How are online platforms used for health related behaviours?

charlotteRA

New member
Feb 26, 2019
2
0
You are invited to take part in a study looking at the extent to which adults use the internet for health-related behaviours, including information seeking and social support. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and anyone over 18 years of age can participate. This study is the second phase of a larger research project being conducted by researchers at the University of Buckingham in the UK and the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SGQ9X6P
 
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Wifenotcarer

Registered User
Mar 11, 2018
341
0
77
Central Scotland
Just to let everyone know.

This researcher has permission to seek participation in the study reached via the provided link.

I have done the survey but found it difficult to answer the questions as it focussed on my own health, which I seldom have time to think or worry about. There is no where to record the 'elephant in the room' i.e. being a 24/7 carer (or slave) to the needs, health, moods of someone else. I gave my working status as 'Retired' when. in fact, I have never worked so hard in my life.

Perhaps, if many of us carers fill in the survey, Tipping Point could notify the researchers that the survey does not take account of the difficulties, that we and other carers face in addressing our own health needs.
 

charlotteRA

New member
Feb 26, 2019
2
0
Hi There

Firstly I'd like to thank you for taking the time to fill in the survey and provide us with some valuable feedback.

You're right in pointing out that our current study is limited in its scope, in that it's only looking at how individuals with chronic conditions use the internet to manage their own health needs. We are limiting our scope in this way so that we can answer a specific question about this population.

I agree that understanding how carers use the internet to manage their own health needs, and support them in fulfilling their role as a carer, is a very important area to understand. Here are some papers looking into how carers use the internet. I hope you find these interesting.

"The Effectiveness of an Internet Support Forum for Carers of People With Dementia: A Pre-Post Cohort Study"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24583789

"How Women Use Digital Technologies for Health: Qualitative Interview and Focus Group Study"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30681963

The use of the internet for health reasons is still a new phenomenon, therefore not well studied. However, more and more studies are happening in this area. Let's hope that research in this area continues to thrive, and that the experiences of carers may be better taken into account and understood.

Thank you
 
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