title: Social Media Self-Efficacy of Health Education Specialists: Training and Organizational Development Implications.
abstract: A growing number of public health organizations are applying the power of social media (SM) for health promotion and behavior change. This cross-sectional study of health education specialists (n = 353) examined which demographic and occupational factors were associated with SM self-efficacy, and evaluated SM self-efficacy related to each of the Seven Areas of Responsibility. A series of one-way analyses of variance were conducted to determine whether differences in SM self-efficacy existed by sex, age, years of work experience, and SM access at work. A multiple linear regression examined the relationship between SM self-efficacy and SM experience when controlling for demographic and occupational factors. Statistically significant differences in SM self-efficacy existed by age, F(2, 289) = 6.54, p = .002. SM experience (β = 1.43, t = 11.35, p < .001) was a statistically significant predictor of SM self-efficacy, even after controlling for age, sex, years of work experience, and level of SM access, F(5, 290) = 30.88, p < .001, R2= .35. Results revealed statistically significant differences in mean SM self-efficacy scores by the Areas of Responsibility, F(4.69, 1425.46) = 22.46, p < .001. Professional health organizations should have policies in place and trainings that are conducive to learning and applying SM for health education research and practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA alberj@upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alber
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paige
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stellefson
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas in Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jay M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D040441:Health Educators / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: health education; technology; workforce development