Young patients with cancer and a digital social network: the voice beyond the clinic

Characterizing user demographics in posts related to breast, lung and colon cancer on Japanese twitter (X)

Various cancer-related information is spreading on social media. Our study aimed to examine the account types associated with cancer-related tweets (currently known as posts) on Twitter (currently known as X) in Japan, specifically focusing on breast, lung, and colon cancer. Using the Twitter application programming interface, we collected tweets containing keywords of the three cancers type in August-September 2022. The accounts were categorized into seven types: Survivor, Patient's family, Healthcare provider, Public organization, Private organization, News, and Other according to account name and texts. We analyzed the sources of the top 50 most liked and retweeted tweets. Out of 7753 identified tweets, breast cancer represented the majority (62.8%), followed by lung cancer (20.8%) and colon cancer (16.3%). Tweets came from 4976 accounts. Account types varied depending on the cancer type, with breast cancer topics more frequently from Survivor (16.0%) and lung cancer from Patient's family (16.3%). Healthcare provider and Public organization had minimal representation across three cancer types. The trends in the top 50 tweets mirrored the distribution of accounts for each cancer type. Breast cancer-related tweets had the highest frequency. There were few from public organizations. These findings emphasize the need to consider the characteristics of cancer-related information sources when sharing and gathering information on social media.

Characterizing informational needs and information seeking behavior of patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Appropriate information may facilitate adjustment to cancer diagnoses. Our study aims to characterize informational satisfaction in breast cancer patients and assess resources used by patients to gain information.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed Stage 0-III breast cancer patients seen at an academic medical center between May and September 2020 received questionnaires assessing information satisfaction. Patients indicated resources used to obtain information along with satisfaction with information received in various topics. A subset of questionnaire respondents completed semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS

Fifty-two (35 ​%) patients completed the questionnaire. Patients received information from physicians (96 ​%), the internet (81 ​%), nurses (79 ​%), and fellow breast cancer patients (54 ​%). Interview participants preferred receiving information from providers when making medical decisions but found patient forums and social media to be important adjuncts for receiving information.

CONCLUSION

Patients are satisfied with information received about diagnosis and treatment, but finances, sexual health, and fertility are less frequently discussed.

Content Quality of YouTube Videos About Metastatic Breast Cancer in Young Women: Systematic Assessment

BACKGROUND

Young women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are part of a digitally connected generation yet are underserved in terms of information needs. YouTube is widely used to find and identify health information. The accessibility of health-related content on social media together with the rare and marginalized experiences of young women with MBC and the digital media practices of younger generations imply a considerable likelihood that young women with MBC will seek information and community on the internet.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the content quality of MBC YouTube videos and to identify themes in the experiences of young women with MBC based on YouTube videos.

METHODS

A systematic assessment of MBC YouTube videos using the search term "metastatic breast cancer young" was conducted in August 2021. The search was performed in an incognito browser and with no associated YouTube or Google account. Search results were placed in order from most to least views. Title, date uploaded, length, poster identity, number of likes, and number of comments were collected. Understandability and actionability were assessed using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT); information reliability and quality were assessed with DISCERN. Themes, sponsorships, and health care professionals' and patients' narratives were reported.

RESULTS

A total of 101 videos were identified. Of these, 78.2% (n=79) included sponsorships. The mean PEMAT scores were 78.8% (SD 15.3%) and 43.1% (SD 45.2%) for understandability and actionability, respectively. The mean DISCERN score was 2.44 (SD 0.7) out of 5. Identified themes included treatment (n=67, 66.3%), family relationship (n=46, 45.5%), and motherhood (n=38, 37.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube videos about young women with MBC are highly understandable but demonstrate moderate rates of actionability, with low reliability and quality scores. Many have a commercial bias. While web-based materials have limitations, their potential to provide patient support is not fully developed. By acknowledging their patients' media habits, health care professionals can further develop a trusting bond with their patients, provide a space for open and honest discussions of web-based materials, and avoid any potential instances of confusion caused by misleading, inaccurate, or false web-based materials.

Non-hereditary early onset gastric cancer: An unmet medical need

Gastric cancer (GC) is a lethal disease and the diagnosis in the young population is a major challenge from both individual and social point of views. Early-onset GC accounts for ∼5% of GC; among them, 3% are part of a hereditary syndrome and the majority are sporadic. However, even if the early-onset forms were less frequent in the past, the increasing number in the last decades has improved the interest and awareness of them in the society and in the scientific community. In particular, the different behaviour and characteristics of early-onset GC suggest that it is a completely different entity, which requires a tailored and personalized management. Here we provide an updated overview about non-hereditary early-onset GC, which is an unmet clinical need today, along with future perspectives in this field.