Effect of Media on Healthcare

Abstract

Media and Social Media technologies are massively used today by almost every individual ranging from younger generation to the older population. Elderly patients especially those diagnosed with various types of chronic illness have developed an online social group where they share their experience and further support one another socially and emotionally through the media platform life Facebook. Effect of media on healthcare in the elderly population with chronic diseases and preventive care has been discussed. Arguably, a significant number of the elderly population living with chronic illness have been helped by following medical advice and health information from various media like the internet. Those using online media sources often offer support to each other. Having a chronic disease, among the elderly population, raises the likelihood social media users will their experiences based on information that they have and at the same time learn from patients experiencing the similar chronic condition. Often, chronically ill elderly populations have the opportunity to unveil vital information; therefore they seriously engage in blogging and discussions on the internet that offer comfort to each other. Therefore, to understand the impact of media on elderly patients with chronic illness, a quantitative design and a structured interview were used to gather data. The interview was the most suitable method in this study because it is flexible and less expensive compared to other methods like the questionnaire.

Introduction

In the contemporary world, patient’s role in their health has significantly changed where chronically ill older individuals expected to take the active part in the treatment and health management (Agarwal et al., 2010). These changes have become widespread with the introduction of numerous social media platforms that have substantially mediated such active involvement. According to Fox & Purcell, (2010), within the healthcare domain, there has been a massive utilization of social media where older patients diagnosed with chronic illness have been engaged in active blogging and sharing of relevant health-related information with their peers of similar condition. Based on a survey by Pew Internet Project together with California HealthCare Foundation, they established that elderly population diagnosed with the chronic illness is less probable to access the internet services compared to the healthy population (Van De Watering, 2005). Therefore, to a greater extent, this has led to worsened health conditions because these people could not access vital information that could have helped them enhance their wellbeing in addition to positive socialization and sharing of experiences with other chronically ill patients.

There are numerous social sites today including Facebook, Twitter and Linked In that enables older people with chronic diseases to find other people beyond their immediate geographical barriers that once had isolated patients with chronic illnesses. As a result of this, more elderly patients are now armed with adequate information from their cohorts which significantly empowers them to take active roles in managing their health (Agarwal et al., 2010). Most of these social media are used by the elderly members, friends and even members of their families; therefore, the caregivers also access vital information on the situation of their patients and ways to efficiently attend to them. Most researchers have established that the widespread utilization of media platforms by the elderly population who are chronically ill offer them the ability to access vital information from elder people with similar illnesses. Further, they use the media as a forum to share knowledge and experiences, emotional support in addition to a plethora of other benefits (Van De Watering, 2005). Arguably, the extensive use of media have empowered and improved health outcomes among the elderly patients with chronic illnesses. To fully explore, the phenomena under study, the quantitative research methodology using the structured interview as the primary instrument is to be applied. The hypothesis for the study is that there is a significant relationship between improvement of chronic illness condition among elderly population and the usage of media sources. The primary objective of the current research is to examine the effect of media on healthcare in the elderly population with chronic diseases and preventive care.

3.0 Method

Design

The study will employ the use of quantitative design method to examine the effect of media on healthcare in the elderly population with chronic diseases and preventive care. The qualitative design will help gather numerical data that will contribute to answering the research question.

Sampling and sample size

The sample population will be comprised of the elderly population of ages between 65 and above. The sample size for the study will be ten members of both sexes. The sample size will be the most appropriate to use in this study because of time and financial constraints. The population can further be generalized to the population under study. The researcher will obtain the sample size using random sampling as the most suitable approach since it will allow every elderly individual an equal opportunity to participate in the study.

Instrument

To gather data for the research, the most appropriate tool to use in this case will be the structured interview. The structured interview is highly flexible hence will be used to gather information in any circumstances. Further, a structured interview will be suitable because the interviewer will be able to adjust the questions to gather accurate information relevant to the study. Lastly, a structured interview is less expensive compared to other methods of data collection like questionnaire hence it will be suitable taking into consideration constraint time and financial resources.

Data Analysis

The study will be quantitative in nature. It is clear that the researcher will gather primary data from the Interviewees that are numerical in nature using the structured interview. Therefore, the analysis of the data will use a quantitative method which in this case will be Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

4.0 Results

1 . Which chronic illness are you suffering from?

The question was asked to understand the type of chronic illnesses that the participants were suffering from. Based on the interview, it was determined that approximately 40 percent of the entire participants had high blood pressure. For the following conditions: cancer, lung condition and heart condition each had a representation of 20 percent.

2. How often do you use media to improve your chronic health condition?

The question was important to determine how often the participants visit various media to look for vital information to improve their health. From the study, it was established that 40 percent of the population often uses media. Further, 40 percent of them only visit the social media once in a while implying that they only use the available media when they have the opportunity. Lastly, 20 percent stated that they hardly use media sources to understand and improve their health condition.

3. How do you use social media platforms to improve your health condition? 

The question was raised to determine how the participants utilize the media to their advantage. From the interview, it was established that 40 percent of the participants often use media to access important programs and information on health from the internet. Further, 30 percent of them have joined a social group where they exchange experiences with similar peers suffering from same chronic illnesses for comfort and support. Lastly, 30 percent of these volunteers confirmed to use media by sharing their experiences on blogs.

4. Do you believe media and social media platforms have helped your chronic condition?

The question was important to understand how media platforms have helped the elderly population under study. The interviews showed that 70 percent were confident that the use of media greatly contributed to improving their chronic condition which contributed to enhancing their overall wellbeing. Two percent of the participants who were interviewed stated that the use of media did not help to improve their health in any way and one percent claimed that they are not sure whether media has contributed to improved health.

5. What factors do you think affects your continuous usage of social media to share knowledge?

In this question, the researcher wanted to understand various factors that often affect the participants continued participation in the social media. Arguably, there exist numerous reasons that could influence an individual from accessing any form of media. 40 percent of the interviewees claimed that lack of access to any media is one of the primary factors that seem to influence their continued participation in the social media. On the other hand, 30 percent of them stated that lack of peer group with a similar condition is one of the key factors influencing and lastly the other 30 percent argued that lack of relevant information to help their condition impacts their continued participation in the social media sites.

5.0 Discussion

Based on a study by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about half of the entire adult populations in the US live with a chronic disease including lung condition, cancer, heart condition, high blood pressure or even diabetes (Vickers, 2007). Based on this interview results, the identified chronic illness are the major threats in the US representing a greater part of expenditure on health care. Media sources on the internet as shown in the interview results above plays critical supporting function in the lives of the elderly as they strive to gain better health and at the same time navigate health care system (Agarwal et al., 2010). Disease-specific patient networks have been reported to present greater prospective for older members to harness social media for comfort and emotional support. From the results obtained in the interview, the majority of the elderly population stated that they utilize media sources often to connect with their peers that led to better decision making. In general view, chronic diseases are commonly associated with older population, less educated, the African Americans and lastly the people living in lower income households. However, these perceptions have changed significantly in the contemporary world where a majority of the elderly from every class and race are increasingly using internet sources to share experiences (Greene et al., 2011). 

The cultivation theory and the social learning theory play the greater role in explaining the influence of social media on the elderly populations who have been diagnosed with chronic illness. According to these theories, it is clear that most older population often are influenced by what they read on online media and what they hear from their peers with similar chronic condition (Vickers, 2007). They learn and imitate what their peers are doing to improve their chronic illness, and this has been brought out clearly from the interview. With the introduction of traditional and social media sources, elderly members are rapidly utilizing the social groups to share their experiences and at the same time offer significant support to their peers with similar chronic illnesses condition. Based on the interview, it is evident that majority of the participants access the traditional media and social media sites to find individual whom they share the similar chronic condition with to share experiences (Greene et al., 2011). Arguably, most of them have benefited greatly from the media because they are now able to find valuable information that they have applied to their daily lives which have improved their overall health.

Focusing on the elderly population as a whole, about 51 % of the Americans older population with chronic illness often searches from the internet, vital health information such as information on chronic disease, health insurance, prescription or over-the-counter drugs or even certain medical procedure. Further, approximately 66 percent of the elderly population who have reported no chronic illness utilizes the internet to gather important health information (Van De Watering, 2005). Arguably, in this study, most participants stated that lack of access to media is one of the major factors influencing their continuous usage of media. According to Fox & Purcell, (2010), holding all demographic factors constant, having a chronic disease among elderly population rapidly increase the probability use online media and participation in writing blogs and join group forums that offer support to individuals with similar chronic conditions (Vickers, 2007). 

The aged population with chronic illness accesses comforts in understanding that their symptom was not just in their heads and further help them, to make greater steps in adjusting to living with the chronic condition. Finding similar people who share your chronic condition often encourages the patients where they engage in a communication to share their experiences and comfort (Greene et al., 2011). The chronic condition has further been connected with increased probability to access various user-generated contents related to health including podcasts, blog posts, and doctor reviews. In addition to this, using these resources, an elderly population can dive deeply into specific health topics and make use of online media sources as a great communication tool rather than only a source of information.

Media engages elderly individuals in social experiences which in the process give them meaning to life experiences, offer a sense of accomplishment and create a social network as it has been brought out in this interview. Music, for instance from the traditional media like radio and TV has the potential to improve psychological wellbeing of the elderly members with chronic mental illness. Radio and TV have programs that are very educative where the older patients can access health information. According to Fox & Purcell, (2010), most elders with chronic illness have reported that media health programs significantly contribute towards their positive aging where it gives them the sense to maintain the self-esteem and reduces the loneliness feeling. Music has been associated with an evocative power that can evoke transcendent emotions. Based on the idea that emotions facilitate memory process and music evokes a strong emotion, research has established that any form of music background has the potential to enhance memory performance (Van De Watering, 2005). One of the evidence supporting this argument comes from a study undertaken using a therapeutic music to improve the memory of an old patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease by provoking emotional responses.

The study has critically focused on the effect of media on healthcare in the elderly population with chronic conditions and preventive care. Therefore, to understand the media effect, an interview was conducted with 10 participants of ages between 65 and above. The result from the study has shown that there is a close relationship between positive improvement of chronic illness among elderly population and the usage of various media sources. There are different types of media that this elderly population uses to access vital information related to chronic diseases including Facebook, Linked in, internet and television. Numerous critical information and programs are beneficial when used in the right way. Further, using the social media, the elderly populations can find similar peer members with similar chronic conditions where they can share experiences, offer comfort to one another and assurance. It has considerably helped the older members because they can understand that they are not the only one suffering and the comfort and confidence they receive from online media sources encourages them to lead a better life. Sharing of information is critical since one would be able to understand diverse views before making an informed decision that would improve the wellbeing of the chronically ill elder patient.

References

Agarwal, R., Gao, G., DesRoches, C., & Jha, A. K. (2010). Research commentary—The digital transformation of healthcare: Current status and the road ahead. Information Systems Research , 21 (4), 796-809.

Fox, S., & Purcell, K. (2010). Chronic disease and the Internet . Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Greene, J. A., Choudhry, N. K., Kilabuk, E., & Shrank, W. H. (2011). Online social networking by patients with diabetes: a qualitative evaluation of communication with Facebook. Journal of general internal medicine , 26 (3), 287-292.

Van De Watering, M. (2005). The impact of computer technology on the elderly. Retrieved June , 29 (2008), 12.

Vickers, K. (2007). Aging and the media: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Californian Journal of Health Promotion , 5 (3), 100-105.

8.0 Tables and Figures

Which chronic illness are you suffering from?

Possible choices	Outcome
Cancer	2 20%
High blood pressure	4 40%
Lung conditions	2 20%
Heart conditions	20%

How often do you use media to improve your chronic health condition?

Possible choices	Outcome
Often	4 40%
Once in while	4 40%
Hardly	20%

How do you use social media platforms to improve your health condition?

Possible choices	Outcome
Access important programs and information on health from the internet	4 40%
Joined a group on social media platform of elderly people with chronic illness for comfort and support	3 30%
Share experience on blogs	30%

Do you believe media and social media platforms have helped your chronic condition?

Possible choices	Outcome
Yes	7 70%
No	2 20%
Not sure	10%

What factors do you think affects your continuous usage of social media to share knowledge?

Possible choices	Outcome
Lack of access to media	4 40%
Lack of peer group with similar condition	3 30%
Lack of relevant information to help my condition	3 30%