Content-driven analysis of an online community for smoking cessation: Integration of qualitative techniques, automated text analysis, and affiliation networks

S. Myneni, K. Fujimoto, N. Cobb and T. Cohen

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, issue 6, 1206-1212

Abstract: Objectives. We identified content-specific patterns of network diffusion underlying smoking cessation in the context of online platforms, with the aim of generating targeted intervention strategies. Methods. QuitNet is an online social network for smoking cessation. We analyzed 16 492 de-identified peer-to-peer messages from 1423 members, posted between March 1 and April 30, 2007. Our mixed-methods approach comprised qualitative coding, automated text analysis, and affiliation network analysis to identify, visualize, and analyze content-specific communication patterns underlying smoking behavior. Results. Themes we identified in QuitNet messages included relapse, QuitNet-specific traditions, and cravings. QuitNet members who were exposed to other abstinent members by exchanging content related to interpersonal themes (e.g., social support, traditions, progress) tended to abstain. Themes found in other types of content did not show significant correlation with abstinence. Conclusions. Modeling health-related affiliation networks through content-driven methods can enable the identification of specific content related to higher abstinence rates, which facilitates targeted health promotion. © 2015, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: adult; female; health behavior; health promotion; human; Internet; male; medical information; middle aged; procedures; qualitative research; smoking cessation; social support, Adult; Female; Health Behavior; Health Communication; Health Promotion; Humans; Internet; Male; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Smoking Cessation; Social Support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302464_7

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302464

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