Table 2.

Characteristics and main findings of included studies that use social media to promote a healthy lifestyle among employees.

Authors (year) Country Methodological quality	Type of study	Study population (number of participants included)	Types of social media	Interventions tested	Study duration	Main findings on social media usage
The Transportation Sector
Sendall et al. (2018) Australia Quality: LOW	Mixed-method (semi-structured interviews) (focus groups) (descriptive analysis of oral questionnaire)	Truck drivers (n = 22) Workplace managers (n = 4)	Private Facebook group	Facebook content intended to improve truck drivers' health knowledge and behavior	6 months	Truck drivers: - 46% aware that their workplace promotes the Facebook page: o Of those aware (n = 10), 60% were very satisfied or satisfied with the Facebook page. -Very few drivers reported that they “liked” the page to add it on their Facebook feed; -The Facebook page has no impact on where drivers get health information; Workplace managers: - 75% promote the Facebook page in their workplace: o Among those who promote the page (n = 3), 100% are satisfied with the content. -50% reported that they “liked” the page to add it to their Facebook feed; -The intervention displayed on the Facebook page did not result in driver engagement.
The Health Care Sector
Woo et al. (2020) South Korea Quality: LOW	Randomised control trial (RCT)	Hospital workers, aged 25 to 60 years who had more than two metabolic syndrome risk factors or risk factors for cardiovascular disease (n = 68)	Private social network services (SNS) (Facebook and KakaoTalk)	The program include basic education, general counseling, goal setting, regular physical counseling, and education on nutritional management (based on the Health Belief Model)	3 months	-3 groups: SNS (n = 23), conventional education (n = 19), no intervention (n = 26) - At 6 weeks (1.5 months): statistical improvement of abdominal circumference, BMI, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in SNS group compared to other groups - At 12 weeks (3 months): significant difference in abdominal circumference, BMI, Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, health promotion behaviors, and self-efficacy compared to other groups
‘Miller et al. (2019) United States Quality: LOW	Mixed-method (focus groups) (descriptive analysis questionnaire)	Direct Support Person (DSP), aged from 18 to 65 years old, who provided care to adults with disabilities	Employee Facebook group	Facebook content designed to improve the target population’s SOC using the processes of change and motivational messages, focusing on consciousness raising, self-liberation, short-term goals, helping relationships, and stimulus control.	3 months	- 37 DSP participated in the Facebook group o Mean views per theory-based message: 12.2 (range = 0–27) o Average total new views per theory-based message: 2.9 (range = 0–11). -75% of people that participated to the Facebook group enjoyed getting information about general health
Torquati et al. (2018) Australia Quality: MODERATE	Quantitative (pre-post study)	Hospital nurses (n = 47)	Private Facebook group	Interventions to improve food quality and increase physical activity by giving workers access to a private Facebook group, an application and a pedometer.	9 months	-Poor overall reach (9.4% of potential enrolled in the study); -47.4% of participants logged into the Facebook group at least once a week; -The behavioral outcome for the Facebook intervention was not achieved; -Very few participants use or interact with the Facebook page as expected; -Participants reported that Facebook content was good motivation.
Ruck et al. (2017) United Kingdom Quality: LOW	Mixed-method (pre-post study) (semi-structured interviews)	Health workers (n = 349)	Website forum, social media microblog (Twitter), text messages and emails	Campaign using multiple communication channels aiming to improve workers' personal health	9–12 months	-Usefulness of social media was rated relatively low (Twitter: 1.89, SD = 1.27; forum discussion: 1.87 SD = 1.04); -Workers found that email briefings (2.84 SD = 1.24), information on the website (2.79, SD = 1.07) and text message (2.53, SD = 1,40) were the three most useful communication channels for the campaign; -55% responded to motivational text messages by sending text messages back; -Website information and email information sessions were significantly correlated with better overall health outcomes (p < 0.01).
The Education Sector
Bopp et al. (2018) United States Quality: MODERATE	Quantitative (pre-post study)	University students (n = 563) University faculty and staff (n = 999)	Public Facebook and Twitter pages	A large-scale campaign using multiple communication channels, including social media, to promote active transportation (AT) to/from and on campus for students and employees.	1 year	-There is no significant difference in the use of AT by employees after the study period; -Overall (employees and students), the social media campaign has attracted 177 Facebook and 103 Twitter followers; -Engagement with social media was strongest in the case educational and interactive messages.
Mackenzie et al. (2015) United Kingdom Quality: MODERATE	Quantitative (pre-post study)	University department employees (n = 17)	Social media microblog (Twitter)	Campaign involving motivational initiatives, local champions and social media to promote interventions to reduce workplace sitting time.	1 month	-No significant statistical impact on sitting time was observed during the study period; -Participants felt that the overall intervention had a positive impact on workplace sitting time; -Lack of knowledge of Twitter content may explain the feeling shared by some participants that the social media component of the intervention was considered unnecessary.