Date Presented 04/05/2025
Using social media platforms is one strategy for managing chronic illness. The study investigated individuals’ experiences applying self-management strategies. Results show beneficial knowledge sharing and opportunities for condition management.
Primary Author and Speaker: Eron Bozec
Additional Authors and Speakers: Kelly Hyde, Samantha Gould, Madeline Davis, Arianna Galetta, Francesca Persiani
Contributing Authors: Eron Bozec
BACKGROUND: Approximately 51% of adults in the United States are diagnosed with at least one chronic condition (Boersma et al., 2020). Medical community education efforts often lack critical chronic disease management strategies, resulting in condition management challenges (Chirumamilla & Gulati, 2021). Meaningful participation requires incorporating self-management strategies (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2014), thus, social media fills the knowledge gap. However, the literature shows concern regarding social media misinformation potentially resulting in condition deterioration (Zenone et al., 2021). Understanding social media’s influence on self-management is essential for occupational engagement.
PURPOSE: The research study investigates social media’s influence on self-management and participation in chronic disease.
DESIGN/METHOD: The qualitative study incorporates Photovoice, a form of participatory action research. Participants were recruited via social media posts and instructed to take photos that reflected their research question interpretation. During recorded semi-structured interviews, participants discussed the photos meaning. Interview transcripts were inductively coded, and matching codes were merged to develop themes.
RESULTS: Five themes emerged regarding social media’s impact (1) Occupational Participation, (2) Implementing Self-Management Strategies, (3) Community Empowerment, (4) Issues with Healthcare Professionals, and (5) Spreading Credible Information. Results demonstrate social media provides credible self-management education and positively impacts chronic disease management, health, well-being, and occupational engagement.
CONCLUSION: Occupational therapists utilize health promotion and management strategies to facilitate participation. Understanding how individuals incorporate social media resources and condition management information assists occupational therapists in promoting occupational eng.
References
Chirumamilla, S., & Gulati, M. (2021). Patient education and engagement through social media. Current Cardiology Reviews, 17(2), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573403X15666191120115107
Lambdin-Pattavina, C., & Pyatak, E. (2022). Occupational therapy’s role in chronic conditions. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy: Official Publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 76(Supplement_3), 7613410220. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.76S3003
Vassilev, I., Rogers, A., Kennedy, A., & Koetsenruijter, J. (2014). The influence of social networks on self-management support: a metasynthesis. BMC Public Health, 14, 719. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-719
Zhou, L., Zhang, D., Yang, C., & Wang, Y. (2018). Harnessing social media for health information management. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 27, 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2017.12.003
