TY - JOUR
T1 - Examination of bariatric surgery Facebook support groups
T2 - a content analysis
AU - Koball, Afton M.
AU - Jester, Dylan J.
AU - Domoff, Sarah E.
AU - Kallies, Kara J.
AU - Grothe, Karen B.
AU - Kothari, Shanu N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Society for Bariatric Surgery
PY - 2017/8
Y1 - 2017/8
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Bariatric surgery
KW - Content analysis
KW - Media effects
KW - Online social networking
KW - Social media
KW - Support groups
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U2 - 10.1016/j.soard.2017.04.025
DO - 10.1016/j.soard.2017.04.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 28600115
AN - SCOPUS:85020225863
SN - 1550-7289
VL - 13
SP - 1369
EP - 1375
JO - Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases
JF - Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases
IS - 8
ER -