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Facebook Groups on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Social Media Content Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Avery Apperson

    (Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA)

  • Michael Stellefson

    (Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA)

  • Samantha R. Paige

    (STEM Translational Communication Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 679205, USA)

  • Beth H. Chaney

    (Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA)

  • J. Don Chaney

    (Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA)

  • Min Qi Wang

    (Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA)

  • Arjun Mohan

    (Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858, USA)

Abstract

Facebook Groups facilitate information exchange and engagement for patients with chronic conditions, including those living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); however, little is known about how knowledge is diffused throughout these communities. This study aimed to evaluate the content that is available on COPD-related Facebook Groups, as well as the communication (self-disclosures, social support) and engagement (agreement, emotional reaction) strategies used by members to facilitate these resources. Two researchers independently searched the “Groups” category using the terms “COPD”, “emphysema”, and “chronic bronchitis”. Twenty-six closed ( n = 23) and public ( n = 3) COPD Facebook Groups were identified with 87,082 total members. The vast majority of Group members belonged to closed ( n = 84,684; 97.25%) as compared to open ( n = 2398; 2.75%) groups. Medications were the most commonly addressed self-management topic ( n = 48; 26.7%). While overall engagement with wall posts was low, the number of “likes” (an indicator of agreement) was significantly greater for wall posts that demonstrated social support as compared to posts that did not ( p < 0.001). Findings from this study showed that COPD Facebook group members share specific disease-related experiences and request information about select self-management topics. This information can be used to improve the quality of self-management support provided to members of popular COPD Facebook groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Avery Apperson & Michael Stellefson & Samantha R. Paige & Beth H. Chaney & J. Don Chaney & Min Qi Wang & Arjun Mohan, 2019. "Facebook Groups on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Social Media Content Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3789-:d:274408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dongxiao Gu & Jingjing Guo & Changyong Liang & Wenxing Lu & Shuping Zhao & Bing Liu & Tianyue Long, 2019. "Social Media-Based Health Management Systems and Sustained Health Engagement: TPB Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lathan, Hannah Stuart & Kwan, Amy & Takats, Courtney & Tanner, Joshua P. & Wormer, Rachel & Romero, Diana & Jones, Heidi E., 2023. "Ethical considerations and methodological uses of Facebook data in public health research: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    2. Michael Stellefson & Samantha R. Paige & Beth H. Chaney & J. Don Chaney, 2020. "Social Media and Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-5, May.
    3. Juan Gabriel Martínez-Navalón & Vera Gelashvili & José Ramón Saura, 2020. "The Impact of Environmental Social Media Publications on User Satisfaction with and Trust in Tourism Businesses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Samantha R. Paige & Rachel E. Damiani & Elizabeth Flood-Grady & Janice L. Krieger & Michael Stellefson, 2019. "The Perceived Availability of Online Social Support: Exploring the Contributions of Illness and Rural Identities in Adults with Chronic Respiratory Illness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, December.

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