Antecedents of Citizen Self-Disclosure on Social Media Health Platforms: Towards an Improved Understanding (1)

Social media platform usage and online community participation has increased to a near ubiquitous level, (Pew Research Centre, 2016). However, to date, much attention has focused on the factors that influence individual’s trust and adoption of social media networks and online communities in general. In contrast, research on the factors that influence trust and self-disclosure on social media health platforms and associated online health communities remains remarkably limited. This is particularly surprising as adoption and usage of these health platforms remains comparatively constrained, thereby limiting potential social and health benefits to consumers, whilst also being an issue of concern to those who develop and design these platforms. This paper examines the extant literature on the factors that influence usage and participation in social media platforms and online communities and which are therefore likely to be relevant to examinations of self-disclosure in an online health context. In doing so, it contributes to technology adoption research in the area of user trust and self-disclosure on social media health platforms and online health communities

A mixed methods examination of the antecedents of user self-disclosure on digital health platforms

Digital health platforms (DHPs) present the opportunity for individuals to manage their personal health more effectively through seeking and obtaining health advice. However, little is known about the factors that influence self-disclosure on these platforms and are therefore critical for their success. This research proposes that self-disclosure on a DHP is influenced by trust in health platforms (THP) and health information privacy concerns (HIPC) across different cultures and personalities. Using data from Ireland and the United States, it develops a framework that harnesses social exchange theory (SET) and social penetration theory (SPT) as a lens to understand self-disclosure on DHPs. It examines the factors that generate THP and HIPC. It then determines the influence of THP and HIPC on self-disclosure. Finally, the model offers a unique look at the role of personality traits and the influence they have on likelihood to self-disclose. A two-stage mixed-methods data collection approach was employed to explore these propositions. Quantitative surveys were used to collect data from 300 participants in Ireland and America. 20 qualitative research interviews were then conducted with Irish and American participants. The quantitative and qualitative findings were then integrated and evaluated in the context of the hypothesised relationships. The integrated findings show THP is the critical pathway to self-disclosure. THP is shaped by social influence, perceived reciprocity and privacy risk beliefs. HIPC is shown to reduce THP. Personality traits also influence self-disclosure. This study extends SET and SPT to a digital health platform context. The findings provide actionable insights, which can assist policy makers who wish to protect citizen health data and health technology vendors who seek to develop trustworthy platforms

TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CITIZEN TRUST IN SOCIAL MEDIA HEALTH PLATFORMS (12)

Internet penetration rates continue to grow, in the United States for example, it stands at 87% of the population (WorldBank, 2016). In addition, the variety of purposes for which citizens use the Internet is increasing. This is particularly evident in the area of health, where a growing number of Internet users utilise the Internet as a source of health information. The growth in citizens seeking health information online has coincided with the emergence of social media health platforms and applications. While such initiatives have potential to empower health consumers through increased diffusion of targeted health information, the success of these platforms is dependent on their acceptance and adoption. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding as to what factors can generate trust in such platforms. This is despite the fact that trust is an essential component of traditional healthcare delivery and results in increased engagement and participation in health forums

The Role of Total Cost of Ownership Tools in AAL Technology Assessment

Ambient Assisted Living technologies offer a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life of persons with mild cognitive impairments while also reducing economic pressures currently experienced by European health systems. Unless an appropriate route to market is found for AAL technologies these benefits will not be realised. This paper highlights the role of Total Cost of Ownership when conducting a technology assessment by reviewing existent literature. In particular, this paper recommends that Total Cost of Ownership tools be developed in conjunction with industry collaboration and that these tools be incorporated as a key award criterion during the assessment and procurement process. This work is licensed under a&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</p

Health Technology Assessment: The Role of Total Cost of Ownership

Background: Recently the European Union, through its Horizon 2020 fund has awarded numerous research projects tasked with the development of cloud-based health technology solutions. A number of these projects have a specific focus on ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies; solutions that offer a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life of persons with mild cognitive impairments. The diffusion of these solutions across a European wide cloud infrastructure presents a novel opportunity to reduce economic pressures currently experienced by European health systems. However, no route to market framework currently exists for a European wide healthcare delivery system. Objectives: The goal of the paper is to conduct the review and develop the literature around technology assessment for AAL technologies and route to market frameworks. Methods/Approach: We highlight the role of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) when conducting a technology assessment by reviewing existent literature. Results: We discuss three TCO models that can support the assessment of AAL technologies. Conclusions: There is a gap in the analysis of TCO models in the context of AAL technologies particularly in public and private sector collaborations. TCO process should be developed into a key award criterion when conducting AAL technology assessment and procurements, thus aiding long term strategic decision making

Health Technology Assessment: The Role of Total Cost of Ownership

Background: Recently the European Union, through its Horizon 2020 fund has awarded numerous research projects tasked with the development of cloud-based health technology solutions. A number of these projects have a specific focus on ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies; solutions that offer a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life of persons with mild cognitive impairments. The diffusion of these solutions across a European wide cloud infrastructure presents a novel opportunity to reduce economic pressures currently experienced by European health systems. However, no route to market framework currently exists for a European wide healthcare delivery system. Objectives: The goal of the paper is to conduct the review and develop the literature around technology assessment for AAL technologies and route to market frameworks. Methods/Approach: We highlight the role of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) when conducting a technology assessment by reviewing existent literature. Results: We discuss three TCO models that can support the assessment of AAL technologies. Conclusions: There is a gap in the analysis of TCO models in the context of AAL technologies particularly in public and private sector collaborations. TCO process should be developed into a key award criterion when conducting AAL technology assessment and procurements, thus aiding long term strategic decision making

Towards an understanding of the determinants of a social entrepreneur and social enterprises

While an increased focus on social entrepreneurs, social enterprises and the wider social economy has seen a parallel increase in academic literature on the topic, as of yet, there is not a single widely accepted definition of what constitutes a social enterprise and how it relates to the concept of the social economy (Forfás, 2013; Hulgard, 2010; Communities Scotland, 2006; Communities Scotland, 2007). Existing academic literature has examined how social entrepreneurs and those working in social enterprises use shared meanings and a sense of shared identity to make sense of social enterprise and the social economy (Phillips, Lee, Ghobadian, O’Regan, & James, 2014; Seanor & Meaton, 2007) but the literature has yet to progress to a single definition (Forfás, 2013; Borzaga & Tortia, 2007). The research question posed is: “What influences the respondents’ understanding of what a social entrepreneur is?” The objective of this research is to understand how certain different but interrelated variables such as background, motivation, employment status and sector, political beliefs, social support and educational interventions can lead to an explanation of changes in respondents’ attitudes towards the potential role of social enterprises and the social economy and to an understanding of the defining characteristics of these attitudes in the university environment. This research topic is important to investigate because many social entrepreneurs fail to understand the constructs of a social enterprise at the start of their venture, resulting in a lack of strategic clarity which is especially problematic among interactions with key stakeholders (Rykaszewski, Ma, & Shen, 2014). The research strategy being employed for this project is a multi-phased approach. The objective is to utilise a quantitative approach, with the respondent group being the participants of a level 9 Graduate Certificate in Innovation in Social Enterprise. The participants will complete a questionnaire on their understanding of social enterprise at the start of the programme (early in 2015). Further questionnaires will be completed by the respondents during the programme, which completes its main delivery in early June 2015. In terms of findings of this research, the authors hope to gain further understanding of what helps determine the respondents’ understanding of social enterprise and social entrepreneurs