Survey respondents
The number of people who received the survey is not known due to the recruitment process. After discarding responses with blank or incomplete data, 128 replies were received, from healthcare researchers (n= 53), healthcare providers and managers (n=46) and others with an interest in healthcare research (n=29). This latter are henceforth referred to as “interested other” . As the number of healthcare managers were small (n=9), this group was merged with healthcare providers(n=37); both groups had similar response patterns identified by running descriptive statistics on key outcome measures. No respondents identified themselves as policy-makers. Reflecting the recruitment process, most of the sample were from Ireland (n =111). Nearly 72% of respondents were female. Most respondents were aged <45 (Table 1).
Table 1. Respondent demographics (N=128) showing the range of respondent characteristics
|
N
|
%
|
Primary Occupation
Healthcare researcher
Healthcare provider/manager
Other with an interest in healthcare research
Age
≤ 34
35-44
45-55
≥ 56
Missing
Gender
Female
Male
Prefer not to identify
Missing
Country
Ireland
Northern Ireland
UK
Australia
Canada
Missing
|
53
46
29
35
35
31
21
6
92
26
2
8
111
5
2
1
1
8
|
41.4
35.9
22.7
27.3
27.3
24.2
16.4
4.7
71.9
20.3
1.6
6.3
86.7
3.9
1.6
0.8
0.8
6.2
|
Opinions about blog posts, in general and relating to healthcare and/or research
Participants’ preferred sources for healthcare knowledge were explored by ranking stated options (1-8). Combining the top 3 rankings (i.e. where the option was ranked in the top three by a respondent), a scientific paper was the preferred source, at 73.9%, followed by a news article at 57.5% and website at 51.9%. Blogs came fifth in this analysis at 28.3% occurrence in the top three rankings, below tweets (33.9%; see Table 2).
The open text responses provided insights into possible reasons for the low preference for blogs over other methods of acquiring knowledge. Respondents wanted to be assured that articles are produced by a trusted author that is knowledgeable in the area (It would depend on who the author of the blog is, their knowledge of the topic and their conflicts of interest, Participant 102, healthcare provider) and that content is written with rigour and backed up with scientific evidence ([blogs are] basically science journalism, without the oversight of a publisher, etc., Participant 16, healthcare researcher). The impact of these issues is captured in the following quote:
Usually, I just scroll to the bottom [of the blog] to find the reference to the scientific paper. I do occasionally read them if I am interested in the opinion of the author specifically, but I am usually concerned about inappropriate reporting of research results (quackery or poor interpretation of basic science). (Participant 75, interested other)
Table 2. Preferred source for healthcare knowledge showing the dominance of scientific papers
|
Blog Article
|
Scientific Paper
|
Poster
|
News Article
|
Podcast
|
Video
|
Tweet
|
Website
|
1st preference
|
5.5%
|
47.2%
|
1.6%
|
12.6%
|
5.5%
|
3.9%
|
13.4%
|
10.2%
|
2nd preference
|
13.4%
|
10.2%
|
8.7%
|
18.1%
|
6.3%
|
7.9%
|
7.1%
|
28.3%
|
3rd preference
|
9.4%
|
16.5%
|
3.1%
|
26.8%
|
12.6%
|
4.7%
|
13.4%
|
13.4%
|
Occurrence in top 3 rankings
|
28.3%
|
73.9%
|
13.4%
|
57.5%
|
24.4%
|
16.5%
|
33.9%
|
51.9%
|
Frequency of reading blogs in general and relating to healthcare and/or research
Respondents’ engagement with blogs was explored with the question “How often do you read blog posts (about any topic)?”. The most popular option (39.1%) was that the participant read blog posts “sometimes”. This was closely followed by 29.7% of participants who “rarely” read blogs, while 12.5% “never” reading blogs. When probed specifically on reading healthcare blogs, responses were overall similar, with 39.1% “sometimes” reading healthcare blogs, 33.6% “rarely”, and 11.7% “never” doing so.
Statistical analyses were conducted to explore any existing relationships between variables. Multiple comparisons are not included because the overall tests did not show significant differences across samples.
A Kruskal-Wallis Test revealed no significant difference in all blog reading levels across the four different age groups χ2 (3, n=122) =2.83, p= .419. An additional analysis exploring the relationship between healthcare blog reading levels across the four age groups was also conducted. No significant differences were found. χ2 (3, n=121) =2.83, p= .728.
Similar statistical analyses were run to examine any differences in regard to blog reading across different occupation groups. A Kruskal-Wallis Test revealed a non-statistically significant difference in blog reading levels across the different occupation groups, χ2 (2, n=126) =2.78, p=.249. This trend remained in healthcare blog reading levels across occupation groups: χ2 (2, n=125) =1.07, p= .585.
Factors increasing blog engagement
Further probing with the question “If you answered “rarely” or “never” to question 6, would you consider reading blog posts relating to research projects if they were made available to you?”, indicated that 82.9% of these respondents (n=70) would consider reading blogs if an email notification was sent to them. Similarly, across the whole sample, 82.8% indicated they might be more likely to read a blog post (57.8% ‘more likely’ and 25% ‘perhaps more likely’) if they received an email notification.
Further insight into these responses were evident across the qualitative data, where accessibility was a common barrier cited by respondents to using blogs as a source of healthcare knowledge. Participants commented that
Sometimes the websites that these blogs are available on are not easy to find. (Participant 97, healthcare researcher)
Accessibility is key, when articles are readily available it makes things a lot easier (Participant 120, healthcare provider)
In addition to accessibility, participants also noted a lack of knowledge of good quality blogs:
I just don’t know any good blogs in regard to research. (Participant 150, interested other)
Would depend on if it was easy to find the posts and if the topics were interesting (Participant 90, healthcare researcher)
Thus, sending an email notification with the blog article attached was highlighted to have high potential in increasing participants’ likelihood of engaging with blogs to address both accessibility and awareness.
Qualitative responses also illustrate that respondents’ current lack of engagement with blogs is a passive circumstance and not an active decision.
My lack of use probably relates more to habit than to any fixed decision (Participant 122, healthcare provider).
The only blogs I subscribe to at present are from the regulatory agencies like MHRA in UK, HPRA in Ireland. I am not aware of blogs on therapeutic areas. If I saw a twitter post or got email about one, I might follow it and read the blog (Participant 116, healthcare researcher).
A further question asked respondents to rate the importance of eight factors that have the potential to facilitate their engagement with blogs, using a 5-point Likert scale (figure 1). The blog length, author, seeing a colleague share the blog, and use of images/infographics were most important to respondents. The style of writing was the feature most often chosen as “Not important”. Similar views were shared in the qualitative responses, with illustrative quotes included in figure 1.
Looking descriptively at data from the three occupation groups (healthcare providers, healthcare researchers, interested other) they provided similar findings with the blog length and author taking a spot in the top three positions under “Important”. A blog being shared by a colleague was of greater importance to healthcare providers whereas the use of infographics was predominant for healthcare researchers and style of writing took precedence for interested others.
****Figure 1 about here****
Barriers to engaging with blogs
Barriers are defined as features that would present as an obstacle to participants reading blogs for their healthcare knowledge. Five potential barriers, presented to participants, were ranked as follows (figure 2).
***Figure 2 here ***
Lack of time to prioritise blogs was prominently cited by respondents in qualitative responses. This included not having enough time at work, and not having enough time to devote to blogs out of work (See Figure 2).
Reading the blog would depend on the title & if I had enough time in my day (Participant 67, healthcare provider)
[I] often don't have time to go searching for all the different things I need to or want to read (Participant 59, healthcare manager)
Related to limited time, respondents indicated only having the opportunity to read blogs which are most highly relevant or interesting to them:
While I am interested in Palliative Care, I am so busy I cannot commit to reading much outside my area of specialty (oncology) (Participant 100, healthcare researcher)
It would depend on my available time and how interesting or relevant the posts were to my own work (Participant 91, healthcare researcher)
Other barriers preventing participants from reading blogs included doubts regarding their scientific integrity and an unawareness of the existence of these blogs and/or how to access them.
My main issue with blogs is in relation to the quality of them, establishing the validity of data presented, and who is developing them, basically quality control (Participant 83, healthcare researcher)
Difficulty finding/ locating new blogs to read (Participant 101, healthcare provider)
A preference for other media was also often cited.
I tend to not take blogs as seriously as I would a scientific paper or poster or what I may read from an accredited website associated with the research. (Participant 89, healthcare researcher)
I'd prefer to await a robust academic paper (Participant 33, healthcare researcher)