Social Media, Endometriosis, and Evidence-Based Information: An Analysis of Instagram Content
File version
Version of Record (VoR)
Author(s)
Lewis, Monique
Ng, Cecilia Hoi Man
Brooks, Cristy
Leonardi, Mathew
Mikocka-Walus, Antonina
Bush, Deborah
Semprini, Alex
Wilkinson-Tomey, Jessica
Condous, George
Patravali, Nikhil
Abbott, Jason
Armour, Mike
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract
Social media platforms are used for support and as resources by people from the endometriosis community who are seeking advice about diagnosis, education, and disease management. However, little is known about the scientific accuracy of information circulated on Instagram about the disease. To fill this gap, this study analysed the evidence-based nature of content on Instagram about endometriosis. A total of 515 Instagram posts published between February 2022 and April 2022 were gathered and analysed using a content analysis method, resulting in sixteen main content categories, including “educational”, which comprised eleven subcategories. Claims within educational posts were further analysed for their evidence-based accuracy, guided by a process which included fact-checking all claims against the current scientific evidence and research. Of the eleven educational subcategories, only four categories (cure, scientific article, symptoms, and fertility) comprised claims that were at least 50% or greater evidence-based. More commonly, claims comprised varying degrees of evidence-based, mixed, and non-evidence-based information, and some categories, such as surgery, were dominated by non-evidence-based information about the disease. This is concerning as social media can impact real-life decision-making and management for individuals with endometriosis. Therefore, this study suggests that health communicators, clinicians, scientists, educators, and community groups trying to engage with the endometriosis online community need to be aware of social media discourses about endometriosis, while also ensuring that accurate and translatable information is provided.
Journal Title
Healthcare
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
12
Issue
1
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Health sciences
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Adler, H; Lewis, M; Ng, CHM; Brooks, C; Leonardi, M; Mikocka-Walus, A; Bush, D; Semprini, A; Wilkinson-Tomey, J; Condous, G; Patravali, N; Abbott, J; Armour, M, Social Media, Endometriosis, and Evidence-Based Information: An Analysis of Instagram Content, Healthcare, 2024, 12 (1), pp. 121