Title: Using social media to reach Chinese and South Asian communities in British Columbia: the story of a peer-led diabetes prevention programme on Facebook

Authors: Erica Amari; Rebecca Barry; Xian Chong; Helen Novak Lauscher; Kendall Ho

Addresses: eHealth Strategy Office, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 855 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC, V5Z 1L7, Canada ' Faculty of Medicine, TRW Building Foothills Campus, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary AB, T2N 4N1, Canada ' eHealth Strategy Office, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 855 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC, V5Z 1L7, Canada ' eHealth Strategy Office, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 855 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC, V5Z 1L7, Canada ' eHealth Strategy Office, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 855 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC, V5Z 1L7, Canada

Abstract: Minority populations can face cultural and accessibility barriers when seeking education and support for diabetes self-management. While culturally adapted education programmes have been studied, it has not been combined with the benefit of peer-support and the accessibility of social media. This project aimed to create and assess the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of a peer-led, culturally relevant diabetes prevention programme to be delivered over a popular social networking platform, Facebook, using mixed methods. Six participants of Chinese and South Asian ethnicities completed the 12-week programme led by a peer leader for each group. Interviews and scales were conducted before, during, and after the programme. Results indicated that the delivery of health information over Facebook is feasible and acceptable for those who are comfortable with social media. The peer leaders were engaged and the ability to view discussions was useful, though a larger group would have led to more robust discussions.

Keywords: social media; social networking; Chinese communities; South Asian communities; Punjabi communities; Canada; peer leader; prevention; Facebook; culture; peer support; feasibility; acceptability; usability; diabetes prevention; minority populations; ethnic minorities; cultural barriers; accessibility barriers; health information; diabetes self-management; diabetics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMILE.2015.068454

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, 2015 Vol.3 No.1, pp.20 - 39

Received: 23 Jul 2014
Accepted: 22 Nov 2014

Published online: 03 Apr 2015 *

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