Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Date Submitted: Oct 14, 2020
Date Accepted: Jul 7, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Aug 3, 2021
Perceptions of Social Media Use to Augment Health Care: A Survey of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
ABSTRACT
Background:
For individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), adolescence and young adulthood are times of significant vulnerability and have been associated with clinical and psychosocial challenges. Social media may offer innovative care delivery solutions to address these challenges.
Objective:
The current study explored motivations and attitudes on current social media use, as well as preferences for a social media platform in a sample of adolescents and young adults with CF.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was administered to 50 adolescents and young adults with CF followed at a large pediatric-adult CF Center. The survey included questions regarding social media platform utilization, attitudes towards general and CF specific online activities, and preferences for a CF specific care delivery platform.
Results:
YouTube (86%), Snapchat (78%) and Instagram (76%) were the most commonly used social media platforms. Adolescents and young adults with CF do not report routinely utilizing social media for health-related information acquisition, social support or to help with adherence. However, their perceptions of social media utilization and preferences for platform development suggest interest in doing so in the future.
Conclusions:
Adolescents and young adults with CF utilize social media and express interest in the development of a mobile health platform. Platform development will allow for gaps in healthcare delivery to be addressed by improving social support and adherence while augmenting current methods of health information acquisition.
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