Inspire collaborates with NYU and University of Michigan researchers to shed light on patient experiences during COVID-19 pandemic
A recent study conducted by researchers at New York University and the University of Michigan, published in the European Urology Open Science journal, has shown the potential for social media platforms to provide insights into patient experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study focused on online posts by patients with prostate cancer and their families on two different social media platforms: the Inspire Us TOO Prostate Cancer online support and discussion community and Reddit.
By comparing posts from December 2019 to April 2020 with those from the same time frame in 2019, the researchers found a significant difference in the language used in posts in 2020 versus 2019, suggesting a shift in behavior. A qualitative analysis revealed that patients with prostate cancer and caregivers have concerns about delays in testing and treatment, access to COVID-19 care, and the impact of having cancer on COVID-19 risk.
The study highlights the usefulness of social media platforms in providing real-world data from patients and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.