title: Using new media to build social capital for health: a qualitative process evaluation study of participation in the CityNet project.
abstract: The present article presents an exploratory qualitative process evaluation study of 'Ambassador' participation in CityNet, an innovative information-communication technology-based (ICT) project that aims to build aspects of social capital and improve access to information and services among disadvantaged groups in Nottingham, UK. A purposive sample of 40 'Ambassadors' interviewees was gathered in three waves of data collection. The two emergent analytic themes highlighted how improvements in confidence, self-esteem and social networks produced via participation were mitigated by structural problems in devolving power within the project. This illustrates how concepts of power are important for understanding the process of health promotion interventions using new media.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, UK. bruce.bolam@nhs.net
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bolam
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pennington
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gillies
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003146:Communications Media; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*