Social Media Spreads Both Awareness And Misinformation About Allergies And Asthma

From uncommon tick-borne nutrient allergy to mundane asthma, millions of group move to societal media for wellness advice. But caller investigation being presented astatine nan American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting successful Orlando reveals that while these platforms springiness patients a voice, they besides amplify misinformation – and posts that get nan astir attraction are often not nan astir accurate.

One study looked astatine societal media videos astir alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a increasing information caused by Lone Star tick bites that tin trigger terrible allergic reactions to meat. Researchers analyzed nan apical 100 videos nether nan hashtag "alphagal" and recovered that only 15 were created by physicians – and astir of nan doctors were not allergists. Despite this, physician-made videos received much likes and comments than those from non-physicians, which tended to beryllium shorter and anecdotal. The findings item nan imaginable powerfulness of allergists to stock accurate, relatable accusation successful a abstraction wherever patients are eager to engage.

Alpha-gal is confusing for patients, and galore move to societal media for guidance. While individual stories are valuable, there's besides a batch of misinformation. When allergists and different doctors measurement in, their contented resonates – suggesting a existent opportunity to amended nationalist understanding."

Nadia Hamid, MD, ACAAI member, allergist and lead writer of nan study

A 2nd study examined TikTok videos astir asthma, a much communal condition. Of nan 40 most-liked English-language videos posted successful 2024 nether #asthma, much than 1 successful 4 contained inaccurate aliases misleading claims. Among nan astir concerning myths: that asthma tin beryllium cured pinch breathing exercises aliases that caffeine mixed pinch asthma inhalers could beryllium fatal. Alarmingly, these misleading, inaccurate videos were much popular, receiving complete 3 times arsenic galore likes arsenic meticulous ones.

Most asthma-related videos were created by non-physicians, and wide value scores were low. According to nan researchers, this reflects some nan fame of anecdotal wellness contented and nan comparative scarcity of expert voices connected nan platform.

"TikTok and different platforms connection unthinkable opportunities to scope patients wherever they are," said Ishitha Jagadish, MD, aesculapian resident and lead writer of nan study. "But correct now, misinformation astir asthma is not only widespread, it's much engrossing than meticulous content. We request much allergy and asthma experts online to coming science-based, engaging content."

Together, nan 2 studies underscore some nan committedness and nan pitfalls of societal media arsenic a wellness accusation source. Patient stories tin supply comfortableness and community, but without nan beingness of aesculapian experts, myths dispersed quickly – and tin power wellness behaviors successful vulnerable ways.

Abstract title: The Tick Talks: A Qualitative Analysis of #AlphaGal Content connected a Social Video Sharing Platform

Presenter: Nadia Hamid, MD

Abstract title: Misinformation Goes Viral: Assessing Asthma-Related TikTok Content

Presenter: Ishitha Jagadish, MD