Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35290197›Full record

ArticleJMIR aging2022

Using Twitter to Examine Stigma Against People With Dementia During COVID-19: Infodemiology Study.

Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, Sarah Fraser, Alison L Chasteen, Allison Cammer, Karl S Grewal, Lauren E Bechard, Jennifer Bethell, Shoshana Green, Katherine S McGilton, Debra Morgan and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR aging, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

21 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Exploring public perceptions of dementia on Twitter (X): a cross-cultural analysis.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025
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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

14 authors.

Juanita-Dawne BacsuDepartment of Psychology, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2819-1617
Sarah FraserInterdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4291-6298
Alison L ChasteenDepartment of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4720-5586
Allison CammerCollege of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4965-4112
Karl S GrewalDepartment of Psychology, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5259-0979
Lauren E BechardDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6428-2340
Jennifer BethellKnowledge, Innovation, Talent and Everywhere (KITE) - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6141-9011
Shoshana GreenDepartment of Psychology, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3968-6754
Katherine S McGiltonKnowledge, Innovation, Talent and Everywhere (KITE) - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2470-9738
Debra MorganCanadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6344-6822
Hannah M O'RourkeFaculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0041-3708
Lisa PooleDementia Advocacy Canada, Calgary, AB, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1424-3500
Raymond J SpiteriDepartment of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3513-6237
Megan E O'ConnellDepartment of Psychology, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6159-4322

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the pandemic, there has been significant social media attention focused on the increased COVID-19 risks and impacts for people with dementia and their care partners. However, these messages can perpetuate misconceptions, false information, and stigma.

objectiveThis study used Twitter data to understand stigma against people with dementia propagated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsWe collected 1743 stigma-related tweets using the GetOldTweets application in Python from February 15 to September 7, 2020. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the tweets.

resultsBased on our analysis, 4 main themes were identified: (1) ageism and devaluing the lives of people with dementia, (2) misinformation and false beliefs about dementia and COVID-19, (3) dementia used as an insult for political ridicule, and (4) challenging stigma against dementia. Social media has been used to spread stigma, but it can also be used to challenge negative beliefs, stereotypes, and false information.

conclusionsDementia education and awareness campaigns are urgently needed on social media to address COVID-19-related stigma. When stigmatizing discourse on dementia is widely shared and consumed amongst the public, it has public health implications. How we talk about dementia shapes how policymakers, clinicians, and the public value the lives of people with dementia. Stigma perpetuates misinformation, pejorative language, and patronizing attitudes that can lead to discriminatory actions, such as the limited provision of lifesaving supports and health services for people with dementia during the pandemic. COVID-19 policies and public health messages should focus on precautions and preventive measures rather than labeling specific population groups.

Indexed as

ageismattentionbeliefbiascognitioncognitive impairmentcoronavirus 2019COVID-19dementiaimpactinfodemiologymisinformationrisksocial mediastigmaTwitter

Identifiers

PMID35290197
PMCPMC9015751

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.