Article Text
Abstract
Introduction/Background Social media platforms have been widely used to raise awareness and share instant scientific knowledge. Instagram is mainly based on visual posts with comments and like features. Studies investigating the role of Instagram regarding gynaecological cancers (GC) awareness are lacking. We aimed to investigate the presence of posts pertaining to various GCs Instagram.
Methodology We collected and identified the volume of posts related to specific hashtags by using the Instagram search feature. We retrieved results from the following hashtags between October 2010 and May 5th, 2023: #cervicalcancer; #endometrialcancer; #uterinecancer; #wombcancer; #ovariancancer; #vulvarcancer; #vulvalcancer; #vulvarcancerawareness; #vulvarcancerawareness; #vaginalcancer; #cervicalcancervaccine; #hpvvaccination; #hpvvaccine. We recorded and described the number of posts. Using the Instagram algorithm, we identified the volume of posts related to each hashtag. The Instagram algorithm determines and shows a number of ‘top’ posts that were thematically analysed to identify post content.
Results Our query resulted in 741,598 posts (figure 1). Grouping them according to hashtags related to disease site, ovarian cancer was found in 375,072 (50.6%) posts; cervical cancer in 248,707 (33.5%); uterine cancer in 83,670 (11.3%); vulvar cancer in 20,756 (2.8%); vaginal cancer in 11,822 (1.6%); and HPV vaccination in 3,211 (0.4%). The #ovariancancer analysis showed a particular interest in spirituality (positivity, love, praying, and hope). The second most common hashtag was #cervicalcancer, and again its analysis yielded a particular focus on fighting the disease and spreading awareness. Preventive measures related to #hpvvaccination did not raise so much attention. Uterine cancer (#endometrialcancer; #uterinecancer; #wombcancer) ranked 3rd despite being the most prevalent GC in industrialized countries.
Conclusion Instagram could be an effective social media platform for GC awareness. A strong campaign on GC prevention is still lacking on Instagram.
Disclosures None