Identifying Information Needs of Patients With IgA Nephropathy Using an Innovative Social Media-stepped Analytical Approach.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The number of people with kidney disease using social media to search for medical information and peer support is increasing. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) predominantly affects young adults, demographically the biggest users of social media. This article presents an innovative analysis of social media interactions to identify unmet education and information needs of patients with IgAN.

Methods

Following ethical approval for the study, the IgAN Support UK Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/915274415226674) granted us permission to anonymously collect and analyze 1959 posts and comments from 498 group users. An initial patient focus group and quantitative word-frequency analysis created an initial categorization matrix that was iteratively refined after ser

SUBMITTER: Vasilica C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8116902 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature