Facebook groups provide effective social support to patients after bariatric surgery.
Bariatric surgery
Facebook
Social media
Social support
Journal
Surgical endoscopy
ISSN: 1432-2218
Titre abrégé: Surg Endosc
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 8806653
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2021
08 2021
Historique:
received:
07
04
2020
accepted:
05
08
2020
pubmed:
12
8
2020
medline:
21
10
2021
entrez:
12
8
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Social support after bariatric surgery is considered essential. Unfortunately, patient participation in such groups tends to be limited threatening their effectiveness. Facebook groups may provide a social support option that attracts more participation. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with the administration of a Facebook social support group and evaluate its perceived value by our bariatric patients. After IRB approval, all Facebook group posts since its establishment in 2015 were reviewed and a thematic analysis was undertaken. Group members also completed a survey related to their Facebook group experience and its perceived value. Responses were collected using 5-point Likert scales. In addition, 30 members were phone interviewed using open-ended questions and their responses were analyzed. Over 4 years, the group accumulated 12,507 posts, 104,053 comments, and 197,594 reactions. On average, members check the group page more than once per day. Ten common themes were identified in the submitted posts: questions, motivation related, education related, diet related, physical activity related, current status updates, sharing failures, social, random/humorous and other. Members reported that the group helped them do well with their procedure (3.3/5) particularly due to the motivation of others' successful stories (3.5/5) and made them feel understood (3.9/5) even though it offered limited help controlling their eating habits (2.7/5). The phone interviews suggested that the Facebook group offered constant support, was simple to use, and provided the sole social support for many patients. They most appreciated the motivational posts that kept them on track and the assistance/comments of clinical staff. In contrast, they disliked repeated questions/spam and negative stories shared by some members. Facebook groups can provide effective social support to patients after bariatric surgery. Peers educate, answer questions, and motivate patients by sharing their positive experiences. Whether this online connectedness also positively impacts patient outcomes requires further study.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Social support after bariatric surgery is considered essential. Unfortunately, patient participation in such groups tends to be limited threatening their effectiveness. Facebook groups may provide a social support option that attracts more participation. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with the administration of a Facebook social support group and evaluate its perceived value by our bariatric patients.
METHODS
After IRB approval, all Facebook group posts since its establishment in 2015 were reviewed and a thematic analysis was undertaken. Group members also completed a survey related to their Facebook group experience and its perceived value. Responses were collected using 5-point Likert scales. In addition, 30 members were phone interviewed using open-ended questions and their responses were analyzed.
RESULTS
Over 4 years, the group accumulated 12,507 posts, 104,053 comments, and 197,594 reactions. On average, members check the group page more than once per day. Ten common themes were identified in the submitted posts: questions, motivation related, education related, diet related, physical activity related, current status updates, sharing failures, social, random/humorous and other. Members reported that the group helped them do well with their procedure (3.3/5) particularly due to the motivation of others' successful stories (3.5/5) and made them feel understood (3.9/5) even though it offered limited help controlling their eating habits (2.7/5). The phone interviews suggested that the Facebook group offered constant support, was simple to use, and provided the sole social support for many patients. They most appreciated the motivational posts that kept them on track and the assistance/comments of clinical staff. In contrast, they disliked repeated questions/spam and negative stories shared by some members.
CONCLUSIONS
Facebook groups can provide effective social support to patients after bariatric surgery. Peers educate, answer questions, and motivate patients by sharing their positive experiences. Whether this online connectedness also positively impacts patient outcomes requires further study.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32780242
doi: 10.1007/s00464-020-07884-y
pii: 10.1007/s00464-020-07884-y
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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