scholarly journals Online contraceptive discussion forums: a qualitative study to explore information provision

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjsrh-2020-200719
Author(s):  
Tom Courtenay ◽  
Paula Baraitser
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Effective Use

BackgroundWomen in the UK spend up to 30 years avoiding pregnancy, and effective use of contraception requires detailed information and support. Online forums offer opportunities to discuss contraception with few restrictions. Analysis of these discussions may generate learning on the information needs and preferences of their users. We analysed contraceptive discussions on forums to explore content, motivation for engaging, behaviours observed and outcomes reported.MethodsWe selected 50 threads across five English-speaking public forums, which contained more than 1000 contraceptive-specific threads. We generated a stratified sample of these threads (n=250) and then completed a qualitative thematic analysis.ResultsForum users seek urgent help, emotional support and the detailed accounts of others. The work of posting on forums is significant and includes framing the question to generate the desired response type, managing responses and assessing their value. Conversations were consistently framed in relation to healthcare and were important for preparing for, understanding and responding to consultations. Most of the technical information was accurate or corrected within the conversation. For most users this enquiry was part of a broader decision-making process and there was no evidence that users planned to make decisions based on forum discussions alone.ConclusionsOur analysis has implications for healthcare organisations that offer or signpost to online information on contraception. It suggests that improvements in the online ‘wrap around’ information are needed to help decide when to consult, prepare for the consultation, understand the information given and manage post-consultation questions.

Mapping online information needs of Sexually Transmitted Diseases’(STD) patients: A grounded theory investigation (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavankumar Mulgund ◽  
Raj Sharman ◽  
Sandeep Purao ◽  
Sagarika Suresh ◽  
Peter Winklestein
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
World Health ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Patient Journey ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
The World

BACKGROUND According to the World health organization (WHO), more than one million sexually transmitted infections are acquired each day across the world. The incidence rates of STDs in the US are at a record high for the fourth consecutive year. Due to the stigma associated with the incidence of STD, there is a general reluctance to seek information in person, and online information sources remain the primary avenues of information seeking. However, these sources are designed without a comprehensive understanding of the information needs of individuals who have contracted STDs. OBJECTIVE To discover the information needs of individuals who (suspect they) have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD). A better understanding of their information needs can drive the design of more effective online forums. METHODS This is a qualitative and analytical study of 549 transcripts (consisting of queries posted over the last ten years) from online forums of the American Sexual Health Association, which allows patients, volunteers, and healthcare providers to connect anonymously. The analysis follows a grounded theory (GT) approach with multiple coding stages to discover categories and themes. RESULTS Three categories of information needs emerge. The first two, Clinical and Logistical, are similar to other contexts. However, our analysis shows that there is a significant need for the last category - Psychosocial information. Approximately 59% of instances are linked to concerns such as confusion, discretion, remorse, and others. These needs vary across the stages of a patient journey (from symptom manifestation to treatment maintenance). CONCLUSIONS Responding to the needs of individuals who (suspect they) have contracted an STD requires compassionate and personalized responses (beyond factual clinical and logistical information). Online forums provide anonymity but do not adequately incorporate mechanisms, practices, or incentives to respond to diverse psychosocial concerns. Innovative approaches to add such support can make the online forums more effective for this group of individuals.

scholarly journals An evaluation of the information content of local authority websites in the UK using citizen-based scenarios

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (98) ◽  
pp. 45-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Olphert ◽  
Leela Damodaran
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Government Services ◽  
The Uk

The UK Government is pursuing ambitious targets for the delivery of e-government at the local level. As part of the implementation of local e-government, all of the 468 local authorities in the UK now have a website. Surveys show significant advances in the delivery of online local government services, but despite this the level of usage of e-government by citizens in the UK is low compared to other countries at a similar level of e-maturity. One reason hypothesised for this is that the websites do not meet citizens' information needs and consequently fail to engage them. A pilot study was undertaken to explore the use of real life scenario-based queries as a method for evaluating information provision on local authority websites. The findings suggest that even websites that perform highly in terms of accessibility, transactional capability and ease of use will not necessarily meet citizens' information needs. The authors conclude that a citizen-centred approach to developing e-government systems, including the identification of information needs, could generate the 'user pull' needed to stimulate uptake and achieve the intended benefits.

scholarly journals The Importance of Accessible Information in Promoting the Inclusion of People with an Intellectual Disability

Disabilities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-150
Author(s):  
Melody M. Terras ◽  
Dominic Jarrett ◽  
Sharon A. McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
Healthcare Decision Making ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Framework Approach ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Uk

People with an intellectual disability experience high levels of social exclusion and a range of health inequalities. Increased inclusion and participation in healthcare decision making have been identified as key to promoting inclusion in health and social care. However, achieving these objectives requires increased recognition of the communication and health literacy needs of individuals with an intellectual disability and consideration of the appropriateness of the information currently provided. In this article, we report the results of a pre-COVID-19 qualitative study exploring the provision and use of accessible information to support the healthcare inclusion of individuals with an intellectual disability. A total of 35 clinicians participated in focus group discussions, and 10 people with intellectual disabilities and 10 carers were interviewed regarding their experiences of using accessible health-related information. Qualitative data analysis using a framework approach highlighted the crucial role of communication partners when using accessible information, deficits in current National Health Service (NHS: UK’s publicly funded health care system) information provision in the UK, and possible broader relevance of accessible resources. The implications of these findings for the provision of accessible information in a post-COVID-19 environment are explored, and recommendations are made for the increased integration and theory-driven research to inform the provision, content, and use of health-related information, especially the provision of online information, in the future.

Uncertainty about cellulitis and unmet patient information needs: a mixed methods study

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X697349
Author(s):  
Anna Lalonde ◽  
Emma Teasdale ◽  
Ingrid Muller ◽  
Joanne Chalmers ◽  
Peter Smart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Patient Information Needs ◽  
History Of

BackgroundCellulitis is a common painful infection of the skin and underlying tissues that recurs in approximately a third of cases. Patients’ ability to recover from cellulitis or prevent recurrence is likely to be influenced by their understanding of the condition.AimTo explore patients’ perceptions of cellulitis and their information needs.MethodMixed methods study comprising semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and cross-sectional survey, recruiting through primary care, secondary care and advertising. Adults aged 18 or over with a history of cellulitis (first or recurrent) were invited to complete a survey, take part in an interview or both. Qualitative data was analysed thematically.ResultsThirty interviews were conducted between August 2016 and July 2017. Qualitative data revealed low prior awareness of cellulitis, uncertainty around diagnosis, concern/surprise at the severity of cellulitis, and perceived insufficient information provision. People were surprised they had never heard of the condition and that they had not received advice or leaflets giving self-care information. Some sought information from the internet and found this bewildering. Two hundred and forty surveys were completed (response rate 17%). These showed that, while most people received information on the treatment of cellulitis (60.0%, n = 144), they reported receiving no information about causes (60.8%, n = 146) or prevention of recurrence (73.3%, n = 176).ConclusionThere is a need for provision of basic information for people with cellulitis, particularly being informed of the name of their condition, how to manage acute episodes, and how to reduce risk of recurrence.

scholarly journals Combining Text Mining and Data Visualization Techniques to Understand Consumer Experiences of Electronic Cigarettes and Hookah in Online Forums

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie T. Chen ◽  
Shu-Hong Zhu ◽  
Mike Conway
Keyword(s):  
Text Mining ◽  
Data Visualization ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Textual Data ◽  
Consumer Experiences ◽  
Visualization Techniques

Our aim in this work is to apply text mining and novel visualization techniques to textual data derived from online health discussion forums in order to better understand consumers experiences and perceptions of electronic cigarettes and hookah.

Online information retrieval behaviour and economics of attention

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 779-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Utku Özmen
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
General Information ◽  
Survival Duration ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Information Providers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse users’ attitudes towards online information retrieval and processing. The aim is to identify the characteristics of information that better capture the attention of the users and to provide evidence for the information retrieval behaviour of the users by studying online photo archives as information units. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses a unique quasi-experimental data of photo archive access counts collected by the author from an online newspaper. In addition to access counts of each photo in 500 randomly chosen photo galleries, characteristics of the photo galleries are also recorded. Survival (duration) analysis is used in order to analyse the factors affecting the share of the photo gallery viewed by a certain proportion of the initial number of viewers. Findings – The results of the survival analysis indicate that users are impatient in case of longer photo galleries; they lose attention faster and stop viewing earlier when gallery length is uncertain; they are attracted by keywords and initial presentation and they give more credit to specific rather than general information categories. Practical implications – Results of the study offer applicable implications for information providers, especially on the online domain. In order to attract more attention, entities can engage in targeted information provision by taking into account people’s attitude towards information retrieval and processing as presented in this paper. Originality/value – This paper uses a unique data set in a quasi-experimental setting in order to identify the characteristics of online information that users are attracted to.

Contraceptive social marketing in Nepal: consumer and retailer knowledge, needs and experience

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashoke Shrestha ◽  
Thomas T. Kane ◽  
Hem Hamal
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Communication Education ◽  
Retail Sales ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Sales Company ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
Effective Use

SummaryIn 1986, a survey was conducted to assess knowledge, health concerns and experience with marketing (retailers) and use (consumers) of Gulaf and Nilocon pills and Kamal vaginal tablets distributed by the Nepal Contraceptive Retail Sales Company (CRS). A sample of 763 consumers of Gulaf, Nilocon and Indian pills and Kamal vaginal tablets, and 361 retailers from a stratified sample of urban medical shops were interviewed. The CRS marketing programme is reaching people who have previously never used family planning; most of the users were practising contraception to limit, not space, births; a high proportion of pill users over 35 smoked; only about a third of CRS pill users had prescriptions or consulted a physician prior to use; CRS training of retailers was found to have increased their knowledge. Recommendations are made for improving communication, education and marketing of CRS contraceptives to ensure their safe and effective use and increase the acceptability of this mode of service delivery.

What Do Parents Regret About Having Children? Communicating Regrets Online

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Moore ◽  
Jenna S. Abetz
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
External World ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Common Category ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Fundamental Categories ◽  
Emotional Norms

Drawing on user-generated threads from Reddit as a data source, symbolic interactionism and qualitative thematic analysis were used to investigate how, specifically, parents communicate regret in relation to having children. Two fundamental categories of regret were identified. In the more common category of regretting certain circumstances associated with having children, parents emphasized that they did not regret their children but regretted one or more conditions of having children, including (a) timing, (b) number, (c) sacrifice, (d) partner, and (e) the external world. The less common category of regretting having children stemmed from (a) difficult children, (b) self as bad parent, (c) parenthood disdain, and (d) childfree desire. These parents articulated that if they could go back in time, they would not have had children. Conversations in online forums like Reddit legitimize regret as a unique emotion of parenthood, which defy the social and emotional norms of motherhood and fatherhood roles.

scholarly journals Addressing Stakeholder Concerns Regarding the Effective Use of Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastics

Resources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Carly A. Fletcher ◽  
Karolina Niemenoja ◽  
Rhiannon Hunt ◽  
Jill Adams ◽  
Alan Dempsey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Market Penetration ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Academic Communities ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Effective Use

Bio-based and biodegradable materials have the potential to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics across a range of products and contribute to a more circular economy. However, the uptake of these materials will not succeed unless consumers, manufacturers, and regulators are convinced of their efficacy. Investigating performance and safety concerns put forward by academic and non-academic communities, this paper assesses whether these concerns are being adequately addressed by current policy and regulation. In addition, measures to overcome significant concerns are developed through a series of stakeholder engagement events, informed by the Prospex-CQI-and STIR methodology. Discussions across the stakeholder engagement events have highlighted several concerns that create barriers to market up-take of bio-based and biodegradable plastic products, including the continued confusion regarding terminology and resultant communication, difficulties in navigating the plethora of documents related to safety, the appropriateness of safety documents when applied to new products, and the overall suitability and sustainability of such materials as an alternative to traditional plastics. To overcome these concerns, a series of recommendations for research, policy, and practice are made with respect to the following key areas of concern: regulation and legislative instruments, material quality and performance, market penetration and availability, waste management infrastructure, sourcing and supply chain, communication and information provision, and material health and safety.

scholarly journals Communicative progress in system theory: a theoretical problem becomes empirical observable in new media communication

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (49) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maren Luebcke
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
New Media ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Problem ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Group Success

During the last years, an increasing interest in online forums has been observed within different functional areas of society such as in the economic system or in politics. Here one is able to detect communicative processes which are lively, vibrant, and equipped with remarkable durability, on the one hand; yet, on the other hand, flame wars and shut-downs also occur. The question is what explains these differences in group success? This article provides a framework based on elements of Luhmanns's system theory to analyse online discussion groups. A research matrix is presented with four levels of observation and four levels of analysis. The value of this matrix is demonstrated with a systematic literature review. Here the most frequently cited articles analyzing online discussion forums are empirically reinterpreted. It is concluded that current research fails to (1) analyze online discourse under multiple aspects, (2) challenge temporal analysis, (3) integrate a thread-based analysis, and (4) focus on the relational aspects (e.g., actor or topic networks). Based on this literature review, a catalog of presumptions on how communication proceeds in online forums is presented.

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