Analyses: Patient & Professional Perspectives

Description: Understanding both patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives about health and healthcare delivery enhances our understanding how they communicate in health situations, why they interact as they do, and what motivates them to act on health messages. This is a two-part assignment where you will describe and analyze both a patient’s and a healthcare professional’s blog to gain their perspectives.

 

Step 1: Review Chs. 3-5 and select a blog authored by someone experiencing a chronic disease or other impactful health condition.

Option #1: Find a blog on your own. For patient blogs, for instance, perhaps you know someone who has used caringbridge.com or carepages.com. Or try typing in a type of disease or condition in your search engine (ex. “cancer patient blog”). Whatever you choose, make sure that the blog gives sufficient information for you to complete the assignment. Remember that you are analyzing the words and experiences of a person or group of people, not an entire organization (like NarcAnon).

Option #2: OR, you may pick one from the list I’ve compiled below (I skimmed and they appear useful, if not always current). Just google the phrase below and you’ll reach the blog:

  • Wheelchair Kamikaze (Multiple Sclerosis, up to 2018)
  • Chris’s Cancer Community
  • Psoriasisdiary.com
  • LGBTeetotaler (addiction)
  • Sober Black Girls Club (group of contributors)
  • A Crack in the Wall (cancer)
  • The Tales of a Stroke Patient and More
  • Yoga for Diabetes
  • Breast Cancer…But Doctor, I Hate Pink!
  • Alishambridges.com (psoriasis)
  • I’m still Josh (HIV)

 

Step 2: Review the profile/background of the blogger. Then, select no more than 5 substantive blog entries from the past year that interest you and look for connections between those entries and Chs. 3-5. You may have to search more than 5 to find ones that you can write about.

 

Step 3: Write a brief analysis paper (APA format) using these content and format guidelines.

  • Biography [heading] Brief bio of the blogger for your introduction—personal background, credentials (if any), their vision or perspective on the blog’s purposes, is there an intended audience, etc.— 1 paragraph
  • Conceptual Links [heading] Select 2 concepts from Chs. 3-5 that you believe are present in the blog entries. First, describe the chapter concept in your own words. Then, explain how the concept is present in the blog entry. Give examples. Brief quotes are okay. Repeat the process for the second concept you pick.
  • Critique [heading] Evaluate the blog’s content. Some topics to consider (don’t have to answer all): quality of information, compelling communication of ideas (keeps your interest), attractiveness of layout, helpful additional features (photos, links to websites, digital images, etc.), what you liked/disliked. Explain your opinions. End your critique with whether or not you would recommend this blog to someone interested in learning about health or health communication and why.