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Castillo-Toledo C, Fraile-Martínez O, Donat-Vargas C, Lara-Abelenda FJ, Ortega MA, Garcia-Montero C, Mora F, Alvarez-Mon M, Quintero J, Alvarez-Mon MA. Insights from the Twittersphere: a cross-sectional study of public perceptions, usage patterns, and geographical differences of tweets discussing cocaine. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1282026. [PMID: 38566955 PMCID: PMC10986306 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1282026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cocaine abuse represents a major public health concern. The social perception of cocaine has been changing over the decades, a phenomenon closely tied to its patterns of use and abuse. Twitter is a valuable tool to understand the status of drug use and abuse globally. However, no specific studies discussing cocaine have been conducted on this platform. Methods 111,508 English and Spanish tweets containing "cocaine" from 2018 to 2022 were analyzed. 550 were manually studied, and the largest subset underwent automated classification. Then, tweets related to cocaine were analyzed to examine their content, types of Twitter users, usage patterns, health effects, and personal experiences. Geolocation data was also considered to understand regional differences. Results A total of 71,844 classifiable tweets were obtained. Among these, 15.95% of users discussed the harm of cocaine consumption to health. Media outlets had the highest number of tweets (35.11%) and the most frequent theme was social/political denunciation (67.88%). Regarding the experience related to consumption, there are more tweets with a negative sentiment. The 9.03% of tweets explicitly mention frequent use of the drug. The continent with the highest number of tweets was America (55.44% of the total). Discussion The findings underscore the significance of cocaine as a current social and political issue, with a predominant focus on political and social denunciation in the majority of tweets. Notably, the study reveals a concentration of tweets from the United States and South American countries, reflecting the high prevalence of cocaine-related disorders and overdose cases in these regions. Alarmingly, the study highlights the trivialization of cocaine consumption on Twitter, accompanied by a misleading promotion of its health benefits, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions and antidrug content on social media platforms. Finally, the unexpected advocacy for cocaine by healthcare professionals raises concerns about potential drug abuse within this demographic, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Castillo-Toledo
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Donat-Vargas
- Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- IMDEA-Food Institute, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - F. J. Lara-Abelenda
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Departamento Teoria de la Señal y Comunicaciones y Sistemas Telemáticos y Computación, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria de Telecomunicación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Fuenlabrada, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cielo Garcia-Montero
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Mora
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Legal Medicine and Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Service of Internal Medicine and Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, (CIBEREHD), Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Javier Quintero
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Legal Medicine and Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
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Huang M, Gutiérrez-Sacristán A, Janiak E, Young K, Starosta A, Blanton K, Azhir A, Goldfarb CN, Kuperwasser F, Schaefer KM, Stoddard RE, Vatsa R, Merz-Herrala AA, Bartz D. Contraceptive content shared on social media: an analysis of Twitter. Contracept Reprod Med 2024; 9:5. [PMID: 38321582 PMCID: PMC10848475 DOI: 10.1186/s40834-024-00262-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on social media may affect peoples' contraceptive decision making. We performed an exploratory analysis of contraceptive content on Twitter (recently renamed X), a popular social media platform. METHODS We selected a random subset of 1% of publicly available, English-language tweets related to reversible, prescription contraceptive methods posted between January 2014 and December 2019. We oversampled tweets for the contraceptive patch to ensure at least 200 tweets per method. To create the codebook, we identified common themes specific to tweet content topics, tweet sources, and tweets soliciting information or providing advice. All posts were coded by two team members, and differences were adjudicated by a third reviewer. Descriptive analyses were reported with accompanying qualitative findings. RESULTS During the study period, 457,369 tweets about reversible contraceptive methods were published, with a random sample of 4,434 tweets used for final analysis. Tweets most frequently discussed contraceptive method decision-making (26.7%) and side effects (20.5%), particularly for long-acting reversible contraceptive methods and the depot medroxyprogesterone acetate shot. Tweets about logistics of use or adherence were common for short-acting reversible contraceptives. Tweets were frequently posted by contraceptive consumers (50.6%). A small proportion of tweets explicitly requested information (6.2%) or provided advice (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS Clinicians should be aware that individuals are exposed to information through Twitter that may affect contraceptive perceptions and decision making, particularly regarding long-acting reversible contraceptives. Social media is a valuable source for studying contraceptive beliefs missing in traditional health research and may be used by professionals to disseminate accurate contraceptive information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Huang
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alba Gutiérrez-Sacristán
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, 10 Shattuck Street, Suite 514, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Janiak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street CWN-3, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Young
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Massachusetts Ave, 02139, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anabel Starosta
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Alaleh Azhir
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Massachusetts Ave, 02139, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Rajet Vatsa
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard PhD Program in Health Policy, 14 Story Street, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Allison A Merz-Herrala
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 2356 Sutter Street, 94115, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deborah Bartz
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, 02115, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street CWN-3, 02115, Boston, MA, USA.
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Kohler T, Guidry JPD, Perrin P, Laestadius L. Oh Baby! A Content Analysis of Contraception Pins on Pinterest. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2023; 50:783-791. [PMID: 36734320 DOI: 10.1177/10901981231152238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media platforms have become a popular source for health information despite concerns about the quality of content shared. We examined how oral contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices are framed on the platform Pinterest using the Health Belief Model (HBM), as well as how fertility awareness methods are portrayed as an alternative to hormonal contraception. METHODS We collected pins in February 2021 using searches for birth control, oral contraceptives, and intrauterine devices. After excluding paid ads and pins not relevant to contraceptive use, we conducted a content analysis of 404 pins using a coding framework grounded in the HBM. We carried out descriptive statistics for all variables in the final sample. RESULTS Following coding, we found that 54.7% of pins mentioned oral contraceptive pills, 41.58% mentioned intrauterine devices, and 11.63% mentioned fertility awareness methods. Fertility awareness pins had the highest percentage of benefits conveyed (70.21%), followed by intrauterine devices (44.05%), then oral contraceptive pills (38.91%). Pill pins had the highest percentage of barriers conveyed (52.94%) and fertility awareness had the least (25.53%). Side effects were the most mentioned barrier among pill (37.10%) and intrauterine device pins (23.21%). Very few pins were made by (2.48%) or originated with medical institutions (5.45%). CONCLUSIONS Oral contraceptive pills are often negatively framed on Pinterest, whereas intrauterine devices and fertility awareness methods are more positively framed. This suggests a need for clear communication from clinicians regarding all contraceptive options and their relative merits and risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul Perrin
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Carabot F, Donat-Vargas C, Santoma-Vilaclara J, Ortega MA, García-Montero C, Fraile-Martínez O, Zaragoza C, Monserrat J, Alvarez-Mon M, Alvarez-Mon MA. Exploring Perceptions About Paracetamol, Tramadol, and Codeine on Twitter Using Machine Learning: Quantitative and Qualitative Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e45660. [PMID: 37962927 PMCID: PMC10685273 DOI: 10.2196/45660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paracetamol, codeine, and tramadol are commonly used to manage mild pain, and their availability without prescription or medical consultation raises concerns about potential opioid addiction. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of Twitter users concerning these drugs. METHODS We analyzed the tweets in English or Spanish mentioning paracetamol, tramadol, or codeine posted between January 2019 and December 2020. Out of 152,056 tweets collected, 49,462 were excluded. The content was categorized using a codebook, distinguishing user types (patients, health care professionals, and institutions), and classifying medical content based on efficacy and adverse effects. Scientific accuracy and nonmedical content themes (commercial, economic, solidarity, and trivialization) were also assessed. A total of 1000 tweets for each drug were manually classified to train, test, and validate machine learning classifiers. RESULTS Of classifiable tweets, 42,840 mentioned paracetamol and 42,131 mentioned weak opioids (tramadol or codeine). Patients accounted for 73.10% (60,771/83,129) of the tweets, while health care professionals and institutions received the highest like-tweet and tweet-retweet ratios. Medical content distribution significantly differed for each drug (P<.001). Nonmedical content dominated opioid tweets (23,871/32,307, 73.9%), while paracetamol tweets had a higher prevalence of medical content (33,943/50,822, 66.8%). Among medical content tweets, 80.8% (41,080/50,822) mentioned drug efficacy, with only 6.9% (3501/50,822) describing good or sufficient efficacy. Nonmedical content distribution also varied significantly among the different drugs (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients seeking relief from pain are highly interested in the effectiveness of drugs rather than potential side effects. Alarming trends include a significant number of tweets trivializing drug use and recreational purposes, along with a lack of awareness regarding side effects. Monitoring conversations related to analgesics on social media is essential due to common illegal web-based sales and purchases without prescriptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Carabot
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Donat-Vargas
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Stockholm, Sweden
- ISGlobal, Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona, Campus MAR, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Santoma-Vilaclara
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Data & AI, Filament Consultancy Group., London, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel A Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Registry and Pathology Department, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Cielo García-Montero
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Zaragoza
- Biomedical Sciences Department, University of Alcalá, Pharmacology Unit, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Jorge Monserrat
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology and Internal Medicine Service, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramon y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
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Döring N, Lehmann S, Schumann-Doermer C. [Contraception on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok : A content and quality analysis]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2023; 66:990-999. [PMID: 37160419 PMCID: PMC10465624 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-023-03698-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young people and adults increasingly obtain information about contraception via social media. RESEARCH AIM Against this background, the aim of this study is to investigate for the first time the content and quality of German-language contraceptive posts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Research questions on providers (F1), content (F2), and quality of contraceptive posts (F3) as well as audience reactions (F4) will be answered. MATERIALS AND METHODS A sample of N = 1000 contraceptive posts from YouTube (500), Instagram (250), and TikTok (250) was drawn. A maximum of 20 contraception-related audience comments per post were included in the comment sample (N = 12,454). Posts and comments were analyzed using reliability-tested codebooks. SPSS was used for data analysis. The study is preregistered and all data, materials, and analysis scripts are publicly available. RESULTS The majority of contraceptive posts were found to be from health laypersons (52%), followed by media professionals and health professionals (F1). In terms of content, contraceptive posts covered all available contraceptive methods, with the pill (69%) and condoms (40%) dominating (F2). According to common quality criteria, there were clear deficits, with YouTube videos scoring best in comparison (F3). TikTok videos, on the other hand, were top performers in terms of audience interaction, attracting the most views, likes, and comments. Comment columns were often used by the audience to share their own contraceptive experiences or ask follow-up questions (F4). DISCUSSION Future research as well as practice interventions are needed to further assess the quality of contraceptive information in social media and improve it in a more targeted way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Döring
- IfMK, TU Ilmenau, Ehrenbergstraße 29, 98693, Ilmenau, Deutschland.
| | - Stephan Lehmann
- IfMK, TU Ilmenau, Ehrenbergstraße 29, 98693, Ilmenau, Deutschland
| | - Claudia Schumann-Doermer
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für psychosomatische Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe (DGPFG), Dresden, Deutschland
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6
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Alvarez-Mon MA, Pereira-Sanchez V, Hooker ER, Sanchez F, Alvarez-Mon M, Teo AR. Content and User Engagement of Health-Related Behavior Tweets Posted by Mass Media Outlets From Spain and the United States Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Infodemiology Study. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2023; 3:e43685. [PMID: 37347948 PMCID: PMC10445660 DOI: 10.2196/43685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the early pandemic, there was substantial variation in public and government responses to COVID-19 in Europe and the United States. Mass media are a vital source of health information and news, frequently disseminating this information through social media, and may influence public and policy responses to the pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the extent to which major media outlets in the United States and Spain tweeted about health-related behaviors (HRBs) relevant to COVID-19, compare the tweeting patterns between media outlets of both countries, and determine user engagement in response to these tweets. METHODS We investigated tweets posted by 30 major media outlets (n=17, 57% from Spain and n=13, 43% from the United States) between December 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020, which included keywords related to HRBs relevant to COVID-19. We classified tweets into 6 categories: mask-wearing, physical distancing, handwashing, quarantine or confinement, disinfecting objects, or multiple HRBs (any combination of the prior HRB categories). Additionally, we assessed the likes and retweets generated by each tweet. Poisson regression analyses compared the average predicted number of likes and retweets between the different HRB categories and between countries. RESULTS Of 50,415 tweets initially collected, 8552 contained content associated with an HRB relevant to COVID-19. Of these, 600 were randomly chosen for training, and 2351 tweets were randomly selected for manual content analysis. Of the 2351 COVID-19-related tweets included in the content analysis, 62.91% (1479/2351) mentioned at least one HRB. The proportion of COVID-19 tweets mentioning at least one HRB differed significantly between countries (P=.006). Quarantine or confinement was mentioned in nearly half of all the HRB tweets in both countries. In contrast, the least frequently mentioned HRBs were disinfecting objects in Spain 6.9% (56/809) and handwashing in the United States 9.1% (61/670). For tweets from the United States mentioning at least one HRB, disinfecting objects had the highest median likes and retweets, whereas mask-wearing- and handwashing-related tweets achieved the highest median number of likes in Spain. Tweets from Spain that mentioned social distancing or disinfecting objects had a significantly lower predicted count of likes compared with tweets mentioning a different HRB (P=.02 and P=.01, respectively). Tweets from the United States that mentioned quarantine or confinement or disinfecting objects had a significantly lower predicted number of likes compared with tweets mentioning a different HRB (P<.001), whereas mask- and handwashing-related tweets had a significantly greater predicted number of likes (P=.04 and P=.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The type of HRB content and engagement with media outlet tweets varied between Spain and the United States early in the pandemic. However, content related to quarantine or confinement and engagement with handwashing was relatively high in both countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Pereira-Sanchez
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth R Hooker
- VA Portland Health Care System, Health Services Research & Development Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Portland, OR, United States
- OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Facundo Sanchez
- Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, New York, NY, United States
- Devers Eye Institute, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alan R Teo
- VA Portland Health Care System, Health Services Research & Development Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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7
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Alvarez-Mon MA, Fernandez-Lazaro CI, Ortega MA, Vidal C, Molina-Ruiz RM, Alvarez-Mon M, Martínez-González MA. Analyzing Psychotherapy on Twitter: An 11-Year Analysis of Tweets From Major U.S. Media Outlets. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:871113. [PMID: 35664489 PMCID: PMC9159799 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.871113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Internet has become the main source of information on health issues, and information now determines the therapeutic preferences of patients. For this reason, it is relevant to analyze online information discussing psychotherapy. OBJECTIVE To investigate tweets posted by 25 major US media outlets between 2009 and 2019 concerning psychotherapy. METHODS We investigated tweets posted by 25 major US media outlets about psychotherapy between January 2009 and December 2019 as well as the likes generated. In addition, we measured the sentiment analysis of these tweets. RESULTS Most of the tweets analyzed focused on Mindfulness (5,498), while a low number were related to Psychoanalysis (376) and even less to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (61). Surprisingly, Computer-supported therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, Systemic therapy, Acceptance and commitment therapy, and Dialectical behavior therapy did not generate any tweet. In terms of content, efficacy was the main focus of the posted tweets, receiving Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness a positive appraisal. CONCLUSIONS US media outlets focused their interest on Mindfulness which may have contributed to the growing popularity in the past years of this therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar Ignacio Fernandez-Lazaro
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Navarra's Health Research Institute (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miguel A Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Vidal
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology. University of Navarra Clinic, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rosa M Molina-Ruiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Martínez-González
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Navarra's Health Research Institute (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Abbasi-Perez A, Alvarez-Mon MA, Donat-Vargas C, Ortega MA, Monserrat J, Perez-Gomez A, Sanz I, Alvarez-Mon M. Analysis of Tweets Containing Information Related to Rheumatological Diseases on Twitter. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179094. [PMID: 34501681 PMCID: PMC8430833 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: Tweets often indicate the interests of Twitter users. Data from Twitter could be used to better understand the interest in and perceptions of a variety of diseases and medical conditions, including rheumatological diseases which have increased in prevalence over the past several decades. The aim of this study was to perform a content analysis of tweets referring to rheumatological diseases. Methods: The content of each tweet was rated as medical (including a reference to diagnosis, treatment, or other aspects of the disease) or non-medical (such as requesting help). The type of user and the suitability of the medical content (appropriate content or, on the contrary, fake content if it was medically inappropriate according to the current medical knowledge) were also evaluated. The number of retweets and likes generated were also investigated. Results: We analyzed a total of 1514 tweets: 1093 classified as medical and 421 as non-medical. The diseases with more tweets were the most prevalent. Within the medical tweets, the content of these varied according to the disease (some more focused on diagnosis and others on treatment). The fake content came from unidentified users and mostly referred to the treatment of diseases. Conclusions: According to our results, the analysis of content posted on Twitter in regard to rheumatological diseases may be useful for investigating the public’s prevailing areas of interest, concerns and opinions. Thus, it could facilitate communication between health care professionals and patients, and ultimately improve the doctor–patient relationship. Due to the interest shown in medical issues it seems desirable to have healthcare institutions and healthcare workers involved in Twitter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Abbasi-Perez
- Service of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Autoimmune Diseases University Hospital “Principe de Asturias”, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (A.A.-P.); (A.P.-G.); (M.A.-M.)
| | - Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (J.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Carolina Donat-Vargas
- Carol Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
- IMDEA-Food Institute, Campus of International Excellence, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (J.M.)
- Institute Ramon y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Monserrat
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (J.M.)
- Institute Ramon y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Perez-Gomez
- Service of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Autoimmune Diseases University Hospital “Principe de Asturias”, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (A.A.-P.); (A.P.-G.); (M.A.-M.)
| | - Ignacio Sanz
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Service of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Autoimmune Diseases University Hospital “Principe de Asturias”, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (A.A.-P.); (A.P.-G.); (M.A.-M.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (J.M.)
- Institute Ramon y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Alvarez-Mon MA, Donat-Vargas C, Santoma-Vilaclara J, de Anta L, Goena J, Sanchez-Bayona R, Mora F, Ortega MA, Lahera G, Rodriguez-Jimenez R, Quintero J, Álvarez-Mon M. Assessment of Antipsychotic Medications on Social Media: Machine Learning Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:737684. [PMID: 34867531 PMCID: PMC8637121 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.737684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Antipsychotic medications are the first-line treatment for schizophrenia. However, non-adherence is frequent despite its negative impact on the course of the illness. In response, we aimed to investigate social media posts about antipsychotics to better understand the online environment in this regard. Methods: We collected tweets containing mentions of antipsychotic medications posted between January 1st 2019 and October 31st 2020. The content of each tweet and the characteristics of the users were analyzed as well as the number of retweets and likes generated. Results: Twitter users, especially those identified as patients, showed an interest in antipsychotic medications, mainly focusing on the topics of sexual dysfunction and sedation. Interestingly, paliperidone, despite being among one of the newest antipsychotics, accounted for a low number of tweets and did not generate much interest. Conversely, retweet and like ratios were higher in those tweets asking for or offering help, in those posted by institutions and in those mentioning cognitive complaints. Moreover, health professionals did not have a strong presence in tweet postings, nor did medical institutions. Finally, trivialization was frequently observed. Conclusion: This analysis of tweets about antipsychotic medications provides insights into experiences and opinions related to this treatment. Twitter user perspectives therefore constitute a valuable input that may help to improve clinicians' knowledge of antipsychotic medications and their communication with patients regarding this treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Donat-Vargas
- Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,IMDEA-Food Institute, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Laura de Anta
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Goena
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Navarra Clinic, Pamplona, Spain.,Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Sanchez-Bayona
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Unidad de Cáncer de Mama y Ginecológico, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Mora
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal and Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Lahera
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Principe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.,CIBERSAM (Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Mental Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Rodriguez-Jimenez
- CIBERSAM (Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Mental Health), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas 12), Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Quintero
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal and Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Melchor Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.,Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Service of Internal Medicine and Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias (CIBEREHD), Alcalá de Henares, Spain
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