Partnering With Mommy Bloggers to Disseminate Breast Cancer Risk Information: Social Media Intervention

Wright, Kevin B.; Fisher, Carla L.; Rising, Camella J.; Burke‐Garcia, Amelia; Afanaseva, Dasha; Cai, Xiaomei

doi:10.2196/12441

Cited by 28 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…To help translate study results, individual researchers and federally-funded research programs could provide breast cancer organizations with already structured educational programs to engage their communities and share online webinars, videos, and "expert talks." Researchers could provide information to breast cancer organizations in formats that are readily adaptable to social media dissemination as many of these organizations connect with the public through platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and blogs, and social media dissemination is an effective strategy for sharing breast cancer and environmental risk information [37]. Information could also be provided at large meetings such as the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and opportunities for breast cancer organizations to focus on environmental health and disease prevention: a mixed-methods approach using website analyses, interviews, and focus groups

et al. 2020

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Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and most cases are not due to high risk inherited genes. In response, breast cancer activists successfully advocated for innovative research on environmental chemical exposures as a possible cause. Since then, new evidence supports hypotheses that common industrial and consumer chemicals are linked to the disease, and expert panels recommend reducing exposures. We evaluated whether these research results and recommendations are translated back into the work of breast cancer organizations and what barriers and opportunities influence their ability to focus on environmental factors. Methods: We used a Python script to evaluate the frequency of environmental terms on the websites of 81 breast cancer organizations (> 14,000 associated URLs) and conducted two focus groups and 20 interviews with leaders of breast cancer organizations. We also analyzed the frequency of terms on two trusted, national cancer websites. Results: 40% of organizations include information on environmental chemicals on their websites, but references are infrequent and rarely cite specific chemicals of concern. Most organizations (82%) discuss other risk factors such as exercise, diet, family history, or genetics. From interviews and focus groups, we identified four types of barriers to addressing environmental chemicals: 1) time and resource constraints, 2) limited knowledge of the state of the research and lack of access to experts, 3) difficulties with messaging, including concern that cultural and economic factors make it difficult for individuals to reduce their exposures, and 4) institutional obstacles, such as the downplaying of environmental risks by industry interests. Participants expressed the desire for easy-to-adopt educational programs and increased federal funding for scientist-advocate research partnerships. Conclusion: Our research underscores the need for environmental breast cancer experts and trusted cancer organizations to increase research translation activities so that breast cancer organizations can communicate new science on environmental factors in their online and in-person work. Moreover, our research highlights how most groups are focusing on providing resources to diagnosed women, including addressing problems with healthcare access, which displaces their ability to work on breast cancer prevention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and opportunities for breast cancer organizations to focus on environmental health and disease prevention: a mixed-methods approach using website analyses, interviews, and focus groups

et al. 2020

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“…Mothers who blog, sometimes called 'mommy bloggers', frequently post information about a variety of health topics pertaining to women and their family members [27]. As an example, The Motherhood (www.themotherhood.com) is a blogging community of mothers, many of whom were willing to facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based health information about environmental risks of breast cancer as part of an intervention study [28]. The bloggers worked with researchers to tailor blog posts that included evidence-based information about actionable steps that mothers and daughters can take to reduce the environmental risk of breast cancer.…”

Section: Case Study 3: the Motherhood Blogging Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blog readers exposed to the researcher-adapted (www.bcerp.org) and bloggertailored environmental breast cancer risk/prevention information were more satisfied with and influenced by the information when compared to readers who were not exposed (or did not recall seeing the messages). Moreover, exposed blog readers were more likely to share the information with others in their social networks, especially their daughters [28]. Demonstrating the potential for improved health literacy among mothers and daughters, one blog reader said, "You read a lot of these white papers [educational handouts] and it's like, 'Look at all these words', and I don't know what they mean.…”

Section: Case Study 3: the Motherhood Blogging Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The role and impact of health literacy on peer-to-peer health communication

Peterson

Gaysynsky

Chou

et al. 2019

ISU

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This chapter explores the impact and role of health literacy in peer-to-peer health communication contexts, such as social media platforms and online patient support groups. The chapter contends that health literacy efforts of researchers, health care providers, and public health practitioners will need to include innovative strategies to help consumers critically evaluate and appropriately utilize the health information found in online communities. The chapter first discusses the rise of peer-to-peer sharing of health information and accompanying health literacy concerns. Next, a series of case studies are presented that illustrate the potential role of health literacy in three different online settings: clinical trial patient support networks, social media channels, and personal blogs. The chapter then explores common themes highlighted in these examples and discusses the range of health literacy benefits and pitfalls that accompany the use of these channels for health information. Finally, the chapter explores existing individual-level and system-level health literacy initiatives for peer-to-peer health communication and suggests opportunities for future work in this area. Such efforts to address and improve health literacy can help individuals and communities successfully navigate online platforms where peer-to-peer health information is exchanged.

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“…They need help learning to facilitate these conversations in a health-promoting manner. Third-party, online, community-based approaches may be ideal in both disseminating environmental risk information and helping mothers and daughters navigate breast cancer risk conversations to promote their adoption of risk-reducing behaviors [ 6 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As scientists within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) co-funded Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Program (BCERP) (see the Supplementary Materials ), we formed a partnership with an online community stakeholder group—commonly referred to as “mommy bloggers”—to create and test the efficacy of a social media intervention using a multi-phase design. In Phase 1, we aimed to influence mothers’ risk knowledge and behavioral intentions to reduce environmental breast cancer risk [ 11 ]. In Phase 2, we sought to gain critical insight from these bloggers and their readers (i.e., mothers) about the social context (i.e., interpersonal communication dynamics) that influences cancer risk behavior—a key component to developing targeted intervention messages that spark mother–daughter conversations about risk-reducing behaviors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helping Mothers and Daughters Talk about Environmental Breast Cancer Risk and Risk-Reducing Lifestyle Behaviors

Fisher

Wright

Rising

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Background: Mothers and daughters struggle to talk about breast cancer risk. Even less attention is paid to environmental determinants of cancer. Third-party online approaches can be helpful navigating these conversations. The aim of this study was to obtain feedback from mothers exposed to a social media intervention (“mommy bloggers”) and identify their preferences for message-design approaches that could help them talk to their daughter(s) about environmental breast cancer risk. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 50 mothers. A thematic analysis was conducted using the constant comparative method. Results: Mothers identified four approaches to message design that could help facilitate mother–daughter communication about environmental breast cancer risk. These included two action-oriented approaches that centered on getting the conversation started and keeping the conversation going and two approaches based on lifespan factors to promote daughters’ engagement by using age-appropriate language and visuals and focusing on developmentally specific lifestyle behaviors. Mothers also provided recommended strategies within each approach. Conclusions: Mothers identified various approaches interventionists can utilize to overcome barriers to talking to daughters about environmental breast cancer risk. To promote mother–daughter communication, the messages should be action-oriented to facilitate interaction, but also developed with lifespan and developmental considerations in mind to engage daughters.

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Partnering With Mommy Bloggers to Disseminate Breast Cancer Risk Information: Social Media Intervention

Cited by 28 publications

References 46 publications

Barriers and opportunities for breast cancer organizations to focus on environmental health and disease prevention: a mixed-methods approach using website analyses, interviews, and focus groups

Barriers and opportunities for breast cancer organizations to focus on environmental health and disease prevention: a mixed-methods approach using website analyses, interviews, and focus groups

The role and impact of health literacy on peer-to-peer health communication

Helping Mothers and Daughters Talk about Environmental Breast Cancer Risk and Risk-Reducing Lifestyle Behaviors

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