Learning from social media: utilizing advanced data extraction techniques to understand barriers to breast cancer treatment.

ABSTRACT: Past examinations of breast cancer treatment barriers have typically included registry, claims-based, and smaller survey studies. We examined treatment barriers using a novel, comprehensive, social media analysis of online, candid discussions about breast cancer. Using an innovative toolset to search postings on social networks, message boards, patient communities, and topical sites, we performed a large-scale qualitative analysis. We examined the sentiments and barriers expressed about breast cancer treatments by Internet users during 1 year (2/1/14-1/31/15). We categorized posts based on thematic patterns and examined trends in discussions by race/ethnicity (white/black/Hispanic) when this information was available. We identified 1,024,041 unique posts related to breast cancer treatment.

SUBMITTER: Freedman RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5537590 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature