scholarly journals What Do Health Libraries Tweet About? A Content Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine J Neilson
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Awareness Tool ◽  
Medical Libraries ◽  
Twitter Activity ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
A Current ◽  
Shed Light

Many libraries have adopted Twitter to connect with their clients, but the library literature has only begun to explore how health libraries use Twitter in practice. When presented with new responsibility for tweeting on behalf of her library, the author was faced with the question “what do other health libraries tweet about?”. This paper presents a content analysis of a sample of tweets from ten health and medical libraries in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Five hundred twenty-four tweets were collected over 4 one-week periods in 2014 and analyzed using a grounded theory approach to identify themes and categories. The health libraries included in this study appear to use Twitter primarily as a current awareness tool, focusing on topics external to the library and its broader organization and including little original content. This differs from previous studies which have found that libraries tend to use Twitter primarily for library promotion. While this snapshot of Twitter activity helps shed light on how health libraries use Twitter, further research is needed to understand the underlying factors that shape libraries’ Twitter use. Beaucoup de bibliothèques ont choisi d’utiliser Twitter pour communiquer avec leurs clients, mais la littérature a commencé à peine à explorer comment des bibliothèques de la santé utilisent Twitter dans la pratique. Lorsqu’on lui a présenté la nouvelle responsabilité de s’occuper du compte Twitter pour la bibliothèque, l’auteure s’est demandé « qu'est-ce que d’autres bibliothèques de la santé disent sur Twitter ? ». Cet article présente une analyse du contenu d’un échantillon de Tweets de dix bibliothèques médicales au Canada, aux États-Unis et au Royaume-Uni. 524 Tweets ont été recueillis au cours de quatre périodes d’une semaine en 2014 et ont été analysés selon une théorie ancrée afin d’identifier des thèmes et des catégories. Les bibliothèques de la santé incluses dans l’étude paraissent utiliser Twitter principalement comme outil de sensibilisation, se concentrant sur des sujets en dehors de la bibliothèque et l’organisation en général, et comprenant peu de contenu original. Cela se différencie d’autres études qui ont trouvé que les bibliothèques sont enclines à utiliser Twitter principalement pour la promotion de la bibliothèque. Bien que cet aperçu d’activité sur Twitter aide à éclairer la façon dont des bibliothèques l’utilisent, une recherche plus approfondie est nécessaire afin de comprendre les facteurs sous-jacents qui touchent l’usage de Twitter par des bibliothèques.

scholarly journals Social Sensing of Heatwaves

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3717
Author(s):  
James C. Young ◽  
Rudy Arthur ◽  
Michelle Spruce ◽  
Hywel T. P. Williams
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
The United States ◽  
Measured Temperature ◽  
Social Sensing ◽  
Public Response ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Social Reaction ◽  
Twitter Activity ◽  
The Uk

Heatwaves cause thousands of deaths every year, yet the social impacts of heat are poorly measured. Temperature alone is not sufficient to measure impacts and “heatwaves” are defined differently in different cities/countries. This study used data from the microblogging platform Twitter to detect different scales of response and varying attitudes to heatwaves within the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (US) and Australia. At the country scale, the volume of heat-related Twitter activity increased exponentially as temperature increased. The initial social reaction differed between countries, with a larger response to heatwaves elicited from the UK than from Australia, despite the comparatively milder conditions in the UK. Language analysis reveals that the UK user population typically responds with concern for individual wellbeing and discomfort, whereas Australian and US users typically focus on the environmental consequences. At the city scale, differing responses are seen in London, Sydney and New York on governmentally defined heatwave days; sentiment changes predictably in London and New York over a 24-h period, while sentiment is more constant in Sydney. This study shows that social media data can provide robust observations of public response to heat, suggesting that social sensing of heatwaves might be useful for preparedness and mitigation.

scholarly journals Golden Moves

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Dahl ◽  
Lynne Eagle ◽  
Mustafa Ebrahimjee
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Transtheoretical Model ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Activity Program ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Social marketing is increasingly being used by public and nonprofit organizations to deliver behavior change objectives. Drawing on the example of physical activity for the over 65s, we show how social marketing techniques can deliver a physical activity program for a priority group that has so far received little attention. In this study, conducted in the United Kingdom, we use a grounded theory approach to understand motivational factors and perceived barriers and to determine the types of messages and message channels that could be used for a potential social marketing–based intervention. We show how the findings of this pilot study can be used to develop such an intervention, and present a modeled intervention, based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change.

scholarly journals Living with uncertainty and hope: A qualitative study exploring parents’ experiences of living with childhood multiple sclerosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Hinton ◽  
Susan Kirk
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Diagnostic Uncertainty ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Parents Experiences

Background There is growing recognition that multiple sclerosis is a possible, albeit uncommon, diagnosis in childhood. However, very little is known about the experiences of families living with childhood multiple sclerosis and this is the first study to explore this in depth. Objective Our objective was to explore the experiences of parents of children with multiple sclerosis. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews with 31 parents using a grounded theory approach were conducted. Parents were sampled and recruited via health service and voluntary sector organisations in the United Kingdom. Results Parents’ accounts of life with childhood multiple sclerosis were dominated by feelings of uncertainty associated with four sources; diagnostic uncertainty, daily uncertainty, interaction uncertainty and future uncertainty. Parents attempted to manage these uncertainties using specific strategies, which could in turn create further uncertainties about their child’s illness. However, over time, ongoing uncertainty appeared to give parents hope for their child’s future with multiple sclerosis. Conclusion Illness-related uncertainties appear to play a role in generating hope among parents of a child with multiple sclerosis. However, this may lead parents to avoid sources of information and support that threatens their fragile optimism. Professionals need to be sensitive to the role hope plays in supporting parental coping with childhood multiple sclerosis.

scholarly journals Social Media and Men’s Health: A Content Analysis of Twitter Conversations During the 2013 Movember Campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1627-1641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline A. Bravo ◽  
Laurie Hoffman-Goetz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
The United States ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Health Related

The Movember Foundation raises awareness and funds for men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancers in conjunction with a moustache contest. The 2013 Movember campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom shared the same goal of creating conversations about men’s health that lead to increased awareness and understanding of the health risks men face. Our objective was to explore Twitter conversations to identify whether the 2013 Movember campaigns sparked global conversations about prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and other men’s health issues. We conducted a content analysis of 12,666 tweets posted during the 2013 Movember campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom (4,222 tweets from each country) to investigate whether tweets were health-related or non-health-related and to determine what topics dominated conversations. Few tweets ( n = 84, 0.7% of 12,666 tweets) provided content-rich or actionable health information that would lead to awareness and understanding of men’s health risks. While moustache growing and grooming was the most popular topic in U.S. tweets, conversations about community engagement were most common in Canadian and U.K. tweets. Significantly more tweets co-opted the Movember campaign to market products or contests in the United States than Canada and the United Kingdom ( p < .05). Findings from this content analysis of Twitter suggest that the 2013 Movember campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom sparked few conversations about prostate and testicular cancers that could potentially lead to greater awareness and understanding of important men’s health issues.

scholarly journals Dementia Diagnosis and Challenges in Minority Populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 161-162
Author(s):  
Halima Amjad ◽  
Marcela Blinka ◽  
Jennifer Aufill ◽  
Quincy Samus
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Care Relationships ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Poor Memory

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are underdiagnosed in the United States, with potentially higher rates of underdiagnosis among minority groups. Our objective was to examine perceptions of dementia, the utility and timeliness of diagnosis, and experiences obtaining diagnosis and care in minorities. We recruited 17 family caregivers of African American (n=11), Latino (n=3), and Asian (n=3) persons with dementia (PWD) to complete surveys and semi-structured interviews. Caregivers were mostly female (n=14), children of PWD (n=14), and had greater than high school education (n=16). Mean PWD age at diagnosis was 76 years (range 63-90) with mean 17 months from symptom observation to diagnosis (range 0.5-36 months). Interview themes were coded using a grounded theory approach. Emerging themes related to concerns prior to diagnosis, diagnosis experiences, timeliness of diagnosis, ways to improve diagnosis and care, familiarity with dementia, and stigma. Poor memory was the most common early concern; caregivers also noted behavioral symptoms, weight loss, family stress, and PWD vulnerability. Caregivers recalled key moments when they knew something was wrong. Primary care was the most frequent starting point in diagnosis; longstanding primary care relationships both facilitated and hindered diagnosis. Nine of the 17 caregivers felt diagnosis was delayed. Caregivers preferred clinicians who were forthcoming with the diagnosis and what to expect and noted the importance of family meetings or counseling. Prior experience or knowledge of dementia was common. Caregiver perspectives and experiences elicited in this study may be translated to interventions and clinical practices that proactively detect and address dementia in minorities.

Faith-based responses to homelessness in Greater Seattle: A grounded theory approach

2020 ◽  
pp. 003776862097121
Author(s):  
Manuel Mejido Costoya ◽  
Margaret Breen
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Government ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Family Homelessness ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Western Washington ◽  
Problem Solvers ◽  
Snohomish County ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

This article reports on the key findings of a 2-year study of faith-based responses to homelessness in Greater Seattle (the United States). Leveraging opportunities and negotiating constraints through experimentation, congregations, and faith-based non-profits, in different ways, are striving to blend local knowledge and professional knowledge, the adaptability of bottom-up civic engagement and the complexities of top-down programming to rethink homelessness interventions. After considering this picture of faith-based organizations (FBOs) as community problem solvers, we sketch three case studies of innovative initiatives: the Network Builders program of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington-King County, the interfaith and cross-sectoral campaign against family homelessness spearheaded by Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County, and the Para-Navigator partnership between Everett Gospel Mission and the municipal government of Snohomish County.

scholarly journals Hidden gems? The cultural contribution of independent libraries in the United Kingdom and the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1073-1085
Author(s):  
Kirsten Loach ◽  
Jennifer Rowley ◽  
Jillian Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Sustainability ◽  
Cultural Assets ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Library Research

Independent libraries are important cultural assets for their communities yet have largely been overlooked in mainstream library research. This research seeks to bring these libraries into the limelight by building a profile of their cultural contributions. Through a content analysis of the websites of the libraries of the Independent Libraries Association (UK) and Membership Libraries Group (US), it demonstrates that independent libraries preserve and facilitate access to a variety of important cultural assets and, while often characterised as ‘hidden gems’, are proactively working to increase engagement beyond traditional audiences, whilst also making significant contributions to the cultural sustainability agenda.

Managing Shame: A Grounded Theory of How Stigma Manifests in Families Living With Dementia

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Palan Lopez ◽  
Karen M. Rose ◽  
Lauren Kenney ◽  
Victoria Sanborn ◽  
Jennifer Duncan Davis
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Brain Disorders ◽  
Supportive Services ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are irreversible, progressive brain disorders that slowly destroy memory, language, problem solving, and cognition. In the United States, dementia is the fifth leading cause of death for people age 65 years and older. Early diagnosis could have important benefits stigma related to dementia remains a significant impediment to diagnosis, treatment, and accessing services. While a growing body of research documents the existence and negative outcomes of stigma, less is known about how dementia-related stigma produces ill effects. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to use qualitative methods to explore how stigma manifests within families from the perspective of family caregivers of people with dementia. METHOD: Using a grounded theory approach, we interviewed 13 family caregivers of people with dementia. RESULTS: Shame emerged as the central theme experienced by family caregivers of people with dementia. Attempting to manage shame, produced three categories of responses: (1) silencing and not calling attention to the symptoms, (2) concealing the diagnosis, and (3) shunning and avoiding contact. CONCLUSIONS: Shame may be an underlying mechanism by which stigma is enacted and perpetuated, resulting in caregivers’ isolation and delay in access to diagnostic and supportive services. Efforts to dispel the misconception that dementia is a shameful disease may be one way to diminish stigma.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document