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Instagram and prostate cancer: using validated instruments to assess the quality of information on social media

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 25, pages 791–793 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

The quality of prostate cancer (PCa) content on Instagram is unknown.

Methods

We examined 62 still-images and 64 video Instagram posts using #prostatecancer on 5/18/20. Results were assessed with validated tools.

Results

Most content focused on raising awareness or sharing patient stories (46%); only 9% was created by physicians. 90% of content was low-to-moderate quality and most was understandable, but actionability was 0%. Of the 30% of content including objective information, 40% contained significant misinformation. Most posts had comments offering social support.

Conclusions

Instagram is a source of understandable PCa content and social support; however, information was poorly actionable and had some misinformation.

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Availability of data and materials

All research data are publicly available through Instagram.

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Funding

SL: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Health Disparity Research Award from the Department of Defense.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology and Population Health, New York University and Manhattan Veterans Affairs, New York, NY, USA

    Alex J. Xu, Jacob I. Taylor, Richard Matulewicz & Stacy Loeb

  2. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York, NY, USA

    Akya Myrie

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Tian Gao, Verónica Pérez-Rosas & Rada Mihalcea

Authors
  1. Alex J. Xu
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  2. Akya Myrie
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  3. Jacob I. Taylor
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  4. Richard Matulewicz
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  5. Tian Gao
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  6. Verónica Pérez-Rosas
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  7. Rada Mihalcea
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  8. Stacy Loeb
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Contributions

AX gathered and analyzed data, wrote and revised manuscript; JT analyzed data, revised manuscript; RM revised manuscript; TG, VP, RM gathered source data; SL conceptualized the study and reviewed the manuscript

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alex J. Xu.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Xu, A.J., Myrie, A., Taylor, J.I. et al. Instagram and prostate cancer: using validated instruments to assess the quality of information on social media. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 25, 791–793 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-021-00473-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-021-00473-7

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