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 		APHA 2007 APHA
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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing
5138.0: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 12:45 PM

Abstract #156533

Scientific blogging as an important and innovative research tool to get health data in a changing societal environment

Alexander P. Bock, MD, MPH, Dept. Health Policy & Management, Columbia University, 600 W 168th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10032, 202-6575716, apb2121@columbia.edu

Background: The evolving policy trends towards more consumer-oriented health care require a rethinking of how to assess these consumers' behaviors or preferences. ‘Blogs' (from: 'web-log' to 'we-blog') are user-generated websites which may play an important role in this context. ‘Blogging' took off in the late 1990s but is nowadays used by millions every day for various reasons [even TIME magazine's person of the year 2006 is YOU]. However, the role of blogs in scientific research today remains elusive. How many people in this community know what a blog is or how it could be used for the purpose of sound data collection? Results: Based on our experience with a research blog this presentation will address the following questions: do we need a research blog? Can blogs gather valid information? What type and how much data can be gathered? Which are the target groups? What is the response rate? Strengths and weaknesses? Can a blog be controlled? Conclusion: Reliable data are of great importance in Public Health and there are certain health-related areas where the features of a blog can be useful to get these information.

Learning Objectives:

  • 1. Define