularly in an era where technology plays an integral role in healthcare delivery. It discusses the implications of viewing nursing through ANT, highlighting the need for nursing education and practice to adapt to the interconnected and technologically advanced nature of modern healthcare. The article also acknowledges the limitations of ANT, particularly its potential oversimplification of the complex ethical dimensions inherent in nursing and its focus on observable phenomena

COVID Sex Lives: Age in Focus

Age was an important factor that shaped the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United Kingdom during the pandemic. This Covid Sex Lives In Focus Report delves deeper into social aspects that emerged from our findings. The Covid Sex Lives project, funded by UKRI/AHRC, involved methods of surveys, discourse analysis, and media walkthroughs. It was conducted across 4 surveys from 2021-2022, with 1409 total participants

Sex education against the algorithm: the algorithmically enforced deplatforming of YouTube sex edutainment

Deplatforming of sexual content has increased across social media, usually operationalized by commercially charged, and algorithmically enforced, platform policies. This paper extends work on the algorithmic deplatforming of sex through the case study of how sex education content, or ‘sex edutainment’ on YouTube, is impacted by the platform’s algorithmic structures. Enrolling actor-network theory, we demonstrate the delegation work YouTube enacts through algorithms by presenting empirical findings from a multi-method study examining the assemblage of YouTube, sex edutainment influencers, and young people. The findings highlight that despite YouTube’s curated platform imaginary as an amplifier of voices, algorithmic delegation of platform governance creates significant barriers for influencers creating sex edutainment on YouTube. Although not contravening YouTube’s policies, influencers regularly battle demonetization, age-restrictions and algorithmic bias. This undermines the benefits of sex edutainment by limiting access to content, creates precarious financial environments for influencers and risks erosion of audience trust. Meanwhile, algorithms designed to protect users enact this governance without adequately protecting influencers themselves, predominantly women and LGBTQ+ individuals, from harm. Despite YouTube’s veneer of democratization, the social discourses and protectionist narratives that have destabilized traditional sex education efforts permeate our digital environments and can be seen in the algorithmic enactment of YouTube’s policies

Covid Sex Lives: How the Pandemic Impacted the Sex Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men

During the COVID-19 pandemic, messages from the government and public health organizations aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus were turned into media campaigns targeting different groups. The COVID Sex Lives project sought to understand how these messages affected the experiences Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in the United Kingdom when it came to their sex lives and using digital platforms for sexual purposes. Over the past two decades, dating and hookup apps have become popular ways for people to meet and connect, even during the pandemic, and MSM have been early adopters of these technologies for dating, hooking up, and combating loneliness. The research project, a collaboration between the University of Salford, Newcastle University, King's College London, and Birmingham City University, was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and aimed to understand how health messages during the pandemic affected the sex lives of MSM, their sexual health and overall well-being during and after this challenging time.The research team conducted four online surveys between April 2021 and January 2022 with a total of 1,409 responses from MSM, as well as analysis of relevant topics in the media, on health organisation websites and on Twitter. In the surveys, participants gave brutally honest and vibrant answers about their experiences, these were sometimeshilarious and sometimes heart-breaking. This zine aims to show some of the key themes that came from the research, whilst giving space to the variety of voices of UK MSM thatappeared in our data. They demonstrate the frustration, challenges, and spirit of a community navigating an unprecedented period of global uncertainty in their personal and intimate lives

Participating in CaMKIN : impact on patients

Introduction: Managing long-term health conditions is a global challenge, which has necessitated developing innovative ways to deliver patient centred care. Social media allow patients to access and share personal experiences and peer support, with potential to feed back into the patient-centred development and improvement of healthcare services. The Cheshire and Merseyside Kidney Information Network (CaMKIN) was established in 2019 as part of the Kidney Information Network (KIN), providing CKD patients 24-hour online access to information and support regarding their condition. Methods A novel digital method (Vasilica et al., 2021) of a dataset retrieved from a CaMKIN patient Facebook micro-community (1,119 posts and 5,266 comments), complemented by a survey (61 CaMKIN members). The digital methods steps involved a framework analysis to create themes and subthemes, directed analysis of data, familiarisation and sense making. Findings Analysis of data identified four major themes and an additional 13 subthemes of impact. Patients used the group to ‘improve understanding of their condition’ (theme 1) through sharing useful information, accessing information from lived experiences and organizing Q&A with health professionals. The micro-community formed a peer support network with both, in person and online peer to peer support. This support extended to ‘encouragement of self-management of health’ (theme 2), including managing diet and fitness. Group members created their own healthy choices weight loss accountability group, adopting a supportive ‘weight watchers’ style. They encouraged each other to take proactive steps in self-managing their health recommending people to contact renal team or ring emergency line where necessary. CaMKIN positively contributed to ‘improved health and wellbeing outcomes’ (theme 3), by providing a safe space to air frustrations, quell anxieties, and support each other’s mental health. This was important during the COVID_19 pandemic. CaMKIN provided patients a ‘safe environment, outside clinical settings’ (theme 4), to share and receive health information related to their kidney disease or treatment. Throughout the pandemic, the group discussed or clarified information (with professionals on the network), reducing demand on the local services through the self-organisation that occurred within the group. Survey results reinforced the Facebook dataset findings; most respondents benefited from access to health care information (86.9 %), which made them feel more informed about their condition (77.1%). Patients received valuable support from peers (75.4%). Almost half of respondents agreed that it reduced isolation and it contributed to management of mental health (48.8%). Conclusion This innovative micro-community helps CKD patients understand their condition better and improve health awareness through information sharing (peer and professionally developed) and peer support that contribute to increased self-management. Demonstrated through self-reported mechanisms, CaMKIN improved mental health and reduced social isolation. During the pandemic it offered patients a safe environment to develop understanding of the volatile situation to manage their health safely. The data provides insight into an untapped opportunity, recommendations include utilising the CAMKIN to further develop service provision and communication between hospitals and patients. Further research is required to roll out and evaluate embedding KIN into local service provision, and developing a patient network at a regional and national level

The Covid Sex Lives Project: Health Messaging, Hooking Up And Dating Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During The UK COVID-19 Pandemic

In the context of the pandemic, government and public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus have been translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Engaging experiences of the minority group, men who have sex with men (MSM), we provide evidence on the approaches and responses to these messages in relation to using digital platforms to connect for sexual purposes.Dating and hookup applications, or apps, are a key area where sex and romance has been negotiated over the past two decades, a trend which continued during the pandemic. MSM are an ideal group to look atthe challenges posed here as they have been early adopters of these technologies for a variety of purposes, including the obvious ones related to dating and hooking up as well as for increasing more general sociality and reducing loneliness.Due to this culture of engagement with digital media by MSM, and whatis known about their sexual cultures, digital platforms have been engaged by health educators in an attempt to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of this group. The question in the context of a pandemic therefore becomes: how are these sexual cultures affected, and how might health messaging be engaged with, or not

The Covid Sex Lives Project: Health Messaging, Hooking Up And Dating Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During The UK COVID-19 Pandemic

In the context of the pandemic, government and public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus have been translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Engaging experiences of the minority group, men who have sex with men (MSM), we provide evidence on the approaches and responses to these messages in relation to using digital platforms to connect for sexual purposes. Dating and hookup applications, or apps, are a key area where sex and romance has been negotiated over the past two decades, a trend which continued during the pandemic. MSM are an ideal group to look at the challenges posed here as they have been early adopters of these technologies for a variety of purposes, including the obvious ones related to dating and hooking up as well as for increasing more general sociality and reducing loneliness. Due to this culture of engagement with digital media by MSM, and what is known about their sexual cultures, digital platforms have been engaged by health educators in an attempt to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of this group. The question in the context of a pandemic therefore becomes: how are these sexual cultures affected, and how might health messaging be engaged with, or not

Harnessing the potential of your digital collaborations

During your time as a nursing student and beyond, you will undoubtedly engage in digital collaborations, both academically and within clinical practice. This goes beyond the use of electronic patient records and emailing colleagues to include those tools discussed earlier in this book, such as cloud-based platforms for sharing documents and video conferencing software to converse with colleagues and patients. This chapter focuses on working together in virtual spaces, both for the benefit of patients, and for your own personal and professional development. Using case studies and scenarios as illustrations, we discuss the benefits of digital collaborations to help you recognise the potential opportunities presented by working together in virtual spaces. The concept of e-professionalism within the context of your digital collaborations will also be explored towards the end of this chapter, some potential ‘digital dilemmas’ supporting you to navigate the potential challenges and issues that you might encounter while collaborating with others online

WOMEN REVOLUTIONISING MONEY?: INVESTIGATING MEANING-MAKING AND GENDER MESSAGING IN FEMALE-TO-FEMALE FINFLUENCING ON INSTAGRAM

Women were excluded from financial independence historically, causing a significant gender gap in financial literacy. Financial decision-making was based on households where women were deprived of contribution, as they were not allowed to act as the main account holder and were seen as dependents in the formal financial system. However, informal communities were formed, sharing intimate knowledge in alternative ways of personal finance. In the online Web 2.0 environments, social media platforms, namely Instagram, could serve as new forms of learning environments for financial literacy through informal peer-to-peer learning and therefore become a virtual extension of existing 'saving communities' in real life. The paper highlights the existence of a small but thriving personal finance community on Instagram and provides evidence of the volume of content related to personal finance, debt, and saving money on the platform. The emergence of female financial influencers created a sense of virtual togetherness where women felt safe to seek peer support and share personal stories. This paper proposes four-phase research using netnographic immersion journals (Kozinets, 2022), an online survey, and semi-structured interviews and will present the early findings from data collection beginning in March 2023. It proposes a networked perspective addressing technical, social, and cultural components (Selbst et al., 2019) in relation to the formation, expansion, and evolution of female financial influencing on Instagram. This study responds to the wider conference themes of revolutions by examining social barriers to seeking financial support at the intersection of feminist studies, the digital divide, and financial literacy

COVID Sex Lives: Race and Ethnicity in Focus

Race and ethnicity shaped the experiences of men who have sex withmen (MSM) in the United Kingdom during the pandemic. This Covid Sex Lives In Focus Report delves deeper into social aspects that emerged from our findings. Key points in this report include (1) Absences in survey responses (2) Covid-19 risk (3) Media discourses.The Covid Sex Lives project, funded by UKRI/AHRC, involved methods of surveys, discourse analysis, and media walkthroughs. It was conducted across 4 surveys from 2021-2022, with 1409 total participants