Examination of bariatric surgery Facebook support groups: a content analysis.
| Title: | Examination of bariatric surgery Facebook support groups: a content analysis. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Koball AM; Department of Behavioral Health, Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Electronic address: amkoball@gundersenhealth.org.; Jester DJ; Department of Medical Research, Gundersen Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wisconsin.; Domoff SE; Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan; Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.; Kallies KJ; Department of Medical Research, Gundersen Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wisconsin.; Grothe KB; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.; Kothari SN; Department of General Surgery, Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin. |
| Source: | Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery [Surg Obes Relat Dis] 2017 Aug; Vol. 13 (8), pp. 1369-1375. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Apr 26. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101233161 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1878-7533 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15507289 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Surg Obes Relat Dis Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: New York, N.Y. : Elsevier, c2005- |
| MeSH Terms: | Bariatric Surgery* ; Social Support*; Obesity, Morbid/*surgery ; Self-Help Groups/*statistics & numerical data ; Social Media/*statistics & numerical data; Alcohol Drinking/psychology ; Anxiety/psychology ; Depression/psychology ; Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology ; Obesity, Morbid/psychology ; Body Image ; Humans ; Mental Health |
| Abstract: | Background: Support following bariatric surgery is vital to ensure long-term postoperative success. Many individuals undergoing bariatric surgery are turning to online modalities, especially the popular social media platform Facebook, to access support groups and pages. Despite evidence suggesting that the majority of patients considering bariatric surgery are utilizing online groups, little is known about the actual content of these groups.; Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to conduct a content analysis of bariatric surgery support groups and pages on Facebook.; Setting: Online via Facebook, independent academic medical center, United States.; Methods: Data from bariatric surgery-related Facebook support groups and pages were extracted over a 1-month period in 2016. Salient content themes (e.g., progress posts, depression content, eating behaviors) were coded reliably (all κ> .70).; Results: More than 6,800 posts and replies were coded. Results indicated that seeking recommendations (11%), providing information or recommendations (53%), commenting on changes since surgery (19%), and lending support to other members (32%) were the most common types of posts. Content surrounding anxiety, eating behaviors, depression, body image, weight bias, and alcohol was found less frequently.; Conclusions: Online bariatric surgery groups can be used to receive support, celebrate physical and emotional accomplishments, provide anecdotal accounts of the "bariatric lifestyle" for preoperative patients, and comment on challenges with mental health and experiences of weight bias. Providers should become acquainted with the content commonly found in online groups and exercise caution in recommending these platforms to information-seeking patients.; (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Content analysis; Media effects; Online social networking; Social media; Support groups |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20170611 Date Completed: 20180523 Latest Revision: 20181202 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.soard.2017.04.025 |
| PMID: | 28600115 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article