Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review

Felicitas Yari; Foluso Ayeni; Mary Adewunmi; Richard Ayo; Timothy Ayo; God’swill Katchoua; Samson Adewole; Olumide Fawehinmi; Victor Mbarika

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review

Felicitas Yari, Foluso Ayeni, Mary Adewunmi, Richard Ayo, Timothy Ayo, God’swill Katchoua, Samson Adewole, Olumide Fawehinmi, Victor Mbarika

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Received: 22 March 2020 Accepted: 9 April 2020 Published: 30 April 2020

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Abstract

Background: A lot of researches have been conducted on public health; however few studies have used social media such as Facebook as data source. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review on the use of Facebook in public health research, define a terminology to describe Facebook use and classify the current state of Facebook in health research. Search Methods: Researchers performed a wide literature search in PubMed, Southern University Online Library, Google Scholar and SCOPUS through December 2019. Data Collection and Analysis: Four authors independently screened studies and extracted data related to analysis of Facebook, methodology used to study Facebook and current state of Facebook Research. Main Results: Of the 2506 articles identified in the interim database search, researchers found 727 unique articles. Of these, 103 of these articles met the eligibility criteria (see appendix). Researchers identified ways in which Facebook data were used by other researchers: Network Analysis of Facebook post (16.5%; n=17), Intervention based post (12.6%; n=13), Advertisement (6.8%; n=7), Survey (3%; n=3), Content Analysis (15.5%, n=16), Engagement (7.8%; n=8), Recruitment (29%; n=30), Focus Group (3.9%; n=4; Table 1). Studies that used more than one methodology in studying Facebook was also included. Conclusions: New terminologies was used to describe Facebook’s role in health research with 8 categories. Facebook-based health research is a continuous rapidly growing area funded by numerous funding agencies. Public Health Implications: Future work should concentrate on Communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola Viral Disease, Lassa Fever, SARS. Secondly issues of privacy and ethical concerns in social media research must be standardized in terms of reporting.

Published in	American Journal of Health Research (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
Page(s)	6-10
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Facebook, Systematic Review, Public Health, Infectious Diseases, Social Media

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APA Style

Felicitas Yari, Foluso Ayeni, Mary Adewunmi, Richard Ayo, Timothy Ayo, et al. (2020). Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Health Research, 8(2), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

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ACS Style

Felicitas Yari; Foluso Ayeni; Mary Adewunmi; Richard Ayo; Timothy Ayo, et al. Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review. Am. J. Health Res. 2020, 8(2), 6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

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AMA Style

Felicitas Yari, Foluso Ayeni, Mary Adewunmi, Richard Ayo, Timothy Ayo, et al. Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review. Am J Health Res. 2020;8(2):6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11,
  author = {Felicitas Yari and Foluso Ayeni and Mary Adewunmi and Richard Ayo and Timothy Ayo and God’swill Katchoua and Samson Adewole and Olumide Fawehinmi and Victor Mbarika},
  title = {Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {6-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20200802.11},
  abstract = {Background: A lot of researches have been conducted on public health; however few studies have used social media such as Facebook as data source. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review on the use of Facebook in public health research, define a terminology to describe Facebook use and classify the current state of Facebook in health research. Search Methods: Researchers performed a wide literature search in PubMed, Southern University Online Library, Google Scholar and SCOPUS through December 2019. Data Collection and Analysis: Four authors independently screened studies and extracted data related to analysis of Facebook, methodology used to study Facebook and current state of Facebook Research. Main Results: Of the 2506 articles identified in the interim database search, researchers found 727 unique articles. Of these, 103 of these articles met the eligibility criteria (see appendix). Researchers identified ways in which Facebook data were used by other researchers: Network Analysis of Facebook post (16.5%; n=17), Intervention based post (12.6%; n=13), Advertisement (6.8%; n=7), Survey (3%; n=3), Content Analysis (15.5%, n=16), Engagement (7.8%; n=8), Recruitment (29%; n=30), Focus Group (3.9%; n=4; Table 1). Studies that used more than one methodology in studying Facebook was also included. Conclusions: New terminologies was used to describe Facebook’s role in health research with 8 categories. Facebook-based health research is a continuous rapidly growing area funded by numerous funding agencies. Public Health Implications: Future work should concentrate on Communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola Viral Disease, Lassa Fever, SARS. Secondly issues of privacy and ethical concerns in social media research must be standardized in terms of reporting.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review
AU  - Felicitas Yari
AU  - Foluso Ayeni
AU  - Mary Adewunmi
AU  - Richard Ayo
AU  - Timothy Ayo
AU  - God’swill Katchoua
AU  - Samson Adewole
AU  - Olumide Fawehinmi
AU  - Victor Mbarika
Y1  - 2020/04/30
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 6
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
AB  - Background: A lot of researches have been conducted on public health; however few studies have used social media such as Facebook as data source. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review on the use of Facebook in public health research, define a terminology to describe Facebook use and classify the current state of Facebook in health research. Search Methods: Researchers performed a wide literature search in PubMed, Southern University Online Library, Google Scholar and SCOPUS through December 2019. Data Collection and Analysis: Four authors independently screened studies and extracted data related to analysis of Facebook, methodology used to study Facebook and current state of Facebook Research. Main Results: Of the 2506 articles identified in the interim database search, researchers found 727 unique articles. Of these, 103 of these articles met the eligibility criteria (see appendix). Researchers identified ways in which Facebook data were used by other researchers: Network Analysis of Facebook post (16.5%; n=17), Intervention based post (12.6%; n=13), Advertisement (6.8%; n=7), Survey (3%; n=3), Content Analysis (15.5%, n=16), Engagement (7.8%; n=8), Recruitment (29%; n=30), Focus Group (3.9%; n=4; Table 1). Studies that used more than one methodology in studying Facebook was also included. Conclusions: New terminologies was used to describe Facebook’s role in health research with 8 categories. Facebook-based health research is a continuous rapidly growing area funded by numerous funding agencies. Public Health Implications: Future work should concentrate on Communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola Viral Disease, Lassa Fever, SARS. Secondly issues of privacy and ethical concerns in social media research must be standardized in terms of reporting.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Felicitas Yari

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Foluso Ayeni

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Mary Adewunmi

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Richard Ayo

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Timothy Ayo

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
God’swill Katchoua

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Samson Adewole

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Olumide Fawehinmi

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA
Victor Mbarika

Global Technology Management and Policy Research Group, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA

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APA Style

Felicitas Yari, Foluso Ayeni, Mary Adewunmi, Richard Ayo, Timothy Ayo, et al. (2020). Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Health Research, 8(2), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

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ACS Style

Felicitas Yari; Foluso Ayeni; Mary Adewunmi; Richard Ayo; Timothy Ayo, et al. Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review. Am. J. Health Res. 2020, 8(2), 6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

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AMA Style

Felicitas Yari, Foluso Ayeni, Mary Adewunmi, Richard Ayo, Timothy Ayo, et al. Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review. Am J Health Res. 2020;8(2):6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11,
  author = {Felicitas Yari and Foluso Ayeni and Mary Adewunmi and Richard Ayo and Timothy Ayo and God’swill Katchoua and Samson Adewole and Olumide Fawehinmi and Victor Mbarika},
  title = {Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {6-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20200802.11},
  abstract = {Background: A lot of researches have been conducted on public health; however few studies have used social media such as Facebook as data source. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review on the use of Facebook in public health research, define a terminology to describe Facebook use and classify the current state of Facebook in health research. Search Methods: Researchers performed a wide literature search in PubMed, Southern University Online Library, Google Scholar and SCOPUS through December 2019. Data Collection and Analysis: Four authors independently screened studies and extracted data related to analysis of Facebook, methodology used to study Facebook and current state of Facebook Research. Main Results: Of the 2506 articles identified in the interim database search, researchers found 727 unique articles. Of these, 103 of these articles met the eligibility criteria (see appendix). Researchers identified ways in which Facebook data were used by other researchers: Network Analysis of Facebook post (16.5%; n=17), Intervention based post (12.6%; n=13), Advertisement (6.8%; n=7), Survey (3%; n=3), Content Analysis (15.5%, n=16), Engagement (7.8%; n=8), Recruitment (29%; n=30), Focus Group (3.9%; n=4; Table 1). Studies that used more than one methodology in studying Facebook was also included. Conclusions: New terminologies was used to describe Facebook’s role in health research with 8 categories. Facebook-based health research is a continuous rapidly growing area funded by numerous funding agencies. Public Health Implications: Future work should concentrate on Communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola Viral Disease, Lassa Fever, SARS. Secondly issues of privacy and ethical concerns in social media research must be standardized in terms of reporting.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Facebook as a Tool for Health Research: A Systematic Review
AU  - Felicitas Yari
AU  - Foluso Ayeni
AU  - Mary Adewunmi
AU  - Richard Ayo
AU  - Timothy Ayo
AU  - God’swill Katchoua
AU  - Samson Adewole
AU  - Olumide Fawehinmi
AU  - Victor Mbarika
Y1  - 2020/04/30
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 6
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200802.11
AB  - Background: A lot of researches have been conducted on public health; however few studies have used social media such as Facebook as data source. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review on the use of Facebook in public health research, define a terminology to describe Facebook use and classify the current state of Facebook in health research. Search Methods: Researchers performed a wide literature search in PubMed, Southern University Online Library, Google Scholar and SCOPUS through December 2019. Data Collection and Analysis: Four authors independently screened studies and extracted data related to analysis of Facebook, methodology used to study Facebook and current state of Facebook Research. Main Results: Of the 2506 articles identified in the interim database search, researchers found 727 unique articles. Of these, 103 of these articles met the eligibility criteria (see appendix). Researchers identified ways in which Facebook data were used by other researchers: Network Analysis of Facebook post (16.5%; n=17), Intervention based post (12.6%; n=13), Advertisement (6.8%; n=7), Survey (3%; n=3), Content Analysis (15.5%, n=16), Engagement (7.8%; n=8), Recruitment (29%; n=30), Focus Group (3.9%; n=4; Table 1). Studies that used more than one methodology in studying Facebook was also included. Conclusions: New terminologies was used to describe Facebook’s role in health research with 8 categories. Facebook-based health research is a continuous rapidly growing area funded by numerous funding agencies. Public Health Implications: Future work should concentrate on Communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola Viral Disease, Lassa Fever, SARS. Secondly issues of privacy and ethical concerns in social media research must be standardized in terms of reporting.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

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