Social Media Use for Crisis and Emergency Risk Communications During the Zika Health Crisis

Abstract Purpose The study aims to explore the attitudes of Swiss healthcare professionals towards the use of social media in adolescent and young adult oncology and to examine whether the ongoing social restrictions due COVID-19 might have altered these attitudes. Methods This study was cross-sectional in design. The subjects were healthcare providers working in pediatric or adult oncology settings in Switzerland. We performed descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results While considered useful, only a small minority of participants actually used social media for professional reasons and considered themselves skillful in using these platforms. Although institutional guidelines were deemed crucial to improve social media use, many respondents seemed unaware of their existence. Only a minority reported an impact of Covid-19 on their attitudes towards the professional implementation of social media. Conclusion The global health crisis creates important challenges for young patients with cancer and their healthcare providers. In times of social restrictions, social media may be promising tools to facilitate health information provision, connectivity and patient care. Virtual mentorship and target social media training interventions might be the best way to improve familiarity with social media and with ethical guidelines for their use.

Download Full-text

Social Media for Crisis Communication in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Study of NCDC

Journal of Media Research ◽

10.24193/jmr.40.3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2 (40)) ◽

pp. 45-69

Author(s):

Beryl EHONDOR ◽

Christiana UNAKALAMBA

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Crisis Communication ◽

Media Use ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Study Data ◽

Communication Policy ◽

Crisis Communications ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Health Crisis ◽

High Level

Several scholars have studied social media use for crisis com- munication. However, few studies have been carried out to investigate so- cial media deployment during a public health crisis, such as the Corona- virus outbreak. This study accessed public awareness and engagement of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)’s social media use for crisis communications during the Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria. It also as- sessed the influence of communication towards public positive behavioural adjustments. The study data was gathered via a survey of 400 citizens and Facebook users and analysed using excel and SPSS. The study found public awareness of the NCDC social media communications during the outbreak; there was also a public behavioural adjustment to NCDC’s recommended preventive behaviours. However, there was a low engagement in NCDC’s crisis communication via Facebook. The study reveals a high level of public uncertainty about NCDC Facebook communications and a change in public opinion about the Coronavirus. This study concludes that this situation could result from competing information about the Coronavirus on social media during the COVID outbreak and recommended further studies in this area. Findings are helpful for health communication policy reviews, strategic crisis communication assessments, appraisal of similar agencies, and further research.

Download Full-text

Covid-19, The Perfect Time to Broaden our Horizons About Social Media Use in Oncology?

Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Bioethica ◽

10.24193/subbbioethica.2021.spiss.32 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 66 (Special Issue) ◽

pp. 59-59

Author(s):

Eva de Clercq ◽

◽

Michael Rost ◽

Bernice Elger ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Young Patients ◽

Information Provision ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Ethical Guidelines ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Crisis

"Objective: The study aims to explore the attitudes of Swiss healthcare professionals towards the use of social media in adolescent and young adult oncology and to examine whether the ongoing social restrictions due COVID-19 might have altered these attitudes. Methods: This study was cross-sectional in design. The subjects were healthcare providers working in pediatric or adult oncology settings in Switzerland. We performed descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results: While considered useful, only a small minority of participants actually used social media for professional reasons and considered themselves skillful in using these platforms. Although institutional guidelines were deemed crucial to improve social media use, many respondents seemed unaware of their existence. Only a minority reported an impact of Covid-19 on their attitudes towards the professional implementation of social media. Conclusion: The global health crisis creates important challenges for young patients with cancer and their healthcare providers. In times of social restrictions, social media may be promising tools to facilitate health information provision, connectivity and patient care. Virtual mentorship and target social media training interventions might be the best way to improve familiarity with social media and with ethical guidelines for their use. "

Download Full-text