The #PalliativeCare Conversation on Twitter: An Analysis of Trends, Content, and Caregiver Perspectives

Abstract

Context: Palliative care is known to improve patients' quality of life, but oftentimes these conversations occur outside of the health-care setting.

Objectives: To characterize the #PalliativeCare Twitter network and evaluate the caregiver experience within palliative care.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 182,661 #PalliativeCare tweets by 26,837 users from June 1, 2015 to June 1, 2019 were analyzed using Symplur Signals. Analysis included activity metrics, content analysis, user characteristics, engagement, and network analysis. Similar metrics were performed on tweets by self-identified caregivers (482), who wrote a total of 3952 tweets. Qualitative analysis was completed on a systematic sample of caregiver tweets.

Results: The number of #PalliativeCare tweets, users, and impressions has increased by an annual average of 18.7%, 16.4%, and 32.5%, respectively. Support, access, and patients were among the Trending Terms. About 39.4% of Trending Articles were scientifically valid, and information about palliative care and comorbidities had the greatest number of articles. The majority of users wrote five or less #PalliativeCare tweets. Network analysis revealed central hubs to be palliative care advocacy organizations and physicians. The five main themes from qualitative analysis of caregiver tweets were 1) advocacy and events, 2) care strategies, 3) resources, 4) public health issues, and 5) myths related to palliative care.

Conclusion: The use of Twitter as a platform for palliative care conversations is growing rapidly. Twitter serves as a platform to facilitate #PalliativeCare conversation among patients, caregivers, physicians, and other healthcare providers.

Keywords: Palliative care; Twitter; caregivers; social media.