Detection of Adverse Event Signals with Severity Grade Classification from Cancer Patient Narrative.

Adverse event (AE) management is crucial to improve anti-cancer treatment outcomes, but it is reported that some AE signals can be missed in clinical visits. Thus, monitoring AE signals seamlessly, including events outside hospitals, would be helpful for early intervention. Here we investigated how to detect AE signals from texts written by cancer patients themselves by developing deep-learning (DL) models to classify posts mentioning AEs according to severity grade, in order to focus on those that might need immediate treatment interventions. Using patient blogs written in Japanese by cancer patients as a data source, we built DL models based on three approaches, BERT, ELECTRA, and T5. Among these models, T5 showed the best F1 scores for both Grade ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 article classification tasks (0.85 and 0.53, respectively). This model might benefit patients by enabling earlier AE signal detection, thereby improving quality of life.

Media coverage of cancer therapeutics: A review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Information and stories about cancer treatment are increasingly available to patients and the general public through lay media, websites, blogs and social media. While these resources may be helpful to supplement information provided during physician-patient discussions, there is growing concern about the extent to which media reports accurately reflect advances in cancer care. This review aimed to understand the landscape of published research which has described media coverage of cancer treatments. METHODS: This literature review included peer-reviewed primary research articles that reported how cancer treatments are portrayed in the lay media. A structured literature search of Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar was performed. Potentially eligible articles were reviewed by three authors for inclusion. Three reviewers, each independently reviewed eligible studies; discrepancies were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. The content of the eligible studies reflected two thematic categories: articles that reviewed specific drugs/cancer treatment (n = 7) and articles that described media coverage of cancer treatment in general terms (n = 7). Key findings include the media's frequent and unfounded use of superlatives and hype for new cancer treatments. Parallel to this, media reports over-emphasize potential treatment benefits and do not present a balanced view of risks of side effects, cost, and death. At a broad level, there is emerging evidence that media reporting of cancer treatments may directly impact patient care and policy-making. CONCLUSIONS: This review identifies problems in current media reports of new cancer advances - especially with undue use of superlatives and hype. Given the frequency with which patients access this information and the potential for it to influence policy, there is a need for additional research in this space in addition to educational interventions with health journalists. The oncology community - scientists and clinicians - must ensure that we are not contributing to these problems.

How blogs support the transfer of knowledge into practice in the field of dementia palliative care: a survey of facilitators and barriers.

BACKGROUND: Blogging can help to maximise the impact of one's work in academia and beyond by making research findings accessible for multiple knowledge users, such as healthcare professionals and the public, as well as other researchers. As part of the knowledge exchange and dissemination activities of the Model for Dementia Palliative Care Project, this study explored stakeholders' views of blogs as a means to translate research findings. METHODS: A web-based survey was developed, piloted, and revised. It was distributed electronically via key dementia and palliative care organisations websites, newsletters, social media platforms, and within the staff mailing lists of five Universities in Ireland. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. RESULTS: Complete responses were received from 128 participants. The majority of respondents were healthcare researchers (n = 53), followed by healthcare providers (n = 46). The preferred methods of reviewing research findings were scientific papers, websites and news articles. Respondents read healthcare blogs "sometimes" (39.1%), with < 19% reading them "often" or "very often". Receiving an email notification might increase the likelihood of reading a new blog post for 83% of respondents. Barriers to engaging with blogs included lack of time, preference for other media, lack of awareness regarding available blogs, and concerns about the credibility and source of information. An appropriate length and the author of the blog were key features that encouraged engagement with a blog. CONCLUSIONS: Despite respondents choosing a scientific paper as their preferred method to consume research findings, many indicated an openness to reading blogs on their area of interest. Creating concise, relevant, and credible blogs, and suitably promoting them, could increase the impact and reach of healthcare research, such as in the emerging field of dementia palliative care, and thus promote translation of research findings into practice.

Podcasts de divulgação científica: levantamento exploratório dos formatos de programas brasileiros / Science communication podcasts: exploratory research of Brazilian program formats / Podcasts de divulgación científica: investigación exploratoria de formatos de programas brasileños

A pesquisa apresentada neste artigo foi realizada com o objetivo de estudar os formatos de podcasts brasileiros de divulgação científica e identificar quais estilos são predominantes nessa produção de conteúdo. O estudo se caracteriza como um levantamento exploratório, que procurou sistematizar o objeto estudado usando uma abordagem qualiquantitativa. No levantamento da pesquisa foram identificados 69 podcasts, dos quais 37 foram selecionados para análise. Os critérios para a seleção foram popularidade, regularidade na publicação e longevidade. Ao todo, foram ouvidos 109 episódios. O resultado da pesquisa apontou que, dos formatos de podcast encontrados, o bate-papo ou mesacast é o principal modelo adotado seguido da entrevista e a maior parte das produções tem sido realizada por universidades ou cientistas independentes.

The research presented in this article aimed to study the formats of Brazilian podcasts for science communication and to identify which styles are most prevalent in this content production. The study is based on an exploratory research, which sought to systematize the studied object, by means of a qualitative and quantitative approach. It was identified in the research a total of 69 podcasts, 37 of which were selected for analysis. The selection criteria were popularity, regularity of publication and longevity. A total of 109 episodes were heard. The research showed that chat (also known as mesacast) stands out from all the other formats, followed by the interview, and that the most of the productions have been carrying out by universities or independent scientists.

La investigación presentada en este artículo ha sido realizada con el objetivo de estudiar los formatos de los podcasts brasileños para la divulgación científica e de identificar cuáles estilos que más prevalecen en esta producción de contenidos. La investigación se caracteriza por ser una búsqueda exploratoria, que ha procurado sistematizar el objeto estudiado, valiéndose de un enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo. En la investigación, se identificaron 69 podcasts, 37 de los cuales fueron seleccionados para análisis. Los criterios de selección fueron popularidad, regularidad de publicación y longevidad. Un total de 109 episodios fueron escuchados. El resultado de la investigación mostró que, de los formatos de podcast encontrados, se destaca el chat o mesacast, seguido de la entrevista. La mayoría de las producciones actualmente es realizada por universidades o científicos independientes.

Impact of Medical Blog Reading and Information Presentation on Readers' Preventative Health Intentions: Mixed Methods, Multistudy Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Medical blogs have become valuable information sources for patients and caregivers. Most research has focused on patients' creation of blogs as therapy. But we know less about how these blogs affect their readers and what format of information influences readers to take preventative health actions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify how reading patient medical blogs influences readers' perceived health risk and their intentions to engage in preventative health actions. Further, we aimed to examine the format of the medical blog and the reader's response. METHODS: We surveyed 99 university participants and a general-population, online panel of 167 participants. Both studies randomly assigned participants to conditions and measured blog evaluation, intentions for preventative health action, and evaluation of health risk and beliefs, and allowed open-ended comments. The second study used a different sample and added a control condition. A third study used a convenience sample of blog readers to evaluate the link between reading medical blogs and taking preventative health action. RESULTS: Across 3 studies, participants indicated a desire to take future preventative health action after reading patient blogs. Studies 1 and 2 used experimental scenario-based designs, while Study 3 employed a qualitative design with real blog readers. The 2 experimental studies showed that the type of blog impacted intentions to engage in future preventative health actions (Study 1: F2,96=6.08, P=.003; Study 2: F3,166=2.59, P=.06), with a statistical blog being most effective in both studies and a personal narrative blog showing similar effectiveness in Study 2, contrary to some prior research. The readers' perceptions of their own health risk did not impact the relationship between the blog type and health intentions. In contrast, in one study, participants' judgments about the barriers they might face to accessing care improved the fit of the model (F2,95=13.57, P<.001). In Study 3's sample of medical blog readers, 53% (24/45) reported taking preventative health action after reading a health blog, including performing a self-check, asking a doctor about their health risk, or requesting a screening test. Additionally, these readers expressed that they read the blogs to follow the author (patient) and to learn general health information. All studies demonstrated the blogs were somewhat sad and emotional but also informative and well-written. They noted that the blogs made them appreciate life more and motivated them to consider taking some action regarding their health. CONCLUSIONS: Reading patient blogs influences intentions to take future health actions. However, blog formats show different efficacy, and the readers' disease risk perceptions do not. Physicians, medical practitioners, and health organizations may find it useful to curate or promote selected medical blogs to influence patient behavior.

Social Media and Its Use in Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Education and Training.

¼: The use of social media by health-care professionals and medical educators has been increasing over the past decade. ¼: Online social networks, professional networks, blogs, microblogs, forums, podcasts, and video-sharing platforms can be used effectively to communicate and engage with, as well as learn from, other residents and attending physicians worldwide. ¼: Social media platforms and other web-based applications can serve as powerful educational tools to enhance orthopaedic resident learning, collaboration, teaching, and case discussion.

Os corpos etéreos dos blogs pró-ana: comunidades emocionais e espaços de sociabilidade na web / The ethereal bodies of pro-Ana blogs: emotional communities and spaces of sociability on the web

Resumo O presente artigo procurou compreender como jovens anoréxicas utilizam ambientes virtuais como espaços de sociabilidade para a construção de uma narrativa sobre a anorexia, para ancorar suas experiências pela mutualidade emocional e para validar discursos. Realizou-se análise de conteúdo da sessão de comentários e posts de blogs pró-anorexia sendo identificadas três categorias temáticas: corpo, identidade pessoal e sociabilidade na rede. Observou-se que os blogs são espaços virtuais de sociabilidade e de construção de coletivos identitários. As representações e as vivências pela materialidade corporal alimentam o cyber espaço e são o ponto de partida para compreensão de um fenômeno particular à contemporaneidade, que são as trocas virtuais. Nos blogs localizam-se narrativas corporais que procuram dar coerência ao indivíduo e à sua existência bem como ancorar e legitimar experiências pessoais e validar atitudes pró-anorexia. São reforçados os laços sociais dentro do grupo que se transforma em uma comunidade emocional. Os sentidos dos discursos circulantes permitem inferir que nestes grupos, a materialidade dos corpos anoréxicos se emancipa dos estigmas sociais de doença.

Abstract The study presented in this paper aimed at understanding how anorexic young women use virtual environments as spaces of sociability in order to construct a narrative about anorexia, anchor their experiences through emotional mutuality and validate discourses. To do so, an analysis of the content found in the commenting and posting sections of pro-anorexia blogs was carried out. Three thematic categories were identified: body, personal identity and sociability on the web. It was observed that blogs are virtual spaces of sociability and construction of identity groups. The representations and the experiences lived by the corporal materiality feed cyberspace and are the starting point for understanding a phenomenon particular to the contemporaneity, that is the virtual exchanges. In blogs, one can find body narratives that seek to give coherence to an individual and to his or her existence as well as narratives that aim at anchoring and legitimizing personal experiences and validating pro-anorexia attitudes. Social ties are strengthened within the group, which becomes an emotional community. The meanings of the spreading discourses allow us to infer that in these groups, the materiality of anorexic bodies emancipates itself from the social stigmas of a disease.

Contents and quality of travel tips on malaria in English and Spanish travel blogs.

BACKGROUND: Europe has about 10,000 imported cases of malaria each year, or around 80 cases per 100,000 trips to endemic areas. Non-use of chemoprophylaxis in travellers remains the main reason for this. The proliferation of online travel blogs as a source of advice (sometimes the only one used) for preparing a trip to an endemic area may play a role in the decision to use chemoprophylaxis. The aim of this study was to analyse the information offered on malaria in the main travel blogs in English and Spanish. METHODS: Five hundred travel blogs in English and 100 in Spanish, considered highly relevant were analysed. The relevance were according to different metrics: (1) Alexa Rank; (2) social networks (RRSS) measuring the total followers of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; (3) number of monthly visits using the SEMrush tool; (4) domain authority; and (5) number of backlinks or incoming links using the SEMrush tool. RESULTS: Of the included travel blogs, 57% of those in English and 64% of those in Spanish offered information on malaria, and 79 and 75%, respectively, featured a discussion on malaria written as a blog post or in forum comments. Information on chemoprophylaxis was available in 56.1% of English-language blogs and 10.7% of Spanish-speaking blogs, while its side effects were discussed in 38.6 and 68.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). Content analysis revealed that the information was usually insufficient, incomplete or, more seriously, inaccurate. In many cases, this could discourage users from taking appropriate preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS: Travel blogs in English and Spanish provide low-quality information on malaria. The so-called "travel influencers" must communicate reliable, verified and quality information on malaria on their channels in a way that could contribute to reducing the burden of the disease in travellers.

The incurable metastatic breast cancer experience through metaphors: the fight and the unveiling.

Purpose: War metaphors are omnipresent in public and medical discourse on cancer . If some studies suggest that cancer patients may view their experiences as afight, few studies focus on the metaphors that patients create from their subjective experiences. The aim was to better understand the experience of four women with incurabale metastatic breast cancer from the metaphors they used in personal cancer blogs.Methods: An interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze these women's experience and metaphors of cancer.Results: Two metaphors carried the meaning of metastatic breast cancer experience: the fight and the unveiling. The results show that the war metaphor had a unique meaning for the bloggers who lived with incurable breast cancer: they revealed the difficulty of fighting cancer and eventually collapsing in battle, although a renewed look at life had developed in parallel to their struggle. The bloggers thus tried to lift the veil on this complex experience.Conclusion: The results highlight the need for women with metastatic breast cancer to be able to tell and share their experience in a supportive context and to reinvest the war metaphor in order to express themselves in a more authentic way.

A Content Analysis of Social Support Messages about Environmental Breast Cancer Risk within Blogs for Mothers.

Bloggers can help stimulate online conversations among their readers about a variety of health topics, including breast cancer. However, in previous studies, researchers have not specifically examined supportive messages within an online blogger community that stem from an intervention where bloggers were provided with evidence-based information about breast cancer risk that they could tailor and disseminate to their readers. In the current study, we content analyzed 282 supportive messages within online conversations from participants in blogger communities over a 2-month period immediately following an intervention where the authors provided 74 bloggers who write about motherhood issues with an infographic based on evidence-based information from the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) about environmental breast cancer risk/prevention. Bloggers who shared information about their personal breast cancer risk generated a significantly higher number of blog reader comments than bloggers who did not share information about their personal breast cancer risk. Bloggers who cited breast cancer statistics in posts were more likely to draw esteem and emotional support from their readers. Bloggers' repetition of information from blog intervention messages was more likely to elicit esteem, informational, and emotional support from readers. Disclosure of a personal breast cancer diagnosis was associated with mixed types of social support messages. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed along with key limitations of the study and future directions for research in this area.

Understanding sunscreen and photoprotection misinformation on parenting blogs: A mixed-method study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sun exposure during childhood is a modifiable risk factor for skin cancer. Social media (including parenting blogs) represent promising platforms for understanding misinformation about pediatric photoprotection. This study's objective was to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the digital social context of parenting blogs that shape parents' decisions about children's photoprotection. METHODS: Mixed-method analysis was conducted of the 25 most popular parenting blogs in the USA, including 56 blog posts addressing photoprotection and 2661 comments. An inductive method was used to code and identify key themes associated with blog post categorization as sunscreen-encouraging, -discouraging, and -ambivalent. The qualitative analysis program NVivo was used to calculate descriptive statistics for comment codes based on co-occurrence with blog post category. RESULTS: Sunscreen-discouraging posts addressed natural remedies, sunscreen recipes, and vitamin D. Sunscreen-encouraging posts focused on skin cancer and protective clothing. Sunscreen-ambivalent posts were associated with scientific studies. Sunscreen-discouraging posts received more comments (mean 124) than encouraging (31) or ambivalent posts (8). Discouraging (65%) and ambivalent posts (75%) cited scientific literature more often than encouraging posts (14%). Comments were twice as likely to discourage photoprotection as to encourage it (1340 vs 447 comments). CONCLUSIONS: Parenting blogs are a substantial resource of both information and misinformation on pediatric photoprotection. However, misinformation receives substantially more engagement. The themes revealed in this study may help physicians and public health officials in developing interventions to target misinformation around pediatric photoprotection.

Mapping the online social network of cancer bloggers.

While social media has the ability to quickly disseminate information and reach large audiences, cancer blogs as a communication platform have not yet been well studied. A social network analysis was conducted on 89 active cancer blogs. Results demonstrated the overall cancer-blog-network was widely distributed and decentralized, with blogs clustered by cancer type, and that breast cancer blogs were the most significant and highly linked blogs. Efforts to disseminate cancer-related information may focus on identifying key breast cancer bloggers or linking key bloggers of various cancers to create a more interconnected network and expand its reach within this online community.

"Meus hormônios me enlouquecem": investigação psicanalítica com mommy blogs brasileiros / "Mis hormonas me enloquecen": investigación psicoanalítica con mommy blogs brasileños / «Mes hormones me rendent folle¼: recherche psychanalytique auprès de mommy blogs brésiliens / "My hormones drive me crazy": psychoanalytic research with Brazilian mommy blogs

Resumo Esta pesquisa objetiva investigar psicanaliticamente imaginários coletivos de mães sobre sofrimentos maternos, na perspectiva da psicologia psicanalítica concreta. Justifica-se como busca de conhecimento compreensivo que pode trazer subsídios para a clínica psicológica contemporânea e para debates de movimentos sociais e sociedade civil que tenham por foco a melhoria das condições de cuidados a mães e filhos. Organiza-se ao redor do método psicanalítico, utilizando como material postagens provenientes de mommy blogs brasileiros. A leitura do conjunto de postagens, em estado de atenção flutuante e associação livre de ideias, permite a produção interpretativa do campo de sentido afetivo-emocional "Meus hormônios me enlouquecem". Este campo se organiza ao redor da fantasia segundo a qual afetos ansiosos e depressivos, vivenciados por mães durante o puerpério, seriam determinados por hormônios e/ou neurotransmissores. O quadro geral indica uma tendência imaginativa a priorizar o valor da esfera biológica em detrimento da dramática da vida relacional-vincular.

Resumen Este estudio tiene como objetivo investigar psicoanalíticamente imaginarios colectivos de madres sobre sufrimientos maternos desde la perspectiva de la psicología psicoanalítica concreta. Se justifica como una búsqueda de conocimiento comprensivo que puede aportar subsidios para la clínica psicológica contemporánea y para debates de movimientos sociales y sociedad civil con el fin de mejorar las condiciones de cuidados a madres e hijos. Se organiza alrededor del método psicoanalítico, utilizando como material publicaciones provenientes de mommy blogs brasileños. La lectura del conjunto de publicaciones, en estado de atención fluctuante y libre asociación de ideas, permite la producción interpretativa del campo de sentido afectivo-emocional "Mis hormonas me enloquecen". Ese campo se organiza en torno a la fantasía, de que los afectos ansiosos y depresivos vividos por las madres durante el puerperio serían determinados por hormonas y/o neurotransmisores. El cuadro general indica una tendencia significativa de priorizar el valor de la esfera biológica en detrimento del drama de la vida relacional-vincular.

Résumé Cette recherche examine, de manière psychanalytique, les imaginaires collectifs des mères sur la souffrance maternelle, selon la perspective de la psychologie psychanalitique concrète, se justifiant en tant que recherche des connaissances qui peuvent apporter des subsides à la clinique psychologique contemporaine et aux débats qui se concentre sur l'amélioration des conditions sociales. Cette investigation s' articule autour de la méthode psychanalytique, en utilisant comme source des messages de mommy blogs brésiliens. La lecture des messages, en attention flottante et libre association d'idées, permet la production interprétative du champ de sens affectif-émotionnel "Mes hormones mes rendent folle", qui s'organise autour du fantasme selon lequel les emotions seraient déterminées par des hormones et/ou des neurotransmetteurs. Le tableau général indique une tendance imaginative à privilégier la valeur de la biologie au détriment du drame de la vie relationnelle.

Abstract Our article seeks to investigate the collective imaginaries of mothers about maternal suffering in the perspective of the concrete psychoanalytical psychology. This investigation may ground contemporary psychological clinical practices and offer a comprehensive knowledge to debates of social movements and civil society that focus on improving the conditions of emotional and mental care for mothers and children. Our study applies the psychoanalytic method, using posts from Brazilian mommy blogs as material. The psychoanalytical consideration of the posts, based on hovering attention and free association of ideas, allowed the interpretive production of one affective-emotional field "My hormones drive me crazy". This field is organized around the phantasy that anxious and depressive feelings experienced by mothers during the post-partum (postpartum period) would be determined by hormones and/or neurotransmitters. The results indicate an imaginative tendency to prioritize biological dimensions of human behaviors rather than the drama of relational contexts.

Public Reactions to the Cigarette Control Regulation on a Chinese Microblogging Platform: Empirical Analysis.

BACKGROUND: On January 1, 2019, a new regulation on the control of smoking in public places was officially implemented in Hangzhou, China. On the day of the implementation, a large number of Chinese media reported the contents of the regulation on the microblog platform Weibo, causing a strong response from and heated discussion among netizens. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to conduct a content and network analysis to examine topics and patterns in the social media response to the new regulation. METHODS: We analyzed all microblogs on Weibo that mentioned and explained the regulation in the first 8 days following the implementation. We conducted a content analysis on these microblogs and used social network visualization and descriptive statistics to identify key users and key microblogs. RESULTS: Of 7924 microblogs, 12.85% (1018/7924) were in support of the smoking control regulation, 84.12% (6666/7924) were neutral, and 1.31% (104/7924) were opposed to the smoking regulation control. For the negative posts, the public had doubts about the intentions of the policy, its implementation, and the regulations on electronic cigarettes. In addition, 1.72% (136/7924) were irrelevant to the smoking regulation control. Among the 1043 users who explicitly expressed their positive or negative attitude toward the policy, a large proportion of users showed supportive attitudes (956/1043, 91.66%). A total of 5 topics and 11 subtopics were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study used a content and network analysis to examine topics and patterns in the social media response to the new smoking regulation. We found that the number of posts with a positive attitude toward the regulation was considerably higher than that of the posts with a negative attitude toward the regulation. Our findings may assist public health policy makers to better understand the policy's intentions, scope, and potential effects on public interest and support evidence-based public health regulations in the future.

Battle, Journey, Imprisonment and Burden: patterns of metaphor use in blogs about living with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: The significance of metaphors for the experience of cancer has been the topic of extensive previous research, with "Battle" and "Journey" metaphors standing out as key. Adaptation to the patient's use of metaphor is generally believed to be an important aspect of person-centered care, especially in palliative care. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of metaphors in blogs written in Swedish by people living with advanced cancer and explore possible patterns associated with individuals, age and gender. METHODS: The study is based on a dataset totaling 2,602,479 words produced some time during the period 2007-2016 by 27 individuals diagnosed with advanced cancer. Both qualitative and quantitative procedures were used, and the findings are represented as raw frequencies as well as normalized frequencies per 10,000 words. Our general approach was exploratory and descriptive. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze statistical significance. RESULTS: Our results confirm the strong foothold of "Journey" and "Battle" metaphors. "Imprisonment" and "Burden" metaphors were also used by the majority of the individuals. The propensity to use metaphors when describing the cancer experience was found to differ extensively across the individuals. However, individuals were not found to opt for one conceptualization over the other but tended to draw on several different metaphor domains when conceptualizing their experience. Socio-demographic factors such as age or gender were not found to be strong predictors of metaphor choice in this limited study. CONCLUSIONS: Using a range of different metaphors allows individuals with advanced cancer to highlight different aspects of their experience. The presence of metaphors associated with "Journey", "Battle", "Imprisonment" and "Burden" across individuals could be explained by the fact that the bloggers are part of a culturally consistent cohort, despite variations in age, sex and cancer form. Awareness of metaphors commonly used by patients can enhance health professionals' capacity to identify metaphorical patterns and develop a common language grounded in the patients' own metaphor use, which is an important requisite for person-centered palliative care.