scholarly journals Investigation of Digital Technology Use in the Transition to Parenting (Preprint)

10.2196/25388 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorie Donelle ◽  
Jodi Hall ◽  
Bradley Hiebert ◽  
Kimberley Jackson ◽  
Ewelina Szynal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Transition To Parenting

scholarly journals “Let me know when I’m needed”: Exploring the gendered nature of digital technology use for health information seeking during the transition to parenting

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205520762110486
Author(s):  
Bradley Hiebert ◽  
Jodi Hall ◽  
Lorie Donelle ◽  
Danica Facca ◽  
Kim Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Information Work ◽  
Transition To Parenting

This paper presents results of a qualitative descriptive study conducted to understand parents’ experiences with digital technologies during their transition to parenting (i.e. the period from pre-conception through postpartum). Individuals in southwest Ontario who had become a new parent within the previous 24 months were recruited to participate in a focus group or individual interview. Participants were asked to describe the type of technologies they/their partner used during their transition to parenthood, and how such technologies were used to support their own and their family's health. Focus group and interview transcripts were then subjected to thematic analysis using inductive coding. Ten focus groups and three individual interviews were conducted with 26 heterosexual female participants. Participants primarily used digital technologies to: (1) seek health information for a variety of reproductive health issues, and (2) establish social and emotional connections. The nature of such health information work was markedly gendered and was categorized by 2 dominant themes. First, “‘Let me know when I’m needed’”, characterizes fathers’ apparent avoidance of health information seeking and resultant creation of mothers as lay information mediaries. Second, “Information Curation”, captures participants’ belief that gender biases built-in to popular parenting apps and resources reified the gendered nature of health and health information work during the transition to parenting. Overall, findings indicate that digital technology tailored to new and expecting parents actively reinforced gender norms regarding health information seeking, which creates undue burden on new mothers to become the sole health information seeker and interpreter for their family.

scholarly journals Investigation of Digital Technology Use in the Transition to Parenting (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorie Donelle ◽  
Jodi Hall ◽  
Bradley Hiebert ◽  
Kimberley Jackson ◽  
Ewelina Szynal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
Transition To Parenting

BACKGROUND The transition to parenting – that is, the journey from pre-conception through pregnancy and postpartum periods – is one of the most emotionally charged and information intense times for individuals and families. While there is a developing body of literature on the use and impact of digital technology on the information behaviors of children, adolescents and young adults, personal use of digital technology during the transition to parenting and in support of infants to 2 years of age is relatively understudied. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to enhance our understanding of the ways digital technologies contribute to the experience of the transition to parenting; particularly the role these technologies play in organizing and structuring emerging pregnancy and early parenting practices. METHODS A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to understand new parents’ experiences with and uses of digital technology during four-stages – pre-natal, pregnancy, labour, and post-partum – of their transition to becoming a new parent. A purposive sampling strategy was implemented using snowball sampling techniques to recruit participants who had become a parent within the previous 24 months. Focus groups and follow up interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guides that inquired about parents' type and use of technologies for self and family health. Transcribed audio recordings were thematic analyzed. RESULTS A total of 13 focus groups and three individual interviews were completed with 26 participants. While recruitment efforts targeted parents of all genders and sexual orientations, all participants identified as heterosexual women. Participants reported prolific use of digital technologies to direct fertility (e.g. ovulation timing); information seeking regarding development of their fetus, to prepare for labour and delivery, and in searching for a sense of community during postpartum. Participants expressed their need for these technologies to assist them in the day-to-day demands of preparing for and undertaking parenting, yet expressed concerns about their personal patterns of use, and the potential negative impacts their use. Three themes generated from the data included:“Is this normal; is this happening to you?!”, “Am I having a heart attack; what is this?”, “Anyone can put anything on Wikipedia”: Trustworthiness of Digital Information. CONCLUSIONS Digital technologies were used by mothers to track menstrual cycles during preconception; monitor, document, and announce a pregnancy during the prenatal stage; prepare for delivery during labour/birth stage; and to help babies sleep, document/announce their birth, and to connect to parenting resources during the post-partum stage. Mothers used digital technologies to reassure themselves that their experiences were normal or to seek help when they were abnormal. Digital technologies provided mothers with convenient means to access health information from a range of sources yet mothers were apprehensive about the credibility and trustworthiness of the information they retrieved. Further research should seek to understand how men and fathers use digital technologies during their transition to parenting. Additionally, further research should critically examine how constant access to information effects mothers’ perceived need to self-monitor and further understand the unintended health consequences of constant surveillance on new parents.

scholarly journals The use of Facebook in a community pharmacist-led weight management programme – a London-based proof of concept study

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i17-i18
Author(s):  
P Crilly ◽  
E Chibueze ◽  
M Khan ◽  
J Modha ◽  
S Satwaha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Management Programme ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Percentage Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Management Programme ◽  
Percentage Weight ◽  
Adults And Children

Abstract Introduction In the United Kingdom (UK), 63% of adults are overweight,(1) costing the NHS £6.1 billion/year. With the public using digital technology over healthcare professionals (HCPs) for health advice, this warrants an investigation of technology use in community pharmacy, given its previous successful use.(2) Aim To determine the feasibility and perceptions of a community pharmacist (CP)-led weight management programme (WMP), enhanced by a Facebook support group (FSG). Methods A proof of concept study was conducted between January-March 2020. Recruitment was via a pharmacy, the university and a community Facebook group. Inclusion criteria: over 18 years; overweight; no medical conditions. Participants attended face-to-face meetings (ftf) with a CP and final year pharmacy student (PS) on two occasions (0 (baseline) and 4 weeks). At baseline, participants were given the NHS weight loss programme and set weight loss goals. During ftf, participants had height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) measurements by a CP/PS and discussed eating habits, exercise and alcohol. In between ftf, participants accessed the FSG (created (December 2019) and moderated by a CP). Here, they received posts about diet, exercise and motivation. Participants were to have their measurements taken ftf at 8-weeks, however, COVID-19 meant participants had to self-declare these via video call. Following the 8-week programme, participants completed a 4-section survey about their experience (signing up to the service; comparison to previous weight loss attempts; the FSG and overall perceptions). Question types included multiple choice, Likert scale and free text comments. Data were analysed in Excel (Microsoft Corporation 2016) with changes in height, weight, waist circumference, alcohol and exercise being calculated. Results Fifty-five participants were recruited. 18 were lost to follow-up, most (n=12/18) citing COVID-19. Of the 37 participants remaining (70.3% female, mean age=37 years), 22 were obese, the rest overweight. Mean weight loss, mean percentage weight loss and mean WC reduction at 4-weeks was 1.6 kg (SD+/- 1.7 kg), 1.8% (SD+/- 1.9%) and 2 cm (SD+/- 1.96 cm) respectively. At week 8 measurements were self-declared. Mean weight loss at 8-weeks from baseline was 2.7 kg (SD +/- 2.6 kg) and mean percentage weight loss was 3% (SD+/- 3%). Only five participants’ self-declared WC measurements at 8-weeks with mean reduction being 3.6 cm. Five participants moved to healthier BMI classifications by week 8. All participants accessed the FSG at least weekly with 13 accessing it daily. Diet posts were the most popular (n=20/37). Participants learned about portion control and increasing fruits/vegetables intake. All participants would recommend the programme to their friends/family. Conclusion An 8-week CPWMP, enhanced with FSG, supported participants to lose a mean of 3% body weight. Participants accessed the page regularly and were positive about its usefulness. One limitation was that the COVID-19 lockdown prevented the 8-week ftf, therefore, self-declared measurements were used. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of pharmacy embracing technology for service delivery, particularly when in-person contact is limited. The implication of this study is that it provides proof that the concept of digital service delivery could work in practice. References 1. GOV.UK. Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives [Internet]. Department of Health and Social Care. 2020 [cited 2020 Aug 18]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-obesity-government-strategy/tackling-obesity-empowering-adults-and-children-to-live-healthier-lives 2. Crilly P, Kayyali R. A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Telehealth and Digital Technology Use by Community Pharmacists to Improve Public Health. Pharmacy 2020;8(3):137. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2226–4787/8/3/137

scholarly journals Digital technology use during COVID ‐19 pandemic: A rapid review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deedra Vargo ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Briana Benwell ◽  
Zheng Yan
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Rapid Review

scholarly journals Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Sau Wu ◽  
Cathrine Fowler ◽  
Winsome Yuk Lam ◽  
Ho Wong ◽  
Charmaine Hei Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Chinese Community ◽  
Preschool Age Children ◽  
Parenting Approaches

Associations Between Adolescents’ Daily Digital Technology Use and Sleep

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Burnell ◽  
Madeleine J. George ◽  
Michaeline Jensen ◽  
Rick H. Hoyle ◽  
Candice L. Odgers
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use

Becoming a Digital Citizen in a Technological World

2009 ◽  
pp. 250-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Ribble
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
Digital Citizenship ◽  
Global Society ◽  
The World ◽  
Technology Users ◽  
Technological World

In todays changing global society, digital technology users need to be prepared to interact and work with users from around the world. Digital technology is helping to define this new global society. Being part of a society provides opportunities to its citizens but also asks that its members behave in certain way. This new technological society is drawing users together to learn, share and interact with one another in the virtual world. But for all users to be productive there needs to be a defined level of acceptable activity by everyone, in other words a digital citizenship. The concept of digital citizenship provides a structure for this digital society, by conceptualizing and organizing appropriate technology use into a new digital culture. Anyone using these digital technologies needs to understand the parameters of appropriate use so that they can become more constructive digital citizens.

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