Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34129515›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021

COVID-19 Information Dissemination Using the WeChat Communication Index: Retrospective Analysis Study.

Zina Fan, Wenqiang Yin, Han Zhang, Dandan Wang, Chengxin Fan, Zhongming Chen, Jinwei Hu, Dongping Ma, Hongwei Guo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
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  9. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Zina FanSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2079-7286
Wenqiang Yin *School of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7284-8359
Han ZhangSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5443-1568
Dandan WangSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5212-2462
Chengxin FanSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5859-6324
Zhongming ChenSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9378-6676
Jinwei HuSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4743-9304
Dongping MaSchool of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0970-8112
Hongwei Guo *School of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0002-8186-5844

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 outbreak has tremendously impacted the world. The number of confirmed cases has continued to increase, causing damage to society and the economy worldwide. The public pays close attention to information on the pandemic and learns about the disease through various media outlets. The dissemination of comprehensive and accurate COVID-19 information that the public needs helps to educate people so they can take preventive measures.

objectiveThis study aimed to examine the dissemination of COVID-19 information by analyzing the information released by the official WeChat account of the People's Daily during the pandemic. The most-read COVID-19 information in China was summarized, and the factors that influence information dissemination were studied to understand the characteristics that affect its dissemination. Moreover, this was conducted in order to identify how to effectively disseminate COVID-19 information and to provide suggestions on how to manage public opinion and information governance during a pandemic.

methodsThis was a retrospective study based on a WeChat official account. We collected all COVID-19-related information, starting with the first report about COVID-19 from the People's Daily and ending with the last piece of information about lifting the first-level emergency response in 34 Chinese provinces. A descriptive analysis was then conducted on this information, as well as on Qingbo Big Data's dissemination index. Multiple linear regression was utilized to study the factors that affected information dissemination based on various characteristics and the dissemination index.

resultsFrom January 19 to May 2, 2020, the People's Daily released 1984 pieces of information; 1621 were related to COVID-19, which mainly included headline news items, items with emotional content, and issues related to the pandemic's development. By analyzing the dissemination index, seven information dissemination peaks were discerned. Among the three dimensions of COVID-19 information-media salience, content, and format-eight factors affected the spread of COVID-19 information.

conclusionsDifferent types of pandemic-related information have varying dissemination power. To effectively disseminate information and prevent the spread of COVID-19, we should identify the factors that affect this dissemination. We should then disseminate the types of information the public is most concerned about, use information to educate people to improve their health literacy, and improve public opinion and information governance.

Indexed as

COVID-19Information DisseminationSARS-CoV-2Social MediaChinaHumansRetrospective StudiesChinese newsCOVID-19information disseminationmedia saliencePeople’s Dailypublic health and communicationWeChat

Identifiers

PMID34129515
PMCPMC8288647

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.