Social Media, Text Messaging, and Email—Preferences of Asthma Patients between 12 and 40 Years Old
- 24 August 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Asthma
- Vol. 48 (8), 824-830
- https://doi.org/10.3109/02770903.2011.608460
Abstract
Electronic media such as social media (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace), email, and text messaging could be useful in the management of asthma. However, patient use and preferences for electronic media in asthma management is currently unknown. A survey was sent to asthma patients between 12-40 years of age. The survey collected demographic information, use of electronic media, interest in using electronic media to receive asthma information, and interest in using electronic media to communicate with a health care provider about asthma. Free text entries were encouraged. 145 completed surveys were returned. Text messaging, email, and Facebook were used at least weekly by a majority of respondents (82%, 77%, and 65%, respectively). Email was clearly the most preferred method to receive asthma information and to communicate with a physician. There was some interest in using Facebook or text messaging, whereas Myspace and Twitter had minimal interest. On logistic regression analysis, female and Black or Hispanic participants were more likely to have an interest in the use of electronic media for asthma care. Frequent users (>1X/week) of each electronic media type had greater enthusiasm for their incorporation into asthma care. Free text entries revealed that many participants felt social media sites were for connecting with friends rather than for health care, and privacy concerns were also raised. Electronic media offers a novel way to improve asthma care. Email was the most preferred method, though text messaging and social media sites like Facebook may be appropriate for certain patients.Keywords
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Online Social Networking by Patients with Diabetes: A Qualitative Evaluation of Communication with FacebookJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2010
- Use of a Web-based Questionnaire in the Black Women's Health StudyAmerican Journal of Epidemiology, 2010
- Dissemination of health information through social networks: Twitter and antibioticsAmerican Journal of Infection Control, 2010
- Social Media Use in the United States: Implications for Health CommunicationJournal of Medical Internet Research, 2009
- The Delivery of Public Health Interventions via the Internet: Actualizing Their PotentialAnnual Review of Public Health, 2009
- Using the Internet for Health-Related Activities: Findings From a National Probability SampleJournal of Medical Internet Research, 2009
- Use of Text Messaging for Monitoring Sugar-sweetened Beverages, Physical Activity, and Screen Time in Children: A Pilot StudyJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2008
- Patients' use of the Internet for health related matters: a study of Internet usage in 2000 and 2006Health Informatics Journal, 2008
- Use of the Internet to Communicate with Health Care Providers in the United States: Estimates from the 2003 and 2005 Health Information National Trends Surveys (HINTS)Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2007
- A Web-based, Tailored Asthma Management Program for Urban African-American High School StudentsAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2007