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International Journal of Public Health

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Open Access 01-04-2019 | Original Article

A comparison of information sharing behaviours across 379 health conditions on Twitter

Authors: Ziqi Zhang, Wasim Ahmed

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

Objectives

To compare information sharing of over 379 health conditions on Twitter to uncover trends and patterns of online user activities.

Methods

We collected 1.5 million tweets generated by over 450,000 Twitter users for 379 health conditions, each of which was quantified using a multivariate model describing engagement, user and content aspects of the data and compared using correlation and network analysis to discover patterns of user activities in these online communities.

Results

We found a significant imbalance in terms of the size of communities interested in different health conditions, regardless of the seriousness of these conditions. Improving the informativeness of tweets by using, for example, URLs, multimedia and mentions can be important factors in promoting health conditions on Twitter. Using hashtags on the contrary is less effective. Social network analysis revealed similar structures of the discussion found across different health conditions.

Conclusions

Our study found variance in activity between different health communities on Twitter, and our results are likely to be of interest to public health authorities and officials interested in the potential of Twitter to raise awareness of public health.

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Title: A comparison of information sharing behaviours across 379 health conditions on Twitter
Authors: Ziqi Zhang
Wasim Ahmed
Publication date: 01-04-2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1192-5

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

A comparison of information sharing behaviours across 379 health conditions on Twitter

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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