Emma Mirza Wati Mohamad’s research while affiliated with Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) and other places

With the penetration of social media into all aspects of people’s lives, there is a growing trend of social media detox (taking a short break from social media). Although social media detox (SMD) has been theorized to influence well-being, vibrant research on this issue presents mixed results. This raises the question of whether SMD has positive or negative effects on well-being, calling for a synthesis of empirical evidence to determine if engaging in SMD can improve well-being. Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to synthesize evidence on the relationship between SMD and well-being from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A total of 20 RCTs and 56 effect sizes (positive indicators of well-being k = 33; negative indicators of well-being k = 23) were analyzed. The meta-analysis findings using random effects showed that there was a positive and small effect of SMD on well-being, including positive indicators and negative indicators. The results of the moderating analysis showed that there was heterogeneity in the relationship between SMD and well-being caused by cultural background. Moreover, intervention duration moderated the relationship between SMD and negative indicators of well-being. This meta-analysis allows for an integration of conclusions from past studies and establishes a clearer understanding of the relationship between SMD and well-being.

Objective: This study systematically reviews the influence of social media on health narratives in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on its impact on individual behaviors, public health communication, and emotional support. Method: This study conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines, using thematic analysis to identify key trends and insights regarding the influence of social media on health narratives. Results and Discussion: The review found that qualitative research is most effective for exploring social media’s influence on health narratives. Patient narratives were the most common form of discourse, primarily on public platforms. Social media facilitates diverse storytelling, new interactions, and challenges traditional health perspectives. It enhances emotional support, influences health decisions, raises awareness, and alters doctor-patient communication. These findings highlight the role of social media in advancing SDGs related to health and well-being, particularly in promoting digital health literacy. Research Implications: The study underscores the need for ongoing research into social media’s long-term impact on health narratives, focusing on misinformation and strategies to leverage social media for improved health outcomes, aligning with SDGs like good health and well-being. Originality/Value: This review offers a unique perspective on social media’s role in health narratives, linking it to SDGs. It highlights how social media can promote health literacy, support emotional well-being, and contribute to achieving SDG targets related to health, innovation, and digital equity.

Objective: This study aims to track the current research progress in the field of eHealth literacy by conducting a bibliometric analysis, focusing on trends and developments, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A bibliometric analysis was employed to examine the publication trends, key contributors, and predominant research topics within the eHealth literacy domain. Performance analysis and science mapping techniques were used to provide a comprehensive overview of the field. Results and Discussion: The analysis revealed significant publication trends, identified leading contributors to the field, and highlighted key research topics that have emerged. The study visualizes the entire phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, offering insights into how the pandemic has influenced research directions in eHealth literacy. Research Implications: By providing a macroscopic perspective, this study fills gaps left by traditional literature reviews, presenting a more complete picture of the field. The findings also suggest future research directions as the impact of the pandemic on eHealth literacy continues to evolve. Originality/Value: This study presents the first bibliometric analysis of research on eHealth literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a rigorous review of the latest advancements in the field. By examining emerging trends, the study highlights the critical role of emerging technologies in enhancing eHealth literacy. Furthermore, it provides practical insights into promoting health and well-being through sustainable digital solutions, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health and innovation.

Background The cervical cancer (CC) incidence rate is increasing among young women aged <50 years despite early screening is proven effective. Electronic health (e-health) has great potential for disseminating health education. Methods This study validated a newly developed e-health tool “SeDAR®” and assessed its usability via evaluations by health experts (HE), media experts (ME), and women. The SeDAR® content was developed based on protection motivation theory (PMT) using the nominal group technique and in-depth interviews that involved HE and women, respectively. Content validation was performed among the HE (n = 12) and ME (n = 5) using the content validation index (CVI) to identify their agreement. Subsequently, the Video Engagement Scale (VES®) was used to validate SeDAR® among women of different ethnicities (n = 11) to achieve ecological validity. The experts and women also commented on the presentation of the video. Results The validation yielded a good CVI among the HE (scale-level CVI-average [SCVI/Ave] = 0.986; scale-level CVI-universal agreement [SCVI/UA] = 0.900) and ME (SCVI/Ave = 0.979, SCVI/UA = 0.897). The highest VES® score [mean (±SD) = 92.90(±3.46)] proved the ecological validity of SeDAR®. The experts’ feedback established that SeDAR® conveyed a clear message about awareness of performing CC screening and was suitable for public viewing. The women considered SeDAR® easy to understand, and it advised early exposure for early CC screening. Conclusions SeDAR® was valid and could constitute an important e-health tool to improve motivation and uptake of CC screening.

BACKGROUND The advent of social media has significantly transformed the realm of health communication and the health-related actions of elderly individuals, therefore offering both obstacles and prospects for older folks to embrace eHealth developments. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the correlation between social media and eHealth literacy in older individuals, as well as the factors that influence older persons' utilization of social media to enhance their eHealth literacy. METHODS Utilizing predetermined keywords and inclusion criteria, the researchers conducted a search on Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for English-language journal articles published from 2000 to 2024, following the PRISMA principles. Two separate reviewers conducted a cross-analysis of the chosen papers, and a third reviewer was specifically included to resolve any contradictions. RESULTS A total of 16 papers that satisfied the defined criteria were finally included. 7 papers evaluated the effect of social media on the eHealth literacy of older individuals. 3 articles assessed the influence of older adults' eHealth literacy on their social media usage, while 4 articles investigated the interaction between the two. The study found four theme dimensions that impact the utilization of social media by older individuals to enhance their eHealth literacy: (1) individual factors, including older adults’ inadequate digital skills (n=7) and age (n=3); (2) interpersonal factors, involving social support; (3) institutional/organizational factors, including misinformation on social media (n=7) and privacy and security (n=1); and (4) social factors, including social media penetration (n=8) and cultural norms and values (n=1). CONCLUSIONS Social media and older adults’ eHealth literacy influence and interact with each other. Social media positively affects older adults’ eHealth literacy, and older adults’ eHealth literacy in turn affects older adults’ performance of health behaviors on social media. The review affirms that social media has a significant capacity to improve eHealth among older persons, and it is advisable to encourage the expanding usage of social media by older individuals to access health information and services in the next few years. In the context of eHealth literacy, it is imperative to place additional emphasis on digital literacy and critical health literacy among older persons when determining the content weighting.

Background The advent of social media has significantly transformed health communication and the health-related actions of older adults, offering both obstacles and prospects for this generation to embrace eHealth developments. Objective We aimed to investigate the correlation between social media and eHealth literacy in older individuals and answer four research questions: (1) What are the specific social media behaviors (including general use behaviors and health behaviors) of older adults on social media? (2) How do these behaviors impact their eHealth literacy? (3) How does eHealth literacy influence older adults’ social media behaviors? and (4) What factors influence older adults’ use of social media for health-related purposes? Methods Using predetermined keywords and inclusion criteria, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases for English-language journal articles published from 2000 to 2024, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) principles. The initial search identified 1591 publications, and after removing duplicates, 48.21% (767/1591) of publications remained. Ultimately, 1% (16/1591) of studies met the inclusion criteria. A research question–driven manual qualitative thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the categorization of social media use behaviors, the definition of eHealth literacy, and the social-ecological model to provide direction for coding and thematic analysis. In addition, attention was given to identifying unanticipated behaviors or phenomena during the coding process, and these were subsequently incorporated into the analytical framework. Results The results indicated that older adults’ general social media use behaviors are primarily characterized by social media preferences, with 2 subthemes identified. Their social media health behaviors revealed 5 main themes and 14 subthemes. Among the primary themes, health information behavior appeared most frequently (12/16, 75%), followed by self-management (8/16, 50%). Other themes included health decision-making (4/16, 25%), telemedicine (3/16, 19%), and health interventions (2/16, 13%). Cross-thematic analysis confirmed that older adults’ social media use behaviors and their eHealth literacy had a reciprocal relationship. Finally, the study revealed that the use of social media to improve eHealth literacy among older adults was influenced by individual, interpersonal, institutional or organizational, and social factors. Conclusions The reciprocal relationship between older adults’ social media use and eHealth literacy highlights the importance of establishing a long-term positive mechanism that mutually reinforces social media health practices and eHealth literacy. Based on the findings, this review proposes key directions for efforts to achieve this goal: (1) leveraging postpandemic momentum to enhance eHealth literacy among older adults through social media, (2) reconsidering the dimensions of eHealth literacy among older adults in the context of Web 2.0, (3) actively developing age-friendly integrated social media health service platforms, (4) optimizing social media for engaging and reliable health information for older adults, and (5) integrating social support systems to foster lifelong eHealth learning for older adults.

Purpose Cervical cancer (CC) screening remains challenging, where the motivational focus towards utilizing CC screening services is rarely highlighted. This study aimed to understand the motivation to undergo CC screening from women and healthcare practitioners’ perspectives based on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). Method This qualitative study used the nominal group technique (NGT) and in-depth interview (IDI), where the NGT participants were healthcare practitioners from various disciplines (n = 12). Nominal group discussions were conducted via Zoom and involved one moderator, facilitator and observer. The IDI was conducted via Google Meet among seven women who had been included based on purposive sampling. All nominal group discussions and interviews were transcribed, verbatim and underwent deductive thematic analysis. Results Healthcare practitioners emphasized input on CC knowledge of epidemiology, risk, etiology, nature, and outcome to encourage motivation. Women underlined their important role in the family, and reducing the negative perception as a motivational focus. Having living example of witnessing the CC patient dying and fear of stigma of cancer could be the driven force to undergo screening. Emphasis on the important of sufficient knowledge and correct the misconceptions towards screening could impart the motivation among women. Conclusions The motivational focus was enriched by the differing perspectives of the healthcare practitioners and women. The findings can guide intervention program development towards enhancing CC screening in the future.

Background: Stigma relating to health can result in a broad range of vulnerabilities and risks for patients and healthcare providers. The media play a role in people's understanding of health, and stigma is socially constructed through many communication channels, including media framing. Recent health issues affected by stigma include monkeypox and COVID-19. Objectives: This research aimed to examine how The Washington Post (WP) framed the stigma around monkeypox and COVID-19. Guided by framing theory and stigma theory, online news coverage of monkeypox and COVID-19 was analyzed to understand the construction of social stigma through media frames. Methods: This research used qualitative content analysis to compare news framings in The Washington Post's online news coverage of monkeypox and COVID-19. Results: Using endemic, reassurance, and sexual-transmission frames, The Washington Post predominantly defined Africa as the source of monkeypox outbreaks, indirectly labeled gays as a specific group more likely to be infected with monkeypox, and emphasized that there was no need to worry about the spread of the monkeypox virus. In its COVID-19 coverage, The Washington Post adopted endemic and panic frames to describe China as the source of the coronavirus and to construct an image of panic regarding the spread of the virus. Conclusions: These stigma discourses are essentially manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and sexism in public health issues. This research confirms that the media reinforces the stigma phenomenon in relation to health through framing and provides suggestions for the media to mitigate this issue from a framing perspective.