Murero M., (2012) Advances in Interdigital Health Illiteracy 2.0, Paper presentation at Medicine 2.0 Harvard University, September 15-16 2012. Boston MA, USA.
http://www.medicine20congress.com/ocs/index.php/med/med2012/paper/vi ew/1048
Abstract:
Aim of this study is to evaluate what challenges do Facebook Groups users who underwent heart transplant encounter when discussing severe medical conditions in Health 2.0 contexts, particularly when poor levels of
Interdigital Literacy are observed. A new Interdigital Communication Theory is presented (Murero, 2012). Do online users act like modern "Alice in social media land"? What possible implications and solutions? In this paper a novel concept of experienced-based learning aimed at improving Interdigital Literacy for Health 2.0 environments will be delineated. The need of international-wide educational programs addressing the Interdigital "Illiteracy 2.0" is documented.
Background: By way of a background, I combine relevant experienced-based and internet research literature in the filed of social network and e-health (Fox, 2009, 2010, 2012; Murero, 2012, 2010; Murero & Rice, 2006; Kolb, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2012; Raine & Wellman, 2012; Boyd, 2006, 2009); to picture the general criticism that we observed in the last ten years,
showing that privacy, security and surveillance discourses increasingly fail to protect citizens and patients online, particularly in social media and web 2.0 environments (Rheingold, 2012; Murero, 2012, 2011).
Methods . A multiple-steps research combining qualitative and quantitative methods was designed. Following to an ethnographic observation, and a pilot-test, a digital questionnaire was administred. In this paper we present results from our ongoing survey to assess the sample (n=438) ability to define terms, recognize threatening situations, and opportunities while visiting a selected number of Facebook's groups discussing health care related issues in the field of organ donation and transplant. The sample was recruited via online "snowball" method. Also, experience-learning attitudes and behaviors were accounted to test the short-term efficacy of an
educational model aimed at improving Interdigital Literacy 2.0.
Results: Results clearly show that Facebook Group users are little aware of online risks and are not proficient in protecting their privacy from third parties. This is particularly relevant when discussing serious health matters.
In spite of the fact that the sample perceives that social media providers should be more involved in protecting privacy and security, in 95% of the cases is not aware that Facebook public Groups discussions can be easily accessed by profit-oriented third parties. None of the interviewed was aware that their individual profiles can be commodified by Facebook itself.
Moreover, 100% of the interviewed admitted to have registered to the popular social network without reading the "terms and conditions ". The majority agreed that the experience of learning more about their privacy, security and surveillance has changed their perception, and will modify their online behaviour. For example, 86% of the sample expressed the intention to "clean" the contents of their Facebook account after the first digital literacy for health 2,0 education program .
I shall frame the discussion in terms of commodification of "naive" online personal data sharing, privacy and online security, on the light of relevant experienced-based literature by philosopher Aristotle, Kolb, Oxendine, Bound, Cohen, and Andresen, with empirical results. Ninety-five percent of the interviewed strongly agreed when asked if educational programs in forms of tutorial should be administrated to Health 2.0 users from policy makers or online service providers, including Facebook. The human right to "online" education - interdigital health literacy - will be discussed
Conclusions:
Poor Interdigital Literacy in Health 2.0 environments is a serious issue that can be highly challenging for user’s privacy, security, and commodification of personal data. When people act in Facebook Groups discussing severe medical conditions, poor levels of Interdigital Literacy is detected. Our findings reinforce the need for vast educational programs of Interdigital Literacy 2.0 at the same strength of alphabetization. This empirical case study frames a novel concept of experienced-based learning model in Health 2.0 environments. When users become aware of threads to privacy and security of personal data a leading role of policy makers and marketing oriented agents - including Facebook - is expected, particularly in tomorrow’s internet-saturated society. Adequate public policy should
safeguard the human right to education in online environments - interdigital health literacy - in consideration of rapidly changing social media and web 3.0 practices
