Dr. Réka Anna Lassu
A Proactive Approach to Health
"Does Health Matter?
A Study on the Use of Social Media for Health"
Reka Anna Lassu- Universita della Svizzera italiana
“The most sophisticated and effective health care in the world cannot produce results as good as simply remaining healthy in the first place.”
–Robert G. Evans (Evans, 1994 p.21)
This research aims to understand how Swiss residents interact with Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter in general and for health. Moreover, its goal is to see what these people’s health characteristics are like and how these relate to Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter use for health content. To also provide a practical application, the research aims to determine if Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter could be used for health promotion among Swiss residents. Lastly, the research aims to determine what factors predict whether one is familiar with Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter for health content, as well as whether one interacts with a health group on Facebook, watches health videos on YouTube, and follows a health group on Twitter.
In
order
to
explain
the
context
of
the
research,
the
question
“Does
Health
Matter?”
is
explored
and
the
foundation
is
made
for
why
health
is
so
important
and
pertinent
to
all
areas
of
life.
Moreover,
the
increasingly
difficult
role
of
individuals
to
stay
healthy
in
a
health
system
that
is
full
of
challenges
is
outlined
and
a
proposal
is
made
for
how
value
could
be
delivered
through
aligning
value
in
the
health
system
among
all
stakeholders.
Then, the field of Health Communication on the Internet is addressed and the successful actions of e‐patients who have become empowered though using Internet Communication is explained. Nowadays, since the newest way of communicating online is through social media, the Social Media Revolution is introduced and the sites of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are specifically highlighted. Lastly, the specific role of social media in the health context is examined.
The
aforementioned
two
parts
set
the
stage
for
the
review
of
several
prominent
studies
in
the
field
of
social
media
and
health.
These
are
discussed
in
detail
and
conclusions
are
drawn
upon
which
the
present
study
is
designed,
performed,
and
analyzed.
This research was presented at the Master's defense:
Master's Thesis Defense- Reka Anna Lassu
14 December, 2011
Lugano, Switzerland
"The Institute of Communication and Health, founded in 2007, is a heavily research-oriented institution that operates to a large degree on external funding.
On the side of teaching, it contributes to the University’s bachelor programme, to a Master in Communication, Management and Health (in collaboration with Virginia Tech University) and a doctoral school in Communication and Health within the Pro*Doc programme of the Swiss National Fund, in cooperation with three other Swiss universities and Virginia Tech.
Research at ICH comprises three focal areas at present:
-
Area 1: Health Literacy and Empowerment
-
Area 2: Technologies and Doctor–Patient Interaction
-
Area 3: Cultural Factors in Health Promotion"
Food for Thought:
The Journey of My Master's Thesis- "Does Health Matter? A Study on the Use of Social Media for Health"
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