QOLP-26. ANALYSIS OF REDDIT USERS' PERSPECTIVES OF BRAIN TUMORS

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi188-vi188
Author(s):  
Sanidhya Tripathi ◽  
Arpan Prabhu ◽  
Kevin Thomas ◽  
Pearman Parker ◽  
Analiz Rodriguez

Abstract BACKGROUND Reddit, ranking 6th in worldwide Internet site traffic, is a commonly used forum among patients and caregivers affected by brain tumors to discuss diagnoses, treatment, and self-care management. The use of the online forum may suggest patients and caregivers have unmet needs and are seeking further support outside of the clinical setting. We aimed to examine trends from Reddit discussion treads on brain tumors to identify areas of need in patient care. METHODS We used a qualitative, descriptive design to understand patient and caregivers unmet and met needs. We analyzed the top 100 posts and accompanying 271 comments from the ‘braincancer’ subreddit to identify common themes. RESULTS The qualitative content analysis revealed three major topic areas: (1) moving through the grief process; (2) processing diagnostic pathway; and (3) expressing gratitude toward other Reddit users. Most of the authors of the posts were patients with brain tumors (n = 32; 38.5%) who used Reddit as a reflective journaling tool to move through the grief process for themselves or loved ones. About 47% of theses posts discussed the diagnostic process of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors, where users requested an inclusive/welcoming environment in the clinic by their healthcare professionals (HPs). Users also solicited and gave support for other members in the online community. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the need of implementing social media as a part of HPs’ repertoire for patient outreach/needs. Furthermore, social media outlets like Reddit can help HPs understand the level of support they can give to their patients. Plans of action for physicians seeking to meet the needs of brain tumor patients include monitoring the concerns of patients, becoming verified on the platform/openly identifying themselves online, or conducting ‘Ask Me Anything’ discussions to educate patients.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanidhya D. Tripathi ◽  
Pearman D. Parker ◽  
Arpan V. Prabhu ◽  
Kevin O. Thomas ◽  
Analiz Rodriguez

BACKGROUND Many brain tumor patients commonly utilize online resources such as Reddit as avenues for self-management and support outside of the clinical setting. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine trends from Reddit discussion treads on brain tumors to identify areas of need in patient care. METHODS We used a qualitative, descriptive design to understand patient and caregivers unmet and met needs. We analyzed the top 100 posts from the ‘braincancer’ subreddit to identify common themes. RESULTS The qualitative content analysis revealed three major topic areas: (1) harnessing hope; (2) moving through the grief process; and (3) expressing gratitude toward other Reddit users. Most of the authors of the posts were patients with brain tumors (n = 32; 36.4%) who used Reddit as a reflective journaling tool to process associated emotions of a challenging diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the potential of Reddit to serve as unique group therapy platform for patients affected by brain tumors. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of recommending Reddit as a therapeutic virtual community. Our results highlight the support provided by the Reddit community members as a unique mechanism to assist cancer survivors and caregivers with the emotional processing of living with brain tumors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Wenday Dwi Novi Kurniawati

The existence of online community in the field of tourism through social media constructs the new form of developing and operating tourism sector. Social media is used for means of spreading information, communication and promotion. Promoting tourism potential can be carried out easily by these online community. one example of online community in the field of tourism is wisata grobogan community. the objective of this research is to describe the use of instagram done by wisata grobogan community in promoting potential of areas tourism.This research applies qualitative descriptive method. The object of the research is the account of @wisatagrobogan whis is used to promote the potential of areas tourism. Data is collected using semi-structured interview technique.Data analysis method used in this research uses triangulation. The results showed that in the promotion of the tourism potential of the area may go well and smoothly through the four stages, namely the presence of communicators, messaging, media and communicant. And the use of social media Instagram provides many benefits and advantages for Grobogan travel community in promoting the tourism potential of the area. Some of these benefits, among others, can easily disseminate travel information, and can attract the attention of other users more widely supported also by the use of features that are owned Instagram.


2021 ◽  
pp. 103985622098180
Author(s):  
Alyssa Chan

Objective: To explore the themes related to self and illness representations in a public online community. Method: This project utilised an inductive process of data analysis with a phenomenological approach. Two hundred images from the social media image-sharing platform Instagram were described, coded and organised into themes. Results: Five themes were identified: the fragmented and obscured self; trepidation and disappointment about the threatening and persecutory world; an existence built of illness and symptoms; finding comfort in the natural and built environment; and sharing hope and positive experiences of growth. Conclusions: #bpd encompassed a variety of content types, with a wide spectrum of emotional tones expressed through photographs, written communication and artwork.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 1297-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise D Correa ◽  
Jaya Satagopan ◽  
Axel Martin ◽  
Erica Braun ◽  
Maria Kryza-Lacombe ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPatients with brain tumors treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) often experience cognitive dysfunction. We reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE, COMT, and BDNF genes may influence cognition in brain tumor patients. In this study, we assessed whether genes associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), inflammation, cholesterol transport, dopamine and myelin regulation, and DNA repair may influence cognitive outcome in this population.MethodsOne hundred and fifty brain tumor patients treated with RT ± CT or CT alone completed a neurocognitive assessment and provided a blood sample for genotyping. We genotyped genes/SNPs in these pathways: (i) LOAD risk/inflammation/cholesterol transport, (ii) dopamine regulation, (iii) myelin regulation, (iv) DNA repair, (v) blood–brain barrier disruption, (vi) cell cycle regulation, and (vii) response to oxidative stress. White matter (WM) abnormalities were rated on brain MRIs.ResultsMultivariable linear regression analysis with Bayesian shrinkage estimation of SNP effects, adjusting for relevant demographic, disease, and treatment variables, indicated strong associations (posterior association summary [PAS] ≥ 0.95) among tests of attention, executive functions, and memory and 33 SNPs in genes involved in: LOAD/inflammation/cholesterol transport (eg, PDE7A, IL-6), dopamine regulation (eg, DRD1, COMT), myelin repair (eg, TCF4), DNA repair (eg, RAD51), cell cycle regulation (eg, SESN1), and response to oxidative stress (eg, GSTP1). The SNPs were not significantly associated with WM abnormalities.ConclusionThis novel study suggests that polymorphisms in genes involved in aging and inflammation, dopamine, myelin and cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair and response to oxidative stress may be associated with cognitive outcome in patients with brain tumors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630512110088
Author(s):  
Ioana Literat ◽  
Neta Kligler-Vilenchik

Adopting a comparative cross-platform approach, we examine youth political expression and conversation on social media, as prompted by popular culture. Tracking a common case study—the practice of building Donald Trump’s border wall within the videogame Fortnite—across three social media platforms popular with youth (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram), we ask: How do popular culture artifacts prompt youth political expression, as well as cross-cutting political talk with those holding different political views, across social media platforms? A mixed methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative content analysis of around 6,400 comments posted on relevant artifacts, illuminates youth popular culture as a shared symbolic resource that stimulates communication within and across political differences—although, as our findings show, it is often deployed in a disparaging manner. This cross-platform analysis, grounded in contemporary youth culture and sociopolitical dynamics, enables a deeper understanding of the interplay between popular culture, cross-cutting political talk, and the role that different social media platforms play in shaping these expressive practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205520762199687
Author(s):  
Louisa Walsh ◽  
Nerida Hyett ◽  
Nicole Juniper ◽  
Chi Li ◽  
Sophie Rodier ◽  
...  

Background Health-related social media use is common but few health organisations have embraced its potential for engaging stakeholders in service design and quality improvement (QI). Social media may provide new ways to engage more diverse stakeholders and conduct health design and QI activities. Objective To map how social media is used by health services, providers and consumers to contribute to service design or QI activities. Methods The scoping review was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. An advisory committee of stakeholders provided guidance throughout the review. Inclusion criteria were studies of any health service stakeholders, in any health setting, where social media was used as a tool for communications which influenced or advocated for changes to health service design or delivery. A descriptive numerical summary of the communication models, user populations and QI activities was created from the included studies, and the findings were further synthesised using deductive qualitative content analysis. Results 40 studies were included. User populations included organisations, clinical and non-clinical providers, young people, people with chronic illness/disability and First Nations people. Twitter was the most common platform for design and QI activities. Most activities were conducted using two-way communication models. A typology of social media use is presented, identifying nine major models of use. Conclusion This review identifies the ways in which social media is being used as a tool to engage stakeholders in health service design and QI, with different models of use appropriate for different activities, user populations and stages of the QI cycle.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630512110197
Author(s):  
Chesca Ka Po Wong ◽  
Runping Zhu ◽  
Richard Krever ◽  
Alfred Siu Choi

While the impact of fake news on viewers, particularly marginalized media users, has been a cause of growing concern, there has been little attention paid to the phenomenon of deliberately “manipulated” news published on social media by mainstream news publishers. Using qualitative content analysis and quantitative survey research, this study showed that consciously biased animated news videos released in the midst of the Umbrella Movement protests in Hong Kong impacted on both the attitudes of students and their participation in the protests. The findings raise concerns over potential use of the format by media owners to promote their preferred ideologies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley D. Curtin ◽  
Christina C. Loitz ◽  
Nancy Spencer-Cavaliere ◽  
Ernest Nene Khalema

Immigrants to Canada are less likely to be physically active compared with non-immigrants, and the interrelations between personal and environmental factors that influence physical activity for immigrants are largely unexplored. The goal of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how the experience of being new to Canada impacts opportunities and participation in physical activity. Two focus group interviews with immigrants to Canada were conducted. The first group ( n=7) included multicultural health brokers. The second group ( n=14) included English as a second language students. Qualitative content analysis was used to determine three themes consistent with the research question: transition to Canadian life, commitments and priorities, and accessibility. Discussion was framed using a social ecological model. Implications for practice and policy are suggested including enhanced community engagement, and organizational modifications. Overall, the development and implementation of physical activity policies and practices for newcomers to Canada should be centered on newcomers’ perspectives and experiences.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Androniki Kavoura ◽  
Aikaterini Stavrianeas

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine visitors’ perceptions and relevant importance of social media when choosing a Mediterranean destination and also to explore the extent in which they believe it is important for them to belong to an online community with shared characteristics among its members. Design/methodology/approach – A stratified, based on nationality and gender, sample of 301 respondents of foreign arrivals of visitors in the Athens airport, Greece was collected in June and July 2014 based on the official Athens Airport Authorities Arrival Research. This is a partially exploratory research. Findings – Differences between age groups as far as the importance attributed to social media as sources of information about a tourism destination were found. The respondents, when using the internet for gathering information about a tourism Mediterranean destination, consider different online channels. Facebook is among the most important sources of information for them associated with the tourism destinations. Official web sites/blogs of the destination are the first source and photo sharing sites are the second most preferred source; sharing aesthetics of photos was found to contribute to the feeling of belonging to an on line travel community. Research limitations/implications – Further research will contribute to the development of greater understanding of the strategic approaches to social media and their use to promote a destination. Greek diaspora would be interesting to examine and geographical differences among groups. Practical implications – The paper denotes the importance for destination management organizations and companies, to fully employ the social media in their marketing efforts. Originality/value – The present study increases our understanding of the adoption of online and traditional communications in the visitor’s process for Athens, Greece, shedding light to the literature existing on the significance attributed to the online travel community belonging from visitors through sharing aesthetics of photos and associations of ideas based on age differences.


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