The present article presents an exploratory qualitative process evaluation study of ‘Ambassador’ participation in CityNet, an innovative informationcommunication technology-based (ICT) project that aims to build aspects of social capital and improve access to information and services among disadvantaged groups in Nottingham, UK. A purposive sample of 40 ‘Ambassadors’ interviewees was gathered in three waves of data collection. The two emergent analytic themes highlighted how improvements in confidence, self-esteem and social networks produced via participation were mitigated by structural problems in devolving power within the project. This illustrates how concepts of power are important for understanding the process of health promotion interventions using new media.
Bennett, W. L. (2003). The Internet and global activism. In N. Couldry & J. Curran (Eds.), Contesting media power: Alternative media in a networked world(pp. 17–37). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Little-field .
2.
Bliven, B. D. , Kaufman, S. E. , & Spertus, J. A. (2001). Electronic collection of health-related quality of life data: Validity, time benefits, and patient preference . Quality of Life Research, 10, 15–21 .
3.
Bolam, B. (2005). Public participation in tackling inequalities in health: Implications from recent qualitative research. European Journal of Public Health.
4.
Bolam, B. L. , Hodgetts, D. , Chamberlain, K. , Murphy, S. , & Gleeson, K. (2003). ‘Just do it’: An analysis of accounts of control over health amongst lower socioeconomic status groups . Critical Public Health, 13, 15–31 .
5.
Bolam, B. , Murphy, S. , & Gleeson, K. (2004). Individualisation and inequalities in health: A qualitative study of class identity and health . Social Science and Medicine, 59, 1355–1365 .
6.
Bordiga, E. , Sullivan, J. L. , Oxendine, A. , Jackson, M. S. , & Riedel, E. (2002). Civic culture meets the digital divide: The role of community electronic networks . Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 125–141 .
7.
Borzekowski, D. L. G. , & Rickert, V. I. (2000). Urban girls, Internet use, and accessing health information . Journal of Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, 13, 94–95 .
8.
Borzekowski, D. L. G. , & Rickert, V. I. (2001). Adolescents, the Internet, and health: Issues of access and content . Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 22, 49–59 .
9.
Campbell, C. ,& Murray, M. (2004). Community health psychology: Promoting analysis and action for social change . Journal of Health Psychology, 9, 187–195 .
10.
Cooper, H. , Arber, S. , Fee, L. , & Ginn, J. (1999). The influence of social support and social capital on health: A review and analysis of British data. London: Health Education Authority .
11.
Department of Health . (2003). Tackling health inequalities: A programme for action. London: HMSO .
12.
Elstad, J. I. (1998). The psycho-social perspective on social inequalities in health. In M. Bartley , D. Blane , & G. Davey-Smith (Eds.), The sociology of health inequalities(pp. 39–58). Oxford: Blackwell .
13.
Eng, T. R. (2001). The e-health landscape: A terrain map of emerging information and communication technologies in health and health care. Princeton, NJ: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .
14.
Fine, B. (2001). Social capital and social theory: Political economy and social science at the turn of the millennium. London: Routledge .
15.
French, J. P. , & Raven, B. (1986). The bases of power. In D. Cartwright & A. F. Zander (Eds.), Group dynamics: Research and theory(3rd edn) (pp.150–167). New York: Harper & Row .
16.
Gillies, P. A. (1998a). Effectiveness of alliances and partnerships for health promotion . Health Promotion International, 13, 99–120 .
17.
Gillies, P. A. (1998b). Social capital and its contributions to public health . FORUM Trends in Experimentaland Clinical Medicine, 8(5), 47–51 .
18.
Grootaert, C. , & van Bastelaer, T. (Eds.). (2002). Understanding and measuring social capital: A multidisciplinary tool for practitioners. Washington, DC: The World Bank .
19.
Harriss, J. (2001). Depoliticizing development: The World Bank and social capital. London: Leftword/Anthem/Stylus .
20.
Hawe, P. , & Shiell, A. (2000). Social capital and health promotion: A review . Social Science & Medicine, 512, 871–885 .
21.
Hodgetts, D. , Bolam, B. , & Stevens, C. (2005). Mediation and the construction of contemporary understandings of health and lifestyle . Journal of Health Psychology, 10, 123–136 .
22.
House, J. S. (2001). Understanding social factors and inequalities in health: Twentieth century progress and twenty-first century prospects . Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 43, 125–142 .
23.
James, S. , Schulz, A. , & van Olphen, J. (2001). Social capital, poverty and community health: An exploration of linkages. In S. Saegert , J. Thompson , & M. Warren (Eds.), Social capital and poor communities(pp. 165–188). New York: Russell Sage Foundation .
24.
Kavanaugh,A. L. , & Patterson, S. J. (2001). The impact of community computer networks on social capital and community involvement . American Behavioural Scientist, 45, 496–509 .
25.
Kawachi, I. , & Kennedy, B. (1997). Socioeconomic determinants of health: Health and social cohesion—why care about income inequality?British Medical Journal, 314, 1037–1040 .
26.
Kawachi, I. , Kennedy, B. P. , Lochner, K. , & Prothrow-Smith, D. (1997). Social capital, income inequality, and mortality . American Journal of Public Health, 87, 1491–1498 .
27.
Kraut, R. , Patterson, M. , Lundmark, V. , Kiesler, S. , Mukopadhyay, T. , & Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being?American Psychologist, 53, 1017–1031 .
28.
Kreps, G. L. (2003). E-health: Technology-mediated health communications . Journal of Health Psychology, 8, 5–6 .
29.
Kreuter, M. W. , Lezin, N. A. , Young, L. , & Koplan, A. N. (2001). Social capital: Evaluation implications for community health promotion. In Rootman et al. (Eds.), Evaluation in health promotion(pp. 439–462). Copenhagen: World Health Organisation .
30.
Lim, M. (2003). The Internet, social network and reform in Indonesia. In N. Couldry & J. Curran (Eds.), Contesting media power: Alternative media in a networked world(pp. 273–288). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield .
31.
Macintyre, S. , Chalmers, I. , Horton, R. , & Smith, R. (2001). Using evidence to inform health policy: Case study . British Medical Journal, 322, 222–225 .
32.
Mackenbach, J. , & Bakker, M. (2002). Reducing inequalities in health: A European perspective. London: Routledge .
33.
Mansell, R. (2002). From digital divides to digital entitlements in knowledge societies . Current Sociology, 50, 407–426 .
34.
Muntaner, C. , Lynch, J. , & Davey Smith, G. (2001). Social capital, disorganized communities, and the third way: Understanding the retreat from structural inequalities in epidemiology and public health . International Journal of Health Services, 31, 213–237 .
35.
Muntaner, C. , Lynch, J. , & Oates, G. L. (1999). The social class determinant of income inequality and social cohesion . International Journal of Health Services, 29, 699–732 .
36.
Neuhauser, L. , & Kreps, G. L. (2003). Rethinking communication in the e-health era . Journal of Health Psychology, 8, 7–23 .
37.
Oxendine, A. , Bordiga, E. , Sullivan, J. , & Jackson, M. S. (2003). The importance of trust and community in developing and maintaining a community electronic network . International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 58, 671–696 .
38.
Prilleltensky, I. , & Prilleltensky, O. (2003). Towards a critical health psychology practice . Journal of Health Psychology, 8, 197–210 .
39.
Putnam, R. (1995). Bowling alone: America's declining social capital . Journal of Democracy, 6, 65–78 .
40.
Ritchie, J. , & Spencer, L. (1994). Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. In A. Bryman & R. G. Burgess (Eds.), Analysing qualitative data(pp. 173–194). London: Routledge .
41.
Saegert, S. , Thompson, J. P. , & Warren, M. R. (Eds.). (2001). Social capital and poor communities. New York: Russell Sage Foundation .
42.
Siegrist, J. , & Marmot, M. (2004). Health inequalities and the psychosocial environment: Two scientific challenges . Social Science & Medicine, 58, 1463–1473 .
43.
Silverstone, R. (1999). Why study the media?London: Sage .
44.
Starkey, F. (2003) The ‘empowered debate’: Consumerist, professional and liberational perspectives in health and social care . Social Policy & Society, 2, 273–284 .
45.
Swann, C. , & Morgan, A. (2002). Social capital and health: Insights from qualitative research. London: Heath Development Agency .
46.
Tones, K. , & Tilford, S. (2004). Health promotion: Planning and strategies. London: Sage .
47.
Wellman, B. , Haase, A. Q. , Witte, J. , & Hampton, K. (2002). Does the Internet increase, decrease, or supplement social capital? Social networks, participation, and community commitment . American Behavioural Scientist, 45, 436–455 .
48.
Wellman, B. , & Haythornthwaite, C. (Eds.). (2002). The Internet and everyday life. London: Blackwell .
49.
Wilkinson, R. G. (1996). Unhealthy societies: The afflictions of inequality. London: Routledge .
50.
Wilkinson, R. G. (2005). The impact of inequality: How to make sick societies healthier. London: New Press/Routledge .
