Recent Articles
Abortion access in the United States has been in a state of rapid change and increasing restriction since the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision from the US Supreme Court in June 2022. With further constraints on access to abortion since Dobbs, the internet and online communities are playing an increasingly important role in people’s abortion trajectories. There is a need for a broader understanding of how online resources are used for abortion and how they may reflect changes in the sociopolitical and legal context of abortion access. Research using online information and leveraging methods to work efficiently with large textual datasets has the potential to accelerate knowledge generation and provide novel insights into changing abortion-related experiences following Dobbs, helping address these knowledge gaps.
Mental health organizations have the vital and difficult task of shaping public discourse and providing important information. Social media platforms such as X serve as such communication channels and analyzing organizational health information offers valuable insights into their guidance and linguistic patterns, which can enhance communication strategies for health campaigns and interventions. The findings inform strategies to enhance public engagement, trust, and the effectiveness of mental health messaging.
The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 was accompanied by a rise in the popularity of conspiracy theories. These theories often undermined vaccination efforts. There is evidence that the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 is associated with online social media use. Online social media enables network effects that influence the dissemination of information. It is important to distinguish between the effects of using social media and the network effects that occur within the platform.
There has been an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia. This can be prevented and managed through the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors, including not smoking, avoiding alcohol consumption, maintaining a balanced diet and being physically active. The growing importance of utilizing social media to deliver information on healthy behaviors has led healthcare professionals (HCPs) to lead these efforts. To ensure effective delivery of information on healthy lifestyle behaviors, HCPs should begin by understanding users’ current opinions about these behaviors and whether the users are receptive to recommended health practices. Nevertheless, there has been limited research conducted in Malaysia that aims to identify the sentiments and content of posts, as well as how well users’ perceptions align with recommended health practices.
The rapid emergence of AI-based large language models (LLMs) in 2022 has initiated extensive discussions within the academic community. While proponents highlight LLMs’ potential to improve writing and analytical tasks, critics caution against the ethical and cultural implications of widespread reliance on these models. Existing literature has explored various aspects of LLMs, including their integration, performance, and utility, yet there is a gap in understanding the nature of these discussions and how public perception contrasts with expert opinion in the field of public health.
The opioid crisis poses a significant global health challenge in the U.S, with increasing overdoses and death rates due to opioids mixed with other illicit substances. Various strategies have been developed by federal and local governments and health organizations to address this crisis. One of the most significant objectives is to understand the epidemic through better health surveillance, and machine learning techniques can support this by identifying opioid overdose users through the analysis of social media data, as many individuals may avoid direct testing but still share their experiences online.
As the global population ages, concerns about older drivers are intensifying. Although older drivers are not inherently more dangerous than other age groups, traditional surveys in Japan reveal persistent negative sentiments toward them. This discrepancy suggests the importance of analyzing discourse on social media, where public perceptions and societal attitudes toward older drivers are actively shaped.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by an unprecedented infodemic characterized by the widespread dissemination of misinformation. Globally, misinformation about COVID-19 has led to polarized beliefs and behaviors, including vaccine hesitancy, rejection of governmental authorities’ recommendations, and distrust in health institutions. Thus, understanding the prevalence and drivers of misinformation is critical for designing effective and contextualized public health strategies.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy among women that requires self-management to improve mental and physical health outcomes and reduce risk of comorbidity. Digital technology has rapidly emerged as a valuable self-management tool for people with chronic health conditions. However, little is known about the digital technology available for and used by women with PCOS.
There is breast cancer-related medical information on social media, but there is no established method for objectively evaluating the quality of this information. PRHISM is a newly developed tool for objectively assessing the quality of health-related information on social media; however, there have been no reports evaluating its reliability and validity.
Global medical tourism for aesthetic surgery has become a popular phenomenon through ease of access in the digital era, though such services are not without potential risks. The application of infodemiology for global health surveillance may provide unique insights into unknown patient travel patterns and surgeon workforce dynamics abroad.
