Lupus and Social Media Discourse: Exploring Organizational Priorities and Messaging
Disciplines
Sociology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Social media, such as YouTube, is a highly accessed resource for those dealing with health conditions. A recent study found that over sixty percent of its participants had turned to YouTube specifically as a source for health information (Marar, Al-Madaney, and Almousawi 2019). The Lupus Foundation of America is one of the leading YouTube channels creating content about this specific health condition. Their catalog of videos addresses varied topics including patient issues, care providers, and medical-focused matters. This project employs mixed methods to analyze the content created by this channel. The findings from this data help identify the foundation’s key priorities and common themes. This also highlights potential disparities among those impacted by lupus and helps identify underserved populations and limitations of the information conveyed.
Using NVivo Qualitative Analysis software, selected videos were analyzed and coded using grounded methods. The videos demonstrated a wide range of subjects and experiences. Approximately 68% of videos subjects were women and 32 % were men. The majority of video subjects were identified as people of color. Videos were found to focus on the mental, physical, and social effects of lupus, frequently ending on a positive note. These findings demonstrate that the Lupus Foundation of America prioritizes viewer education on the social and sociomedical experiences of those with lupus, physical symptoms, life modifications those with lupus have made to adapt to the disease, and the importance of raising awareness.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Sociology & Criminal Justice
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Daniel Farr
Lupus and Social Media Discourse: Exploring Organizational Priorities and Messaging
Social media, such as YouTube, is a highly accessed resource for those dealing with health conditions. A recent study found that over sixty percent of its participants had turned to YouTube specifically as a source for health information (Marar, Al-Madaney, and Almousawi 2019). The Lupus Foundation of America is one of the leading YouTube channels creating content about this specific health condition. Their catalog of videos addresses varied topics including patient issues, care providers, and medical-focused matters. This project employs mixed methods to analyze the content created by this channel. The findings from this data help identify the foundation’s key priorities and common themes. This also highlights potential disparities among those impacted by lupus and helps identify underserved populations and limitations of the information conveyed.
Using NVivo Qualitative Analysis software, selected videos were analyzed and coded using grounded methods. The videos demonstrated a wide range of subjects and experiences. Approximately 68% of videos subjects were women and 32 % were men. The majority of video subjects were identified as people of color. Videos were found to focus on the mental, physical, and social effects of lupus, frequently ending on a positive note. These findings demonstrate that the Lupus Foundation of America prioritizes viewer education on the social and sociomedical experiences of those with lupus, physical symptoms, life modifications those with lupus have made to adapt to the disease, and the importance of raising awareness.