ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2018
Web-Based Signal Detection Using Medical Forums Data in France: Comparative Analysis.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed.
- Discussions of Antibiotic Resistance on Social Media Platforms: Text Mining and Mixed Methods Content Analysis Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- A Review of the Applications, Benefits, and Challenges of Generative AI for Sustainable Toxicology.Current research in toxicology · 2025Review
- Application of a Language Model Tool for COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Event Monitoring Using Web and Social Media Content: Algorithm Development and Validation Study.JMIR infodemiology · 2024Article
- The Value of Social Media Analysis for Adverse Events Detection and Pharmacovigilance: Scoping Review.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2024Article
- Adverse event signal extraction from cancer patients' narratives focusing on impact on their daily-life activities.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Social Media Listening and Digital Profiling Study of People With Headache and Migraine: Retrospective Infodemiology Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- A New Method to Extract Health-Related Quality of Life Data From Social Media Testimonies: Algorithm Development and Validation.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- Social Media Platforms Listening Study on Atopic Dermatitis: Quantitative and Qualitative Findings.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- Article
- Assessing Patient Perceptions and Experiences of Paracetamol in France: Infodemiology Study Using Social Media Data Mining.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Article
- [Utilizing social media data in post-market safety surveillance].Beijing da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Peking University. Health sciences · 2021Article
- Mapping and Modeling of Discussions Related to Gastrointestinal Discomfort in French-Speaking Online Forums: Results of a 15-Year Retrospective Infodemiology Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Article
- Exploring the Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Social Media Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Article
- Hypothesis-free signal detection in healthcare databases: finding its value for pharmacovigilance.Therapeutic advances in drug safety · 2019Article
- Assessment of the Utility of Social Media for Broad-Ranging Statistical Signal Detection in Pharmacovigilance: Results from the WEB-RADR Project.Drug safety · 2018Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWhile traditional signal detection methods in pharmacovigilance are based on spontaneous reports, the use of social media is emerging. The potential strength of Web-based data relies on their volume and real-time availability, allowing early detection of signals of disproportionate reporting (SDRs).
objectiveThis study aimed (1) to assess the consistency of SDRs detected from patients' medical forums in France compared with those detected from the traditional reporting systems and (2) to assess the ability of SDRs in identifying earlier than the traditional reporting systems.
methodsMessages posted on patients' forums between 2005 and 2015 were used. We retained 8 disproportionality definitions. Comparison of SDRs from the forums with SDRs detected in VigiBase was done by describing the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, receiver operating characteristics curve, and the area under the curve (AUC). The time difference in months between the detection dates of SDRs from the forums and VigiBase was provided.
resultsThe comparison analysis showed that the sensitivity ranged from 29% to 50.6%, the specificity from 86.1% to 95.5%, the PPV from 51.2% to 75.4%, the NPV from 68.5% to 91.6%, and the accuracy from 68% to 87.7%. The AUC reached 0.85 when using the metric empirical Bayes geometric mean. Up to 38% (12/32) of the SDRs were detected earlier in the forums than that in VigiBase.
conclusionsThe specificity, PPV, and NPV were high. The overall performance was good, showing that data from medical forums may be a valuable source for signal detection. In total, up to 38% (12/32) of the SDRs could have been detected earlier, thus, ensuring the increased safety of patients. Further enhancements are needed to investigate the reliability and validation of patients' medical forums worldwide, the extension of this analysis to all possible drugs or at least to a wider selection of drugs, as well as to further assess performance against established signals.
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