Utilizing social media as a tool for healthy weight management interventions presents an opportunity to target racial inequities in the prevalence of obesity amongst youth.
This study, employing mixed methods, aimed to explore social media practices, preferences, and obesity-related behaviors (including dietary choices and physical activity) among adolescents of color. Additionally, it sought to understand their preferences for healthy weight management interventions facilitated by social media.
A cross-sectional web-based survey and a series of digital focus groups make up the components of this mixed methods investigation. Participants in the study, comprising English-speaking youths of color, were recruited from high schools and youth-based community settings in both Massachusetts and California, and ranged in age from 14 to 18. Participants were requested to fill out an anonymous online survey, detailing their self-reported sociodemographic information, social media routines and preferences, health behaviors (diet, physical activity, sleep, and screen time), and providing measurements for their height and weight. Transperineal prostate biopsy Group discussions, held online for 45 to 60 minutes, solicited participant feedback on social media habits, preferred social media platforms, and preferred formats for physical activity and nutrition intervention content. Flow Cytometry Descriptive analysis was applied to the survey data; a directed content analysis method was used to analyze the focus group transcripts.
101 adolescents completed the survey, and concurrently, 20 more adolescents participated in a total of 3 focus groups. In participant reports, TikTok was the most commonly accessed social media platform, followed by Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter; platform selection was strongly determined by the intended activity, including content viewing, building relationships, or direct communication. TikTok was identified as the premier platform for acquiring knowledge in a captivating way, with desired details on physical fitness and dietary choices being prominent among the subjects covered.
Social media platforms, according to this study, present a compelling method for reaching out to adolescents of color. Future social media-based interventions for healthy weight management among adolescents of color will be guided by data collected.
Findings from this study point to the potential of social media platforms to engage adolescents of color in a compelling way. Adolescents of color engaging in healthy weight management via social media will have their experiences shaped by the data, which will be crucial in future interventions.
Worldwide, pediatric endocrinology, as a specialty, is in a tough spot maintaining adequately trained professionals. Due to the limited availability of pediatric endocrinologists, the provision of endocrine care for children in Central America and the Caribbean often falls to pediatricians or adult endocrinologists. Formal training in endocrinology is frequently absent among these health care providers, who are also seldom members of endocrine societies.
Equal access to medical education in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes is the focus of this study, which details the scope of a virtual conference targeted toward low- and middle-income countries for health professionals.
In support of the virtual conference, the Pediatric Endocrine Society (North America), along with the Asociacion Costarricense de Endocrinologia (previously known as the Asociacion Nacional Pro Estudio de la Diabetes, Endocrinologia y Metabolismo), and the Asociacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Endocrinologia Pediatrica provided sponsorship. The conference was free to attendees, offering 23 sessions. Each session was either synchronous and interactive in real-time, or asynchronous, with the content provided online for access at the convenience of the participants. A diverse range of topics, including idiopathic short stature, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes mellitus, telemedicine, Turner syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, obesity, central precocious puberty, and subclinical hypothyroidism, were addressed. Following the conclusion of the conference, participants completed a questionnaire to assess their opinions.
Six hundred sixty-eight healthcare professionals in Guatemala, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Mexico, Honduras, Argentina, the United States, Bolivia, Chile, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Belize, Spain, and Colombia were reached by an online event featuring 8 speakers originating from Spain, Canada, Costa Rica, and the United States. 410 (614%) of the 668 healthcare professionals openly shared their names, professions, and countries. The following breakdown illustrates the participant pool's professional training: pediatric endocrinologists (n=129, 193%), pediatricians (n=116, 174%), general practitioners (n=77, 115%), adult endocrinologists (n=34, 51%), medical students (n=23, 34%), residents across different specialities (n=14, 21%), and diverse other professional backgrounds (n=17, 26%). (R)HTS3 A collection of 23 sessions, the bulk of which were offered in both Spanish and English, were scheduled. Based on the evaluation questionnaires, the conference content was demonstrably pertinent to the professional activities of the attendees. Furthermore, the conference attendees expressed their high levels of satisfaction with the organizational structure, the online platform, and the conference sessions.
The disparity in access to advanced pediatric endocrinology and diabetes education for medical professionals in low- and middle-income countries can be addressed through the implementation of a virtual conference. Participants expressed strong satisfaction with the accessible online format, budget-friendly pricing, and user-friendly technology, finding the sessions highly relevant and beneficial to their professional work.
Through a virtual conference, medical professionals in low- and middle-income countries can effectively access and learn the latest and most innovative medical education in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes. The participants' positive feedback encompassed the online accessibility, affordability, and ease of use of the technology, coupled with their satisfaction with the sessions' quality and alignment with their professional needs.
Electronic knowledge resources, readily accessible, frequently cater to diverse audiences, encompassing health professionals and the general public, including individuals with personal experience and their family members. The knowledge-action framework, integrated with the Information Assessment Method (IAM), incorporating the value-of-information approach and the acquisition-cognition-application conceptual model, facilitates the evaluation of these resources. In stroke rehabilitation, Stroke Engine stands as an evidence-based knowledge translation resource for health professionals and students, as well as stroke survivors and their relatives, particularly in the domains of assessments and interventions. Google Analytics data demonstrates that the website is accessed over 10,000 times each week.
We sought to elevate Stroke Engine content by documenting user perspectives on the relevance in specific contexts, the cognitive influence of the information, the intent to use it, and the anticipated benefits to patients and healthcare, based on the materials consulted.
A web-based survey, originating from the IAM, became available through an invitation tab. The value of information is assessed by the validated questionnaire known as the IAM. Sociodemographic information was compiled, alongside the opportunity to provide free-form written feedback. Descriptive statistics, coupled with thematic analysis of the free-text comments, were employed.
6634 individuals formed the sample population. A significant portion of the responses (97.18%, specifically 6447 out of 6634) originated from health professionals (3663/6634, 55.22%) and students (2784/6634, 41.97%). A significant 282% (187 out of 6634) of the responses were provided by individuals who had suffered a stroke (87 individuals out of 6634, 131%), along with their relatives (100 individuals, 151% of 6634). In terms of contextual significance, healthcare professionals (1838/3364, 5464%) and students (1228/2437, 5039%) mainly sought information on evaluating tests, encompassing choosing, obtaining, and interpreting the outcomes. The learning of something new served as a primary marker of the cognitive impact. The respondents' expressed intent to use the resource was substantial (7167%, 4572/6379), with the application of the resource varying in contexts such as refinement of a specific area, in-depth research, completion of course requirements, deployment in teaching practices, and study of educational philosophies. Ways to improve the content were articulated by the respondents. Across all four subgroups, the primary patient and healthcare benefit, anticipated by all, was the improvement in health and well-being, followed by minimizing unnecessary or inappropriate procedures for health professionals, and the feeling of reassurance for stroke sufferers and their families.
Stroke Engine's accessibility, informational relevance, retrieval accuracy, and applicability were assessed through valuable feedback; crucially, the potential for incorporating its evidence-based content into clinical practice, along with its anticipated effects on patients, family members, and medical professionals, is paramount. Corrections and the discovery of crucial subjects for future growth were enabled by the feedback received.
While valuable feedback about the Stroke Engine was gathered regarding its accessibility, its relevance in meeting information needs and retrieval quality, accuracy, and practical use, a key consideration is the possible incorporation of its evidence-based content into clinical settings and its anticipated impact on patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Corrections and the identification of key areas for future enhancement were enabled by the feedback received.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons established Neurosurgery Awareness Month in August to spotlight neurological conditions and inform the public about them. The dissemination of information and forging connections with influencers, the general public, and other stakeholders are significantly facilitated by digital media.