title: Content Analysis of Social Media Related to Left Ventricular Assist Devices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social media have the potential to offer important benefits for patient education, support, and shared decision making. Despite the proliferation of social media use during the past decade, little is known about the scope and quality of available information, or the purposes that social media sites serve for patient decisional and support needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a mixed method study, including content analysis of social media and principal components analysis analysis of data sites discussing left ventricular assist device treatment for heart failure. This study explored aspects of interactivity, user-friendliness, appeal, medium, purpose, audience, and accuracy of information. Higher levels of interactivity (eg, posting comments) seem to enhance the appeal and usability of available information but also introduce greater potential for inaccuracy and inconsistency. The current lack of oversight into the content and quality of available information constitute a challenge for the reliable use of social media as forums for information-seeking and social network-based support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that social media outlets constitute a promising source of informational and psychosocial support for patients, caregivers, and candidates, and if used in conjunction with patient-provider dialog, can contribute to informed decision making by facilitating reflection and discussion of personal concerns, values, and informational needs.
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. kristin.kostick@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kostick
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Blumenthal-Barby
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Lidija A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wilhelms
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Estevan D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Courtenay R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D061108:Social Media; D012944:Social Support
keywords: caregivers; heart failure; shared decision making; social media; social support