This study aims to (i) investigate the characteristics of health messages from public health agencies via their social media channels during pandemics, and (ii) identify the factors influencing how recipients engage with and respond to these messages. We reviewed 85 journal articles after screening seven academic databases with relevant keywords up to March 2022. These articles are empirical studies using data from seven social media platforms, covering four pandemics. This review shows that the articles studied six core areas to assess health messages and customer engagement: mask wearing, vaccine trial, misinformation fact-checking, routine mass asymptomatic testing, physical distancing, and stay-at-home order. Five factors characterised health messages and influenced engagement namely - source, content, subject, richness, and tone. Supply often fell short of demand, thereby weakening engagement. These preliminary findings indicate the need for more proactiveness from public health agencies to nurture and sustain customer engagement in their social media health messages.
History
Publication title
Proceedings of the 2022 ANZMAC Reconnect & Reimagine Conference
Editors
P Harrigan and G Brush
Pagination
1 piece-abstract
Department/School
Psychology, Australian Institute of Health Service Management (AIHSM), TSBE
Publisher
ANZMAC
Place of publication
Australia
Event title
ANZMAC Reconnect & Reimagine
Event Venue
Perth
Socio-economic Objectives
150303 Marketing, 280106 Expanding knowledge in commerce, management, tourism and services, 200499 Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified, 200203 Health education and promotion