Exploring The Role Of Social Media In Health Promotion

The use of social media in public health education/promotion has been increasing due, in part, to its ability to remove physical access and geographical barriers for users. Specifically, social media provides an outlet to increase and promote translational health communication strategies and the effective dissemination of health information and data in ways that allow users to not only utilize, but also to create and share pertinent health information. Although social media applications in public health and health promotion have yielded success in terms of generating support structures and networks for effective health behavior change, there are challenges and complications associated with use of social media that also need to be addressed (e.g., managing misinformation, ensuring compliance with privacy protection regulations). This Special Issue aims to explore social media as a translational health promotion tool by bridging principles of health education and health communication. Broadly, this Special Issue is seeking original submissions that examine: (1) the method with which social media users access, negotiate, and create health information that is both actionable and impactful for diverse audiences; (2) strategies for overcoming challenges to using social media in health promotion; and (3) best practices for designing, implementing, and/or evaluating social media campaigns and forums in public health. Special interest will be given to innovative submissions that expand and build upon traditional health education approaches with health communication theories and models. Other manuscript types of interest include relevant position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

The use of social media in public health education/promotion has been increasing due, in part, to its ability to remove physical access and geographical barriers for users. Specifically, social media provides an outlet to increase and promote translational health communication strategies and the effective dissemination of health information and data in ways that allow users to not only utilize, but also to create and share pertinent health information. Although social media applications in public health and health promotion have yielded success in terms of generating support structures and networks for effective health behavior change, there are challenges and complications associated with use of social media that also need to be addressed (e.g., managing misinformation, ensuring compliance with privacy protection regulations). This Special Issue aims to explore social media as a translational health promotion tool by bridging principles of health education and health communication. Broadly, this Special Issue is seeking original submissions that examine: (1) the method with which social media users access, negotiate, and create health information that is both actionable and impactful for diverse audiences; (2) strategies for overcoming challenges to using social media in health promotion; and (3) best practices for designing, implementing, and/or evaluating social media campaigns and forums in public health. Special interest will be given to innovative submissions that expand and build upon traditional health education approaches with health communication theories and models. Other manuscript types of interest include relevant position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

Participatory Health through Social Media explores how traditional models of healthcare can be delivered differently through social media and online games, and how these technologies are changing the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals, as well as their impact on health behavior change. The book also examines how the hospitals, public health authorities, and inspectorates are currently using social media to facilitate both information distribution and collection. Also looks into the opportunities and risks to record and analyze epidemiologically relevant data retrieved from the Internet, social media, sensor data, and other digital sources. The book encompasses topics such as patient empowerment, gamification and social games, and the relationships between social media, health behavior change, and health communication crisis during epidemics. Additionally, the book analyzes the possibilities of big data generated through social media. Authored by IMIA Social Media working group, this book is a valuable resource for healthcare researchers and professionals, as well as clinicians interested in using new media as part of their practice or research. Presents a multidisciplinary point of view providing the readers with a broader perspective Brings the latest case studies and technological advances in the area, supported by an active international community of members who actively work in this area Endorsed by IMIA Social Media workgroup, guaranteeing trustable information from the most relevant experts on the subject Examines how the hospitals, public health authorities, and inspectorates are currently using social media to facilitate both information distribution and collection

The Social Significance of Health Promotion sets health promotion in its historical context and delineates its contemporary role. It explores the potential of health promotion to impact on our social values and sense of community. The book begins by exploring the historical roots of health promotion and its relationship to the medical model of health. It moves on to present analyses of contemporary health promotion programmes in which the contributors are actively engaged. These chapters discuss current questions for health promotion from a practitioner perspective and from the point of view of their social impact. They cover a wide range of topical issues such as exclusion and inclusion, the mental health of children, the role of alternative medicine, and health in the workplace. Emphasising the centrality of empowerment, participation and advocacy to an effective health promotion programme, The Social Significance of Health Promotion brings students and health professionals right up to date with the latest initiatives and theories.

This unique text is a practical guide to managing and developing Healthcare Knowledge Management (KM) that is underpinned by theory and research. It provides readers with an understanding of approaches to the critical nature and use of knowledge by investigating healthcare-based KM systems. Designed to demystify the KM process and demonstrate its applicability, this text offers contemporary and clinically-relevant lessons for future organizational implementations.

This book looks at the pressing issue of the contribution of information systems (IS) to the healthcare field. It examines the potential of IS to change management processes in complex organizations, before addressing more specific concerns relating to the healthcare domain. It then looks at the increasing demand for accountability and the struggle of management accounting systems in pursuing cost effectiveness and quality, in turn signalling how and why IS have the potential and power to re-shape the healthcare context. In so doing, the book offers a fresh and wholly encompassing look at the future of healthcare in the digital area, providing a base for reflection to practitioners and policymakers.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

Author's abstract: Background: The health system in the United States is rapidly advancing, including newer technologies, newer ways of delivering essential public health services and population health. Approximately 70% of the public uses social media as a communication tool, which makes it an ideal platform for dissemination of information. Local health departments (LHDs) are accountable for assuring ten essential public health services, including informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues. Previous research showed less than 70% of LHDs are adequately performing this essential service. The purpose of this study was to examine what factors impact the use of social media by LHDs to communicate with the public. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional study design, using data from the 2016 NACCHO profile of local health departments. The data assessed for this study was derived from a set of questions in a module containing the questions of interest for this study related to social media utilization. Results: Results varied across platforms but showed significant associations between social media use and: youngest executives, larger populations, higher expenditures, locally governed LHDs, greater informatics use, greater communication channel use, LHDs employing Public Information Professionals, change in annual budget, PHAB accreditation status, top executive degree, top executive length of service, and top executive race. Conclusion: LHDs can utilize these results as a starting point for training and education for employees and leaders. As more people utilize social media platforms for communicating, understanding the LHD characteristics that influence social media use can be vital for designing an effective system to reach audiences in the community for public health education. The strategic addition of new policies and procedures related to social media use at the executive level are needed in order to ensure public health essential service #3 is being sufficiently reached.

Effective use of Social Media in Public Health offers a well-organized and comprehensive review of social media and its impact on people’s lives and the public health sector. Divided into sections, the book addresses the growing use (and importance) of social media in conducting and disseminating research findings and covers an array of issues from cyberbullying to diversity and inclusion. Written by health educators and practitioners for health educators and practitioners, this book is a timely resource on the topics discussed. Provides complete and comprehensive landscape of social media-based applications and their uses among diverse population groups Covers current uses and applications of social media, including coverage of issues such as cyberbullying, infodemiology, and program diversity and inclusion Includes content from authors from public health and interdisciplinary areas who deliver a holistic view of the subject matter

“b>"This book should become a key textbook of choice for a wide range of health care professionals and students. It encourages autonomous learning and helps develop critical analytical skills ... Each chapter follows a logical progression using key objectives which relate to a range of activities and up to date evidenced based sources of information. The range of depth and breadth of material is contemporary and as such should meet the academic, managerial and clinical background of the reader." Helen Matthews, Senior Lecturer in Health and Community Care, University of West London, UK "This text represents a useful, well-pitched contribution .... The book is densely packed but skilfully written to feel comfortable for the reader; challenging in places but never to the extent to discourage engagement." Jane Thomas, Acting Head of College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK Do you have difficulties deciding which health promotion activities facilitate behavioural change? This accessible book focuses on the practical activity of health promotion and shows students and practitioners how to actually apply health promotion in practice. The book uses case scenarios to explore how health promotion activities can empower individuals to make decisions that change their health related behaviour. This book explores the role of health promotion and explores a number of practical approaches, such as developing client's self-awareness and skills, working with groups and communities and social marketing and the mass media. The book includes: Learning outcomes, think points and implications for practice, giving readers guidance on engaging with health promotion Multi-setting case studies including schools, prisons and the local community Activities to develop self-awareness, self-esteem, assertiveness, empowerment, communication and life skills A Guide to Practical Health Promotion is suitable for allied health professionals, nurses and students involved in health promotion practice and will help you to build confidence in your health promotion skills.