Teen2Xtreme: Using Social Media to Improve Adolescents' Health Literacy

Nedra Kline Weinreich, MS Weinreich Communications National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media August 17, 2010 Using Social Media to Improve Adolescents' Health Literacy

Improve the health literacy of adolescents regarding their health insurance, health plans, and health providers
Increase adolescents’ level of engagement in their health care and their own health
Develop a health literacy training intervention to encourage adolescents aged 13 – 17 to utilize their health care plan more effectively

1) Test the feasibility of creating and maintaining interactive communication technology (ICT) health literacy training materials for a Medicaid adolescent population
2) Evaluate the effectiveness of the ICTs and social media materials produced
3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on behavioral health records linked to study condition
4) Increase adolescents’ health literacy about their health care rights and responsibilities

5) Test how adolescents use online and social media health information resources with content specific to their health needs and health plan
6) Assess differential intervention impact based on predisposing participant characteristics
7) Test associations between increased health literacy and e-health literacy and outcomes of quality and quantity of care received

Adolescents 13–17 years old, living in California
Insurance coverage under Medi-Cal or Healthy Families Program managed by Health Net

88% of adolescents in California currently have health care insurance.
Nearly one in three (30.9%) of children in California is now covered by Medi-Cal or Healthy Families.
Among California adolescents, 85% have a usual source of care, with Latinos and Native Americans less likely to report usual source of care than Caucasians, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and African Americans.
Source: California Health Interview Survey, 2001

Traditional: degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain and understand basic health information
Expanded: wide set of competencies and skills to process health information more generally and learn how to navigate our complex system of health care
Set appointments, get referrals, fill out forms, and advocate for appropriate care
Individual empowerment/increased health decision-making
Includes e-health literacy

77% of California teens saw a doctor for a routine physical exam in the last year
21-25% reported visiting the emergency room
Paradoxically, teens with health insurance were more likely to visit an ER than those without insurance

Source: Pew Internet, 2009

Round 1 Focus Groups: Teen Health Issues
Conducted 12 focus groups around California
Explored teen health issues including:
Attitudes towards access to health care
Health promotion and disease prevention behaviors
Health literacy, including patient rights and responsibilities
Internet and social networking behaviors

Round 2 Focus Groups: Design and Content Review
Conducted 2 focus groups
Reviewed specific design and content of website
Refined branding of website
Elicited overall feedback on focus of website
Key informant interviews with adolescent providers
Conducted 8 key informant interviews
Explored teen health concerns from perspective of provider
Patient / parent interaction, difficulties / barriers
Patient recruitment / retention, staff incentives

Most important health issues for teens:
Sex (including STDs and pregnancy)
Drugs and alcohol
Obesity
Prevention not a major emphasis
Many barriers/hassles in going to the doctor
Confused about insurance issues
Some understanding of their rights and responsibilities
Get some health information online, but can be confusing
Use a variety of social networking sites

Social Activity Theme Activity Domain Activity

Appearance
Sex / STDs / Pregnancy
Stress / Depression
Infectious Disease
Obesity / Weight
Fitness / Sports
Violence / Gangs
Relationships / Family
Driving
Safety / Injury
Drugs /Alcohol /Smoking

1) Annual Well Care Visit
2) Patient-Doctor Relationship
3) Navigate Healthcare System
4) Benefits, Rights & Responsibilities
5) Healthcare-Seeking Information

Testing launch – August 2, 2010
Full site launch – September 1, 2010
Recruitment/Baseline Survey
Review/analysis – October/November 2010
Ongoing monthly monitoring
Follow-up survey – Approx. August 2011

Deborah Glik, P.I. Michael Prelip, P.I. Abdelmonem Afifi Philip Massey Elaine Quiter Gabriel Stover Sharon Nessim, HN P.I. Elaine Robinson-Frank Diana Carr Maya Gumatay Kelly Kono Vinia Pangan Carol Spencer Hoa Su Nancy Wongvipat Kalev Michael Fiore Elissa Vaidman Nedra Kline Weinreich

Nedra Kline Weinreich Weinreich Communications [email_address] www.social-marketing.com 310.286.2721 Twitter @Nedra

Teen2Xtreme: Using Social Media to Improve Adolescents' Health Literacy

by Nedra Weinreich

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