scholarly journals Leveraging Social Networking Sites for an Autoimmune Hepatitis Genetic Repository: Pilot Study to Evaluate Feasibility

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. e14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Comerford ◽  
Rachel Fogel ◽  
James Robert Bailey ◽  
Prianka Chilukuri ◽  
Naga Chalasani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Autoimmune Hepatitis ◽  
Social Networking Sites

scholarly journals Leveraging Social Networking Sites for an Autoimmune Hepatitis Genetic Repository: Pilot Study to Evaluate Feasibility (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Comerford ◽  
Rachel Fogel ◽  
James Robert Bailey ◽  
Prianka Chilukuri ◽  
Naga Chalasani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Liver Biopsy ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Autoimmune Hepatitis ◽  
Rare Disease ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Participant Recruitment ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
Immunosuppressant Medications ◽  
Oriented Research

BACKGROUND Conventional approaches to participant recruitment are often inadequate in rare disease investigation. Social networking sites such as Facebook may provide a vehicle to circumvent common research limitations and pitfalls. We report our preliminary experience with Facebook-based methodology for participant recruitment and participation into an ongoing study of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). OBJECTIVE The goal of our research was to conduct a pilot study to assess whether a Facebook-based methodology is capable of recruiting geographically widespread participants into AIH patient-oriented research and obtaining quality phenotypic data. METHODS We established a Facebook community, the Autoimmune Hepatitis Research Network (AHRN), in 2014 to provide a secure and reputable distillation of current literature and AIH research opportunities. Quarterly advertisements for our ongoing observational AIH study were posted on the AHRN over 2 years. Interested and self-reported AIH participants were subsequently enrolled after review of study materials and completion of an informed consent by our study coordinator. Participants returned completed study materials, including epidemiologic questionnaires and genetic material, to our facility via mail. Outside medical records were obtained and reviewed by a study physician. RESULTS We successfully obtained all study materials from 29 participants with self-reported AIH within 2 years from 20 different states. Liver biopsy results were available for 90% (26/29) of participants, of which 81% (21/29) had findings consistent with AIH, 15% (4/29) were suggestive of AIH with features of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and 4% (1/29) had PBC alone. A total of 83% (24/29) had at least 2 of 3 proposed criteria: positive autoimmune markers, consistent histologic findings of AIH on liver biopsy, and reported treatment with immunosuppressant medications. Self-reported and physician records were discrepant for immunosuppressant medications or for AIH/PBC diagnoses in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS Facebook can be an effective ancillary tool for facilitating patient-oriented research in rare diseases. A social media-based approach transcends established limitations in rare disease research and can further develop research communities.

Barriers against and opportunities for distant higher education in the coronavirus COVID-19 situation

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 2-14
Author(s):  
Dorota Siemieniecka
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Academic Teachers ◽  
Mode A

The aim of the conducted quantitative and qualitative research was to determine the barriers that students encounter when participating in classes taught distantly. The pilot study covered 50 NCU students in Toruń and was carried out in March and April 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the classes were completely transferred to the distant mode. A questionnaire consisting of 26 open and closed questions was the tool used in the research. The research focused on identifying the barriers faced by students during classes. The students described their needs in relation to the use of communicators and social networking sites by academic teachers, they were asked to describe how they imagined an ideal online lesson. The students drew attention to technical problems, disruption, and problems with access to the Internet. They find it difficult to use many tools (enabling synchronous classes). The research has shown that academic teachers do not have the necessary methodological competence to carry out the didactic process in distant forms. The students stress the existence of difficulties in contacting the teachers; they are often left without explanations or comments with the teaching materials uploaded on the platform.

scholarly journals Using Instagram to deliver a theory-based wellness intervention designed to promote behavior change

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Blackstone ◽  
C Russie
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Wellness Intervention ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background With a high number of users, social networking sites (SNS), such as Instagram, have the potential to serve as a tool to dispense health information and promote health. This pilot study examined the effect of a four-week wellness intervention on Instagram users with targeted posts regarding fitness, nutritious eating, and self-care behaviors. Methods A review of best practices in Instagram posts was conducted to create daily posts relating to Theory of Planned Behavior constructs for the wellness areas of fitness (e.g., daily movement), nutritious eating (e.g., vegetable and fruit consumption, healthy recipes), and self-care (e.g., social time, journaling). The intervention group (N = 22) and control group (N = 11) were assessed pre and post test using a Theory of Planned Behavior survey. Results At post-test, self-care intention for the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control. However, there was not a significant difference between the intervention group and control for engaging in actual self-care behaviors reported at post-test. There were no significant differences between the groups for other constructs pre to post-test. User engagement or lack of engagement with posts did not relate to any differences in constructs at post-test. Conclusions A wellness intervention delivered through Instagram did not impact health behaviors over a four-week period in the intervention group compared to the control group. Future research should continue examining if SNS interventions, specifically changing what users see and interact with, can influence health behavior outcomes. This pilot study also provides an example of a theory-based intervention that can be tailored to examine effects on behavior change in other populations. Key messages Though there is potential to use social networking sites as health promotion tools, there is a lack of understanding how to best use this technology, engage participants, and promote health. Using health behavior change theories in intervention research using social networking sites is considered the best approach to evoke and understand behavior change among populations.

scholarly journals Validating the factors influencing social commerce adoption in small and medium enterprise in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Abdullah Ali ◽  
Muriati Mukhtar ◽  
Ibrahim Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Electronic Commerce ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Rapid Rate ◽  
Social Commerce ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Medium Enterprise

<span>Electronic commerce has been growing at a rapid rate in many countries, including developing countries. In recent years, social media and social networking sites have become popular and such popularity has led to a novel e-commerce branch known as social commerce. In Malaysia, it is observed that individuals and organizations have begun to sell and purchase using social media. But studies on s-commerce adoption in Malaysia are still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of technological, organizational, and trust factors on social commerce adoption among SMEs in Malaysia. This paper presented the factors, collected from literature, which influence the adoption of social commerce, and the results of an exploratory pilot study.</span>

Effects of Priming Danger on Information Disclosure on Social Networking Sites

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andie F. Lueck ◽  
Mayia Corcoran ◽  
Maureen Casey ◽  
Sarah Wood ◽  
Ross Auna
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Information Disclosure
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