To be or not to be in the social media arena? The perspective of healthcare providers working within adolescent and young adult oncology in Switzerland

AbstractBackgroundGiven that social media is quickly penetrating clinical practice, it is essential to explore how these technologies can be used to improve patient-centered care. This is particularly important for healthcare professionals caring for adolescents and young adults (AYA), amid whom the use of social media is nearly universal and whose medical and psychosocial needs are often underestimated by the pediatric or adult oncology settings in which they are treated.ObjectivesTo examine the perspectives of various medical professionals on the emerging role of social media in AYA oncology.MethodsThree focus groups were performed with Swiss healthcare professionals involved in the care of AYA patients with cancer. The focus groups were analyzed using thematic coding.ResultsHealthcare professionals caring for AYA cancer patients in Switzerland are reluctant to step into the social media sphere because they find it difficult to navigate professional boundaries in an unfamiliar space where different contexts collapse. Nurses and younger healthcare professionals who tend to have a more intimate relationship with AYA, often lack virtual mentorship to know how to maintain online professionalism. Adolescents and young adults cancer-related social media presence was unknown to our participants which resulted in missed occasions to inform, educate and care for this often underserved population of cancer patients.ConclusionsMore practical guidance is needed to help healthcare professionals with how to integrate social media into clinical practice. Setting up fruitful collaborations between medical institutions and existing AYA support groups online might be the best way forward.

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Social comparison, materialism, and compulsive buying based on stimulus-response-model: a comparative study among adolescents and young adults

Young Consumers Insight and Ideas for Responsible Marketers ◽

10.1108/yc-07-2017-00713 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 19-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Tahir Islam ◽

Zaryab Sheikh ◽

Zahid Hameed ◽

Ikram Ullah Khan ◽

Rauf I. Azam

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Comparison ◽

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Compulsive Buying ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Response Model ◽

Content Type ◽

The Social ◽

Materialistic Values

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide the overview of factors responsible for materialism and compulsive buying among adolescents and young adults. In today’s world, materialism is a crucial phenomenon of the modern age. According to social comparison theory, comparisons are a significant factor affecting the behavioral intentions of adolescents and young adults. Thus, this study develops a framework based on the stimulus–organism–response model and uses the framework to examine the impact of interpersonal communication and marketing factors on social comparison, materialism and compulsive buying, with social media acting as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach Using a survey method, data were collected in Study 1 from adolescents (n = 298) and in Study 2 from young adults (n = 345). Structural equation modeling analysis using partial least squares technique was used to analyze the data. Findings The results show that social comparison plays a significant role in developing materialistic values and compulsive buying among adolescents and young adults. Through these two studies, it was found that young adults are more socially comparative, materialistic and compulsive in buying as compared to adolescents. Moreover, social media use moderated the relationship between social comparison with peers and media celebrities, which means that rapid increase of social media use leads adolescents and young adults to create high social comparison and materialistic values. Research limitations/implications This research is based on the cross-sectional method, which limits the research findings. Practical implications This research helps corporate managers understand the interpersonal communication role in creating social comparison among individuals. The study found that peer communication plays a more important role in enhancing the social comparative values among young adults than among adolescents, which provides clear implications for the practitioner. Originality/value This study makes a significant contribution to extant literature by discussing the above issue and presenting quantitative data. The study extends the literature by examining and validating a theoretical model of how interpersonal communication among socializing agents affects social comparison among young adults and adolescents. This research examines outcomes of the social comparison with parents, peers and social media, based on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model.

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Psychosocial Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: An Integrative Review

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing ◽

10.1177/1043454220919713 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 408-422

Author(s):

Clifton P. Thornton ◽

Kathy Ruble ◽

Sharon Kozachik

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Peer Interactions ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Coping Resources ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Integrative Review ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Level Of Evidence

Background: Adolescents and young adults with cancer sit in a precarious position facing an increasing cancer incidence while incidence in other age groups has been declining. A cancer diagnosis at this age imposes undue distress in a demographic with limited coping resources creating psychosocial needs that differ from children and older adults. Addressing psychosocial needs early in the cancer trajectory is postulated as an approach to address distress, improve quality of life, and promote optimal outcomes from therapy. The purpose of this review is to identify current successful approaches to psychosocial care in adolescents and young adults receiving therapy for cancer. Method: An integrative review of publications identified through six relevant databases was conducted. Thematic analysis was performed to identify types of interventions followed by assessment of publication level of evidence, quality, and a critique of the effectiveness of interventions. Findings: A total of 6,292 articles were identified and 17 met inclusion criteria for this review. Thematic analysis and critique identified six themes for intervention approaches with mixed outcomes: creative expression, promoting peer interactions, individual coaching, employing technology, promoting physical activity, and clinical interactions. Discussion: Adolescent and young adult psychosocial needs while receiving treatment are complex and best addressed with the involvement of an interdisciplinary team. Effective interventions include those that have been tailored to the patient and consider the individual’s developmental stage. Interventions that promote autonomy and decision making, provide privacy, are executed in individual sessions, and facilitate social/peer interactions have been more successful in improving psychosocial outcomes.

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What Does It Meme? A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents’ Perceptions of Tobacco and Marijuana Messaging

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/0033354920947399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 135 (5) ◽

pp. 578-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessica Liu ◽

Sheila McLaughlin ◽

Adrienne Lazaro ◽

Bonnie Halpern-Felsher

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

The Aesthetic

Objectives With the increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes and legalization of recreational marijuana, messaging from websites and social media is shaping product perceptions and use. Quantitative research on the aesthetic appeal of these advertisements from the adolescent and young adult perspective is lacking. We evaluated (1) how adolescents and young adults perceived tobacco and marijuana messaging online and through social media platforms and (2) interactive behaviors related to these messages. Methods We interviewed 24 participants from the Tobacco Perceptions Study, a longitudinal study of adolescents’ and young adults’ (aged 17-21) tobacco-related perceptions and tobacco use. We collected qualitative data from October 2017 through February 2018, through individual semi-structured interviews, on participants’ experiences and interactions with online tobacco and marijuana advertisements and the advertisements’ appeal. Two analysts recorded, transcribed, and coded interviews. Results Themes that emerged from the interviews focused on the direct appeal of online messaging to adolescents and young adults; the value of trusting the source; the role of general attitudes and personal decision-making related to using tobacco and/or marijuana; the appeal of messaging that includes colors, interesting packaging, and appealing flavors; and the preference of messages communicated by young people and influencers rather than by industry. Conclusion These findings suggest the need for increased regulation of social media messaging and marketing of tobacco and marijuana, with a particular focus on regulating social media, paid influencers, and marketing that appeals to adolescents and young adults. The findings also suggest the importance of prevention programs addressing the role of social media in influencing the use of tobacco and marijuana.

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Conducting Web-Based Focus Groups With Adolescents and Young Adults

International Journal of Qualitative Methods ◽

10.1177/1609406921996872 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 160940692199687

Author(s):

Courtney A. Brown ◽

Anna C. Revette ◽

Sarah D. de Ferranti ◽

Holly B. Fontenot ◽

Holly C. Gooding

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Young Adults ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Web Based ◽

Disease Awareness ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Technical Platform

This methodologic paper aims to update researchers working with adolescents and young adults on the potentials and pitfalls associated with web-based qualitative research. We present a case study of synchronous web-based focus groups with 35 adolescents and young women ages 15–24 years old recruited from a clinical sample for a mixed methods study of heart disease awareness. We contrast this with two other studies, one using asynchronous web-based focus groups with 30 transgender youth ages 13 to 24 years old and another using synchronous web-based focus groups with 48 young men who have sex with men ages 18 to 26 years old, both recruited via social media. We describe general and logistical considerations, technical platform considerations, and ethical, regulatory, and research considerations associated with web-based qualitative research. In an era of technology ubiquity and dependence, researchers should consider web-based focus groups a potential qualitative research tool, especially when working with youth.

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Perception of Inpatient Oncologic Rehabilitation in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed with Cancer in Switzerland

Klinische Pädiatrie ◽

10.1055/a-1210-2599 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 232 (06) ◽

pp. 294-299

Author(s):

Maria Otth ◽

Sibylle Denzler ◽

Sibylle Schmid ◽

Birgitta Setz ◽

Katrin Scheinemann

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Peer Group ◽

Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Specialized Institutions ◽

Strobe Statement

Abstract Background Inpatient rehabilitation improves physical and psychosocial performance in childhood cancer patients and their families. Two kinds of inpatient rehabilitation are available in specialized institutions in Germany: family-oriented rehabilitation or peer group-oriented rehabilitation for adolescents and young adults (AYA). Our study aimed to find out what Swiss childhood and AYA cancer patients and their families thought about the rehabilitation programs in which they had participated. Patients and methods We conducted a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study of Swiss childhood and AYA cancer patients and their families whose inpatient rehabilitation stays were scheduled to take place in Germany between May 2012 and March 2019. We analyzed the data descriptively and present our findings in accordance with the STROBE statement. Results Of the 57 eligible families contacted, 38 (67%) responded. Most rated the rehabilitation stay as very good (68%) or good (26%). Nearly all participants emphasized that these programs should be available to all affected patients and their families. Most (80%) thought the program gave them enough valuable information to enable them to cope with daily life after the stay ended. Only one fifth (19%) of the rehabilitation stays were fully funded by the health or disability insurance. Conclusion Participants expressed an overwhelmingly positive opinion about the rehabilitation programs they attended. We are convinced that childhood and AYA cancer patients and their families in Switzerland benefit from these programs and encourage insurances to cover the costs.

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Plurality in the Measurement of Social Media Use and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/20563051211035353 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 205630512110353

Author(s):

Diamantis Petropoulos Petalas ◽

Elly A. Konijn ◽

Benjamin K. Johnson ◽

Jolanda Veldhuis ◽

Nadia A. J. D. Bij de Vaate ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Media Effects ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Social Life ◽

Media Use ◽

Quadratic Functions ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Social Media Use

On a daily basis, individuals between 12 and 25 years of age engage with their mobile devices for many hours. Social Media Use (SMU) has important implications for the social life of younger individuals in particular. However, measuring SMU and its effects often poses challenges to researchers. In this exploratory study, we focus on some of these challenges, by addressing how plurality in the measurement and age-specific characteristics of SMU can influence its relationship with measures of subjective mental health (MH). We conducted a survey among a nationally representative sample of Dutch adolescents and young adults ( N = 3,669). Using these data, we show that measures of SMU show little similarity with each other, and that age-group differences underlie SMU. Similar to the small associations previously shown in social media-effects research, we also find some evidence that greater SMU associates to drops and to increases in MH. Albeit nuanced, associations between SMU and MH were found to be characterized by both linear and quadratic functions. These findings bear implications for the level of association between different measures of SMU and its theorized relationship with other dependent variables of interest in media-effects research.

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The Australian Youth Cancer Service: Developing and Monitoring the Activity of Nationally Coordinated Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Care

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13112675 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2675

Author(s):

Pandora Patterson ◽

Kimberley R. Allison ◽

Helen Bibby ◽

Kate Thompson ◽

Jeremy Lewin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Young Adults ◽

Cancer Care ◽

Young Patients ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Trial Participation ◽

Clinical Trial Participation ◽

Activity Data ◽

Cancer Services

Adolescents and young adults (aged 15–25 years) diagnosed with cancer have unique medical and psychosocial experiences and care needs, distinct from those of paediatric and older adult patients. Since 2011, the Australian Youth Cancer Services have provided developmentally appropriate, multidisciplinary and comprehensive care to these young patients, facilitated by national service coordination and activity data collection and monitoring. This paper reports on how the Youth Cancer Services have conceptualised and delivered quality youth cancer care in four priority areas: clinical trial participation, oncofertility, psychosocial care and survivorship. National activity data collected by the Youth Cancer Services between 2016–17 and 2019–20 are used to illustrate how service monitoring processes have facilitated improvements in coordination and accountability across multiple indicators of quality youth cancer care, including clinical trial participation, access to fertility information and preservation, psychosocial screening and care and the transition from active treatment to survivorship. Accounts of both service delivery and monitoring and evaluation processes within the Australian Youth Cancer Services provide an exemplar of how coordinated initiatives may be employed to deliver, monitor and improve quality cancer care for adolescents and young adults.

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Perceptions of Social Media Use to Augment Health Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: Survey Study (letter) (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33457 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Navandeep Kaur Thumber ◽

Prerana Bhandari

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Media Use ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Survey Study ◽

Social Media Use

UNSTRUCTURED N/a

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Covid-19, the perfect time to broaden our horizons about social media use in oncology? A survey study with healthcare professionals caring for youth with cancer

10.21203/rs.3.rs-303214/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michael Rost ◽

Vittoria Espeli ◽

Marc Ansari ◽

Nicholas von der Weid ◽

Bernice Elger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Media Use ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Young Patients ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Survey Study ◽

Ethical Guidelines ◽

Social Media Use ◽

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.

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