Social Media as an Effective Provider of Quality-Assured and Accurate Information to Increase Vaccine Rates: Systematic Review

Endometriosis Communities on Reddit: Quantitative Analysis

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects 10% of the people with a uterus. Due to the complex social and psychological impacts caused by this condition, people with endometriosis often turn to online health communities (OHCs) for support.

OBJECTIVE

Prior work identifies a lack of large-scale analyses of the experiences of patients with endometriosis and of OHCs. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating aspects of the condition and aggregate user needs that emerge from 2 endometriosis OHCs, r/Endo and r/endometriosis.

METHODS

We used latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling, an unsupervised machine learning method, to extract the subject matter ("topic") of >30,000 posts and >300,000 comments. In addition to latent Dirichlet allocation, we leveraged supervised classification. Specifically, we fine-tuned a series of the DistilBERT models to identify the people and relationships (personas) a post mentions as well as the type of support that the post seeks (intent). Combining the results of these 2 methods, we identified associations between a post's topic, the personas mentioned, and the post's intent.

RESULTS

The most discussed topics in posts were medical stories, medical appointments, sharing symptoms, menstruation, and empathy. Through the combination of the results from topic modeling and supervised classification, we found that when discussing medical appointments, users were more likely to mention the endometriosis OHCs than medical professionals. Medical professional was the least likely of any persona to be associated with empathy. Posts that mentioned partner or family were likely to discuss topics from the life issues category, particularly fertility. Users sought experiential knowledge regarding treatments and health care processes, and they also wished to vent and establish emotional connections about the life-altering aspects of the condition.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that members of the OHCs need greater empathy within clinical settings, easier access to appointments, more information on care pathways, and more support for their loved ones. Endometriosis OHCs currently fulfill some of these needs as they provide members with a space where they can receive validation, discuss care pathways, and learn to manage symptoms. This study demonstrates the value of quantitative analyses of OHCs. Computational analyses can support and extend findings from small-scale studies about patient experiences and provide insights into hard-to-reach groups. Finally, we provide recommendations for clinical practice and medical training programs.

Amplifying youth voices: young people's recommendations for policy and practice to enhance vaccine acceptability

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for increased vaccine availability and uptake, with vaccine hesitancy posing a significant barrier, particularly among young adults. Evidence from various countries highlight high levels of hesitancy among young people, necessitating targeted interventions. Engaging young adults as key stakeholders in shaping public health strategies is crucial, as their perspectives can enhance vaccine acceptance. This study aimed to assess the overall acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among young people and to explore the factors influencing their willingness or reluctance to be vaccinated now and in the future.

METHODS

This study used qualitative data from 165 young adults in Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia, to explore their suggestions for policies and strategies aimed at enhancing the acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccination among their age group. Data collection involved focus groups and interviews that explored participants' perceptions and recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination acceptability. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis identified several factors influencing vaccine acceptability among young people and suggested recommendations to improve it. The themes included developing targeted communication strategies for accurate vaccine information, offering alternative vaccination methods, promoting vaccine education in schools, and using trusted public figures to share accurate information.

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent dissatisfaction with vaccine information dissemination underscores the need for more targeted communication strategies among young adults. Recommendations include developing non-injection vaccine options, incorporating vaccine education into school curricula and community programs, and leveraging influential public figures to build credibility. These insights are valuable for designing future programs to enhance vaccine acceptance among adolescents.

Towards 'Formalising' WhatsApp Teledermatology Practice in KZ-N District Hospitals: Key Informant Interviews

INTRODUCTION

District hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, do not have onsite specialist dermatology services. Doctors at these hospitals use WhatsApp instant messaging to informally seek advice from dermatologists and colleagues before possible referral. They have expressed the need to formalise WhatsApp teledermatology.

AIM

To determine the views and perspectives of clinicians on the feasibility and practicality of formalising the current WhatsApp-based teledermatology activities within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Dermatology Service.

METHODS

Key informant interviews with 12 purposively selected doctors at district hospitals and all 14 dermatologists in the KwaZulu-Natal dermatology service. Their views and perspectives on formalising the current informal use of WhatsApp for teledermatology were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed.

RESULTS

Five primary themes (communication, usability, utility, process, and poor understanding of legal, regulatory, and ethical issues) and 22 sub-themes were identified. Clinicians wanted WhatsApp teledermatology to continue, be formalised, and be incorporated within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, facilitated by the provision of practical guidelines addressing legal, regulatory, and ethical issues.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings will be used to develop a policy brief, providing recommendations and proposed guidelines for formalising the teledermatology service. The findings and methods will be relevant to similar circumstances in other countries.

Examining the Effectiveness of a Digital Media Campaign at Reducing the Duration of Untreated Psychosis in New York State: Results From a Stepped-wedge Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) predicts worse outcomes in First Episode Psychosis (FEP). Searching online represents one of the first proactive step toward treatment initiation for many, yet few studies have informed how best to support FEP youth as they engage in early online help-seeking steps to care.

STUDY DESIGN

Using a stepped-wedge randomized design, this project evaluated the effectiveness of a digital marketing campaign at reducing DUP and raising rates of referrals to FEP services by proactively targeting and engaging prospective patients and their adult allies online.

STUDY RESULTS

Throughout the 18-month campaign, 41 372 individuals visited our website, and 371 advanced to remote clinical assessment (median age = 24.4), including 53 allies and 318 youth. Among those assessed (n = 371), 53 individuals (14.3%) reported symptoms consistent with psychotic spectrum disorders (62.2% female, mean age 20.7 years) including 39 (10.5%) reporting symptoms consistent with either Clinical High Risk (ie, attenuated psychotic symptoms; n = 26) or FEP (n = 13). Among those with either suspected CHR or FEP (n = 39), 20 (51.3%) successfully connected with care. The campaign did not result in significant differences in DUP.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the potential to leverage digital media to help identify and engage youth with early psychosis online. However, despite its potential, online education and professional support alone are not yet sufficient to expedite treatment initiation and reduce DUP.