Facebook Group Members Research Articles

User Experiences With a Moderated Facebook Group to Promote Vaccination.

To examine user experiences in a moderated Facebook group intervention aimed at Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine promotion. Facebook group members were given 2-3 vaccination posts/day for 28days (fourweeks). Posts were aimed at educating about COVID-19 vaccination, soliciting concerns around COVID-19 vaccination, and engaging members. Participants were surveyed about their experience at four weeks. Moderated Facebook group. Unvaccinated individuals who were randomized to the intervention group and completed fourweek follow-up (N = 216, 82.1%). After fourweeks, participants rated their experience in the Facebook group (eg, program satisfaction) and provided open-text responses about their satisfaction with the group. Free-text responses were dual coded and emergent themes were examined. On average, participants were 37.0 years old (SD = 10.3), majority female (70.9%), and white (79.7%). The majority of participants were satisfied with the group (76.7%), agreed that other people were friendly (M = 5.58/7), and felt safe discussing health information (M = 3.96/5). Open-text responses revealed that participants liked the program because they thought the information was useful (27.7%), other members were friendly (16.1%), and the group was a safe place (13.8%). While many responded that there was nothing they did not like about the program (37.6%), nearly one-third (31.9%) reported disliking the program because it appeared to be too much in favor of vaccination and because other members came across as rude (7.1%). Those with conservative political views were less likely to be satisfied with the group (P = .04). Facebook groups represent an acceptable way to engage participants to improve vaccination against COVID-19. Some aspects of the Facebook group could be improved for future iterations.

Addressing the gaps: What social media tells us about patient experiences with hypoglossal nerve stimulation

PurposeHypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) can be an effective treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in positive airway pressure (PAP) intolerant patients. To better understand patient perceptions of HNS therapy, we explored three Facebook groups pertaining to HNS therapy. Materials and methodsA retrospective analysis of Facebook posts from three HNS-related Facebook groups, from October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023, was performed. Posts were analyzed for author attitude, content (adverse events, inquiries, or sharing information), and the inclusion of media within the post. ResultsFrom 737 Facebook posts, 752 events were identified, predominantly authored by patients or family (99.5 %). Few posts included media attachments (7.3 %), primarily photos (85.5 %). Post tone was mainly neutral (79.4 %), rather than positive (12.9 %) or negative (7.7 %). Most posts (53.6 %) were queries to the Facebook group, as opposed to sharing information (28.9 %) or detailing adverse events (17.6 %). Notably queries posed by Facebook group members included those pertaining to the postoperative recovery course (10.17 %), physical activity restrictions (6.20 %), HNS therapy eligibility (4.71 %), financial considerations (4.22 %), and more. ConclusionOverall, Facebook group members reported a predominantly neutral tone, typically posting queries to the group rather than sharing information or detailing adverse events. These findings illustrate how diverse data sources, such as social media, can enhance our understanding of patient experiences and identify gaps in patient education with HNS therapy.

Are There Hidden Adverse Events in Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Comparing Social Media and a Federal Database.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) can be an effective treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in positive airway pressure (PAP) intolerant patients. To better understand patient experiences with HNS therapy, we explored reported events from HNS-related Facebook groups and the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. A retrospective analysis of HNS-related Facebook posts from three groups pertaining to HNS therapy, from October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023, was performed. Posts were analyzed for patient-reported adverse events. Concurrently, the MAUDE database was reviewed for HNS-related events during the same timeframe. From 737 Facebook posts, 132 (17.55%) adverse events were identified. Adverse events included pain (34.85%), stimulation discomfort (14.39%), lip weakness (6.82%) and issues related to lead tethering or tight leads around the neck (3.79%). Analysis of the MAUDE database found 428 adverse events, including pain (24.07%), lip weakness (0.44%), and lead tethering (1.64%). Facebook group members reported higher rates of lip weakness and lead tethering than recorded in the MAUDE database. These findings illustrate how diverse data sources, such as social media, can enhance our understanding of patient experiences and identify gaps in patient education with HNS therapy. NA Laryngoscope, 2024.

Impact Of Emotion Dysregulation On Eating Behavior Among The Tunisian General Population

IntroductionPrevious theoretical models and reviews have documented a strong connection between emotion dysregulation and eating disorders (ED) psychopathology among the general and clinical populations.ObjectivesWe aimed to assess the link between emotional dysregulation and ED in the Tunisian general population.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study among Facebook group members, using an online questionnaire, over the period from February 17, 2023 to May 26, 2023. Emotional dysregulation was assessed via the “Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale” (DERS), which is composed of six sub-scores : “Non-acceptance” (N), “Strategies” (S), “Impulse” (I), “Goal” (G), “Clarity” (C) and “Awareness” (A). The Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was used to assess the risk of developing ED.ResultsA total of 528 responses were included. The mean EAT-26 score was 12.36±10.34; and 12.3% of our population were at high risk of developing an ED. The mean N, S, I, B, Cl, C and overall DERS scores were 7.78; 8.24; 7.08; 9.57; 6.46; 7.61 and 46.74, respectively.We showed that the EAT-26 score was correlated with the overall DERS score (r=0.260; p<0.001) as well as with the N (r=0.208; p=0.002), S (r=0.228; p<0.001), I (r=0.212; p=0,025), B (r=0.198; p<0.001), C (r=0,122; p=0,005) and Cl (r=0.136; p=0.002) scores.ConclusionsOur study showed that participants with a high risk of developing an ED seem to have more difficulties with emotional regulation. Thus, our findings call for interventions that target emotion regulation in the treatment of ED.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Impact of child maltreatment on bulimic behaviors among the tunisian general population

IntroductionChild maltreatment (CM) refers to all forms of physical or psychological violence, sexual abuse, and neglect of a person under the age of 18, resulting in actual or potential harm to their health, survival, development, or dignity. It is recognized as a predictor of psychological difficulties in adulthood, such as bulimic behavior.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to assess the link between CM and bulimic behaviors in the Tunisian general population.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study among Facebook group members, using an online questionnaire, from February 17, 2023, to May 26, 2023. All respondents over the age of 18 were included in the study. CM was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which provides information on five types of maltreatment: emotional abuse (EA), physical abuse (PA), sexual abuse (SA), emotional neglect (EN), and physical neglect (PN). The Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE) was used to screen and assess the intensity of bulimic behavior.ResultsA total of 528 responses were included in the study. The mean age of the sample was 33.3±11.95 years. Mean AE, AP, AS, NE, NP, and overall CTQ scores were 8.30; 6.58; 6.38; 10.14; 7.26, and 49.72, respectively. A history of severe AE, AP, AS, NE, or NP was reported by 13.1%, 10.8%, 8.5%, 11.6% and 8.3% of respondents, respectively. The mean BITE score was 10.76 ±6.85 and 6.6% of our population were at high risk of developing bulimic behavior.In the bivariate study, the BITE score was significantly correlated with all forms of MI. The strongest correlation was with AE (r=0.310; p<0.001).In the multivariate study, only AE was associated with bulimic behaviors.ConclusionsThis study highlighted a positive association between various forms of child neglect and abuse, and bulimic behaviors. It is therefore worth noting that interventions for these disorders may be more effective if they target not only the behavior itself but also underlying risk factors such as maltreatment.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Eating Disorders In The Tunisian General Population

IntroductionEating disorders (ED) negatively affect physical, mental, and social well-being. The exact psychopathology of ED is still unknown, with research suggesting the interplay of a combination of factors.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of ED in the Tunisian general population, and to identify associated risk factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study among Facebook group members, using an online questionnaire, over the period from February 17, 2023 to May 26, 2023. All respondents over the age of 18 were included in the study. All participants filled a socio-demographic questionnaire. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to screen for those at risk of eating disorders.ResultsA total of 528 responses were included in the study. 33.3±11.95 years. The subjects were unmarried in 63.4% of cases, of low socio-economic level in 19.5%, with a university education in 75.2% and with a regular occupation in 56.1% of cases.The mean EAT-26 score was 12.36±10.34. according to this scale, 12.3% of our population were at high risk of developing an ED.In a multivariate analysis, the female gender (p = 0.006), the low economic status (p = 0.012), a psychiatric comorbidity (p < 0.001), and physical activity (p= 0,037) were strongly associated with ED.ConclusionsThis study highlighted the magnitude of the risk of disordered eating attitudes in the Tunisian population and the need for programs to prevent and control these disorders.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Bulimic behaviors in the tunisian general population: prevalence and associated factors

IntroductionBulimic behaviors (BB) are a major public health problem, due to their prognosis and serious psychological, somatic, and social consequences. The exact etiopathogenesis of BB is still poorly understood, and the literature suggests the interaction of multiple factors.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of BB in the Tunisian general population and to identify the associated risk factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study of Facebook group members, using an online questionnaire, from February 17, 2023, to May 26, 2023. All respondents over the age of 18 were included in the study. All participants filled out a socio-demographic questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height. The Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE) was used to screen and assess the intensity of bulimic behaviors.Results A total of 528 responses were included in the study. The mean age of the sample was 33.3±11.95 years, and the M/F sex ratio was 0.41. Subjects were unmarried in 63.4% of cases, of low socio-economic status in 19.5%, with a university education in 75.2%, and with a psychiatric history in 25.6% of cases. The mean BMI was 25.15±4.98. The mean BITE score was 10.76±6.85, and 6.6% of our population were at high risk of developing BB.In the bivariate study, female gender (p<0.001), unmarried marital status (p=0.001), university education (p<0.001), and the presence of a psychiatric history (p<0.001) were significantly associated with a high risk of developing BB. Moreover, the BITE score was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.231; p<0.001) and positively correlated with BMI (r=0.307; p<0.001).ConclusionsThis study highlighted the magnitude of the risk of bulimic behaviors in the Tunisian general population and the need to set up programs to prevent and control these disorders.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

FAMILY PHYSICIANS’ MOTIVATION PROCESS TOWARD THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION

Depression is a widespread disease and remarks a difficult clinical challenge for primary health care providers or physicians. Primary health care providers, namely Family Physicians (FPs), are crucial in recognizing and managing depression process. The study employed a cross-sectional survey of FPs’ attitudes toward diagnosis and management, asking about their perceptions of their patient depression process. Data for the study was gathered from the FPs who were Facebook group members. 229 out of 550 FPs answered the survey questions. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 24th edition. The study examined whether FPs made a significant difference between gender and years of experience in the profession. A questionnaire comprising items on a 9-point Likert scale was used to capture the perceptions and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was further employed to examine if the critical factors were perceived differently by FPs’ experience years. The study findings presented that gender did not make a statistically significant difference. There was a significant difference between the 6-10 years of experience group of FPs, the 16-20 years of experience group, and the 21+ years group. The study showed that FPs were undecided in diagnosing and treating depressed patients. The study displayed that FPs' getting to know their patients better facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of depression. However, the study indicated that family physicians were indecisive in the depressed patients' diagnosis and treatment. It can be concluded that the success of depression processes requires the cooperation of FPs and psychiatrists. These findings suggest that healthcare policymakers should consider FPs' strategies for managing depression in the improvement of mental health services.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0015/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Effects of WAKE.TAIWAN Healthy Lifestyle Web-Based Promotion Programs on Adults’ Awareness of Self-perceived Weight Status and Their Healthy Lifestyle Stages: Retrospective Analysis

Obesity is a major risk factor of many chronic diseases. However, current obesity control policies and actions are not sufficient to halt the pandemic. It has been documented that more than half of all adults are not able to interpret their own weight status, not to mention to practice healthy lifestyles. Social media and interactive websites can reach people on a long-term basis, which may be used as intervention vehicles to build up cognition for weight control and to promote healthy behavior practices. WAKE.TAIWAN is an ongoing web-based multifaceted healthy lifestyle promotion program with social media and interactive websites as the intervention vehicle. This study aimed to examine whether adults reached by our program would have increased awareness to their own anthropometric measures, correctly judge their body weight status, and practice healthy behaviors over time. This study adopted a quasi-experimental design with web-based questionnaire surveys. The experimental group consisted of WAKE.TAIWAN Facebook group members aged 20-65 years who have used the interactive website health education resources (n=177). The group was further stratified into 2 subgroups based on their duration of participation (E1 group: duration <1 year; E2 group: duration ≥1 year). The control group consisted of other Facebook users (n=545) in the same age range who had not been exposed to the health education materials of this project. A total of 722 people (male: n=267, 37%; and female: n=455, 63%) participated in our survey in 2019. Data were analyzed to evaluate program effectiveness using a generalized linear model. The proportion of people correctly interpreting their own weight status in the experimental group was greater than that of the control group (control group: 320/545, 58.7%; group E1: 53/88, 60%; and group E2: 64/89, 72%). The E2 experimental group was significantly better than the control group in paying attention to weight-related measures and in correctly interpreting their own weight status (odds ratio 1.73, 95% CI 1.04-2.89; P=.04). With respect to the behavioral stages of practicing healthy eating and active living, both experimental groups, E1 and E2, performed significantly better than the control group (group E1: P=.003 and P=.02; and group E2: P=.004 and P<.001, respectively). This study demonstrates that the longer the participants were exposed to our social media-based programs, the higher the proportion of them that would have the correct judgement on their weight status and fall in the higher stages of healthy lifestyle behaviors. A longitudinal follow-up survey is in place to verify these findings.

Social support provided to bariatric surgery patients through a facebook group may improve weight loss outcomes.

BackgroundPatients’ social support has been shown to impact outcomes after bariatric surgery. We have previously shown that a Facebook group administered by bariatric providers offers an effective alternative social support mechanism to in-person support groups, with higher patient participation. Our aim was to determine whether participation in this Facebook group could improve patient outcomes after bariatric surgery.MethodsAfter institutional board approval, our center’s Facebook group members were electronically surveyed about their perceived value of group participation and their Facebook group usage frequency. We also collected patient age, sex, insurance, preoperative weight, type of procedure, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and weight loss from the electronic medical record. To assess the impact of Facebook group participation we compared patient outcomes between “frequent users” (those checking the Facebook group’s activity at least once a week), “infrequent users”, and a control group of all patients operated on during the year prior to the establishment of the Facebook group. The groups were compared after adjusting for potential confounding factors.Results250 out of 1400 Facebook group patients responded to the survey (18%). 195 patients were frequent and 55 were infrequent users. Outcomes were compared with 211 control patients. The groups did not differ in their baseline characteristics apart from their sex. Frequent users had a higher weight loss compared to the other groups up to 2 years postoperatively but no difference in the overall complications. On multivariable analysis, frequency of Facebook use was the main factor associated with 0.5-, 1-, and 2-year weight loss.ConclusionFrequent participation in a Facebook support group after bariatric surgery was associated with improved early weight loss outcomes. If additional longer-term studies confirm our findings, offering similar social support groups may become essential after bariatric surgery, especially during times of social isolation when in-person social support meetings may not be feasible.

Fostering Parasocial Interaction between Users and Drama Characters through online communities: A Case Study of Ertugrul Ghazi Viewers

All of us, at some point in our lives, build an illusionary interaction with our favourite personalities which is all about one-sided affection and admiration for that favorite persona. That interaction is academically named Parasocial interaction. In the past, various studies confirm the impact of drama on its audience and how this impact changes their attitudes and behaviors. This study examines the impact of drama on its audiences' in the context of Parasocial Interaction (PSI). A case study of Ertugrul Ghazi has been taken in this regard as this drama, at the time of research, got the highest viewer ship in Pakistan. This paper revisited parasocial interaction theory and scrutinized PSI between a viewer and the drama character. The paper study the PSI between Facebook group members and drama characters. Qualitative content analysis has been used to explore PSI between social media users (who watch drama series and are also active on Facebook groups for drama series) and drama characters. The themes have been generated and categorized under the level of motivations for PSI e.g., physical, social, and task attraction, and new dimensions for PSI have been explored.

Facebook groups as citizen science tools for plant species monitoring

Abstract Social networks offer communication channels through which people share huge amounts of primary data that can be used for scientific analyses, including biodiversity research. To understand to what extent data extracted from social networks could complement data collected for scientific purposes, it is necessary to quantify the bias of such data. We analysed which plant traits increased the probability of a wild‐growing plant species to be photographed and posted to a social network based on the data from an unstructured citizen science tool; a Facebook group focused on the vascular flora of Sicily (Italy). Then, we compared botanical data collected by this Facebook group members with data collected by scientists in 6,366 vegetation plots sampled across Sicily, stored in the EVA database. Our results suggested that data proceeding from the analysed Facebook group were affected by various sampling biases, which differed from the biases inherent to other types of biodiversity data such as those from vegetation plots. Facebook users recorded a higher proportion of red‐listed and alien species than vegetation scientists. Therefore, social networks can provide a valuable complement to the data collected by scientists for research purposes. Synthesis and applications. Despite Facebook does not support geotagging and interface for data access and analysis, it is an invaluable source of biodiversity data that could complement those collected by professional researchers. The main advantage of data from social networks is their high dynamism, as they report large amounts of species occurrences in almost real time. Therefore, citizen science data from a Facebook group where the records are curated by expert volunteers can be used (a) for monitoring population dynamics of threatened and alien species; (b) as a source of additional data on rare species occurrences, particularly for plants that are attractive for amateur botanists, such as orchids; (c) for early warning systems of potential new invasions; and (4) for phenological studies, especially at the beginning of the flowering season.

Viral feminism: #MeToo networked expressions in feminist Facebook groups

ABSTRACT The #MeToo movement has emerged as a worldwide phenomenon, revolutionizing conversations about sex and power on social media platforms. This research investigates feminist expressions surrounding #MeToo on Facebook in Israel using virtual ethnography (netnography) and in-depth interviews. Netnography is a qualitative method for the cultural analysis of online community data. The study design included several separate steps: examination of feminist Facebook groups, identification and classification of posts, and analysis and presentation of findings as well as their meanings and empowerment effects in Israel, especially the infusion of militaristic and masculine elements from Israeli culture into local #MeToo feminist social media discourse. This research articulates the varied feminist practices that are made possible and encouraged via the social networking platform of Facebook. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on online feminist discourse by analyzing the expressions and messaging characteristics used by Facebook group members and their affective mediated role as acts of feminism, mainly in the form of broad social meanings that can be inferred from posts.

Perceptions and experiences of lifestyle interventions in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as a management strategy for symptoms of PCOS

BackgroundThe international clinical practice guidelines for PCOS emphasize diet and exercise as first-line management of clinical signs and symptoms. This study aimed to describe the patterns, perceptions and experiences of lifestyle interventions for women in the community with PCOS.MethodAn electronic survey of 493 members of two PCOS consumer support groups, collected by cloud-based Survey Monkey, described women’s types and patterns of diet and exercise, experiences and perceptions of effectiveness. Women were recruited from the Polycystic Ovary Association of Australia (POSAA) and from the Facebook group, PCOS University Research Group. Associations between participants perceptions of effectiveness, and diet types and exercise patterns were assessed using logistic regression. Response bias for the POSAA group was assessed with a continuum of resistance model.Results91% of POSAA members and 311 Facebook group members aged 16–50 years responded to the survey. Nearly all women reported adjusting their dietary and exercise practices with the aim to improve their health and/or PCOS (82% and 73% respectively), however less than 13% reported achievement of health goals (12.2% and 8.1% respectively). Low carbohydrate, high protein diets, and vigorous activity were associated with self-perceived effectiveness (r.0.16, p < 0.01; r.0.15 p < 0.01 and r.0.2 p < 0.01 respectively). Barriers for lifestyle interventions included psychosocial factors. Response bias was not assessed for the Facebook group, however self-reported PCOS aligned with prevalence of clinical phenotypes and suggests results are generalizable to clinical populations of women with PCOS, who are responsible for self-directing and administering lifestyle interventions to manage their PCOS.ConclusionsPerceptions of effectiveness for lifestyle interventions by women with PCOS may be complicated by a lack of rigorous evidence. The strength of recommendations in clinical practice guidelines may be enhanced by clinical trials investigating flexible and feasible lifestyle interventions for women in the community with PCOS.

Impact des groupes de patientes Facebook dans le processus décisionnel chirurgical : l’exemple du rappel des implants macro-texturés Biocell®

The use of social media, has been a major upheaval in our lifestyles in the last decade. At the forefront in the crisis of BIA-ALCL, as soon as February 2019, our university centre took steps to identify and contact all patients with macro-textured implants. The purpose of this recall was to educate patients and establish a monitoring system. The purpose of this work is to analyse the patients' decision-making process. A retrospective study of patients, who requested and attended appointments with a surgeon, was made. The number of patients with clinical symptoms of BIA-ALCL, the number of patients who requested implant removal surgery, the histological diagnoses found after surgery were collected. We then calculated the proportion of Facebook group members among patients who required implant removal in the absence of a diagnosis or even warning signs. Seven hundred and seventy women requested an appointment with one of the surgeons in our department. Of all the women who requested consultation, 497 (64.55%) had symptoms. 199 patients were members or had attended one of the Facebook groups of patients. At the end of the consultation with their surgeon, almost 25% of patients made a decision to have the implant removed against medical advice. Among these patients, 67% were part of a group of patients on the Facebook network. To date, no patient has been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL. These results support the hypothesis that belonging to Facebook groups of patients becomes, for some, a key element in the decision-making process beyond expert opinion. In the future, preliminary work with patient groups on social networks should be done in order to obtain additional health efficiency.

The Women Physiatrists Facebook Group: Evaluating the Value of a Private Online Community.

This study evaluated Women Physiatry Facebook group members' perceptions of the value of an online community. The authors hypothesized that members would find the group protective against burnout, and early career participants would be more likely to use the group for education and networking. This was a cross-sectional survey study of women physicians in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation primarily in the United States. The survey consisted of 51 questions covering demographic information, work/life satisfaction, and physician burnout.There were 310 respondents. Those at an earlier career stage accessed the Women Physiatrists Facebook page significantly more often (P = 0.038). Most respondents were neutral regarding the group reducing burnout. Across all career stages, the group was most often used as an educational tool to review patient cases (82.2%). Mid- to late-career members were more likely to use the group to learn about maintenance of certification or continuing medical education requirements (P = 0.019) and searching for a physiatrist in another part of the county (P = 0.016). This study suggests that closed Facebook groups can be useful educational tools across career stages.

Internet and decision-making regarding health among pregnant woman: cross-cultural adaptation of a questionnaire for use in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Women's Use of the Internet in Pregnancy Questionnaire (WUIPQ) to Brazilian Portuguese and analyze the psychometric properties of the Preparation for Decision Making Scale (PDMS). This study consisted of the following steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, evaluation by the author of the original questionnaire, review by the panel of experts, and pretest of the WUIPQ. For such, Brazilian pregnant women and mothers who were members of Facebook groups participated in the study. We measured test-retest reliability as well as internal consistency and performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the B-PDMS. In the pretest, 88.14% of the participants considered the items of the B-WUIPQ to be clear and pertinent, and 84.09% rated the sequence and organization of the questionnaire as excellent/good. The intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the B-PDMS were 0.850 (95%CI: 0.791-0.899) and 0.91, respectively. CFA revealed factor loadings higher than 0.70 for most items, with a comparative fit index of 0.989, Tucker-Lewis index of 0.984, and root mean square error of approximation of 0.08 (95%CI: 0.06-0.09). The B-WUIPQ presented cross-cultural adapted, and the B-PDMS demonstrated satisfactory psychometric proprieties to Brazilian pregnant women.

DIFFERENCES IN USING LMS OR SOCIAL NETWORKS IN EDUCATION

In recent years, the use of the learning management system (LMS) in the educator’s practical work is becoming more popular and has many advantages: it allows students to get knowledge faster and deeper, facilitates interaction between students and educators. In addition, the LMS use increases the students’ number in distance education. Academic group in the social network Facebook is used both in the students’ daily life, and is considered as an educational tool. The social network can easily be adapted as an additional learning management system due to the fact that virtual space become a part of our lives and it can be used efficiently to solve much problems “on the spot”. However, the full impact of the academic group in Facebook on learning has not been studied, especially when compared with the use of other training management systems. According to the study results, the Facebook group members surpassed academically those who used Moodle. Moreover, Facebook users held a positive attitude towards learning and interaction, higher motivation to learn compared to Moodle users. This article provides an implementation analysis and possible limitations in the use of the training management system. The study results may be of great interest to educators who suggest taking Facebook as one of the training management systems.

Challenges of Homeschooling in Romania during Pandemic Times

Innovations assets during the pandemic time and gradually commitment formed it fundamental to transform traditional education methods and made current many crucial breakpoints in the educational process in early childhood education. The present study is an augmentation to the issue of the virtual learning environment at preschools. Multiplying the lines of open and distance learning, including cyberculture as a new note in learning, attracting the Internet as a source and means of teaching, increasing in real-time the links between computer-mediated education partners, reporting on cyberspace as a privileged environment, on the performance of the education, in general, are conclusive examples of the stated evolution. It does not mean that everything in school is moving from the current to the virtual. This study selected descriptive survey research for quantitative methods. The research design used appropriate frequencies to collect responses through an online data from Facebook group members (Pregatim prescolarii pentru scoala). The target population comprised of 280 parents in Romania. One-self administered questionnaires were used to obtain data on parents' perceptions of conventional schooling and in decision making, they should involve pupils in a homeschool setting. We suggest that a parent's moderate degree of engagement through online learning is essential as it involves reinforce to a child. The results provided here shows that learning process based on inquiry-approach could contribute to the development of home education programs and curriculum resources and materials for early childhood education. Also, present the perspectives of accelerated curricula for gifted children from the mainstream education system during pandemic times.

Facebook Groups on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Social Media Content Analysis.

Facebook Groups facilitate information exchange and engagement for patients with chronic conditions, including those living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); however, little is known about how knowledge is diffused throughout these communities. This study aimed to evaluate the content that is available on COPD-related Facebook Groups, as well as the communication (self-disclosures, social support) and engagement (agreement, emotional reaction) strategies used by members to facilitate these resources. Two researchers independently searched the “Groups” category using the terms “COPD”, “emphysema”, and “chronic bronchitis”. Twenty-six closed (n = 23) and public (n = 3) COPD Facebook Groups were identified with 87,082 total members. The vast majority of Group members belonged to closed (n = 84,684; 97.25%) as compared to open (n = 2398; 2.75%) groups. Medications were the most commonly addressed self-management topic (n = 48; 26.7%). While overall engagement with wall posts was low, the number of “likes” (an indicator of agreement) was significantly greater for wall posts that demonstrated social support as compared to posts that did not (p < 0.001). Findings from this study showed that COPD Facebook group members share specific disease-related experiences and request information about select self-management topics. This information can be used to improve the quality of self-management support provided to members of popular COPD Facebook groups.