Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39899839›Full record

Observational studyJournal of medical Internet research2025

Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data.

Chau Tong, Drew Margolin, Jeff Niederdeppe, Rumi Chunara, Jiawei Liu, Lea Jih-Vieira, Andy J King

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

7 authors.

Chau TongSchool of Journalism, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-6609-9889
Drew MargolinDepartment of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-0257-6217
Jeff NiederdeppeDepartment of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-7686-1526
Rumi ChunaraDepartment of Biostatistics, New York University, New York, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-5346-7259
Jiawei LiuSTEM Translational Communication Center, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-8389-0197
Lea Jih-VieiraSchool of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.ORCID 0009-0004-6302-3530
Andy J KingCancer Control & Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake, UT, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-2789-2550

Funding

Using Natural Language Processing and Crowdsourcing to Monitor and Evaluate Public Information and Communication Disparities about Colon Cancer ScreeningR37CA259156 · NCI · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI Andy J King · 2021 to 2026
$2.3M
NCI NIH HHS R37 CA259156
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRacial inequity in health outcomes, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC), remains one of the most pressing issues in cancer communication and public health. Social media platforms like Twitter (now X) provide opportunities to disseminate health equity information widely, yet little is known about the availability, content, and reach of racial health equity information related to CRC on these platforms. Addressing this gap is essential to leveraging social media for equitable health communication.

objectiveThis study aims to analyze the volume, content, and exposure of CRC racial health equity tweets from identified CRC equity disseminator accounts on Twitter. These accounts were defined as those actively sharing information related to racial equity in CRC outcomes. By examining the behavior and impact of these disseminators, this study provides insights into how health equity content is shared and received on social media.

methodsWe identified accounts that posted CRC-related content on Twitter between 2019 and 2021. Accounts were classified as CRC equity disseminators (n=798) if they followed at least 2 CRC racial equity organization accounts. We analyzed the volume and content of racial equity-related CRC tweets (n=1134) from these accounts and categorized them by account type (experts vs nonexperts). Additionally, we evaluated exposure by analyzing follower reach (n=6,266,269) and the role of broker accounts-accounts serving as unique sources of CRC racial equity information to their followers.

resultsAmong 19,559 tweets posted by 798 CRC equity disseminators, only 5.8% (n=1134) mentioned racially and ethnically minoritized groups. Most of these tweets (641/1134, 57%) addressed disparities in outcomes, while fewer emphasized actionable content, such as symptoms (11/1134, 1%) or screening procedures (159/1134, 14%). Expert accounts (n=479; 716 tweets) were more likely to post CRC equity tweets compared with nonexpert accounts (n=319; 418 tweets). Broker accounts (n=500), or those with a substantial portion of followers relying on them for equity-related information, demonstrated the highest capacity for exposing followers to CRC equity content, thereby extending the reach of these critical messages to underserved communities.

conclusionsThis study emphasizes the critical roles played by expert and broker accounts in disseminating CRC racial equity information on social media. Despite the limited volume of equity-focused content, broker accounts were crucial in reaching otherwise unexposed audiences. Public health practitioners should focus on encouraging equity disseminators to share more actionable information, such as symptoms and screening benefits, and implement measures to amplify the reach of such content on social media. Strengthening these efforts could help bridge disparities in cancer outcomes among racially minoritized groups.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsHealth EquityRacial GroupsSocial MediaHumanscancer communicationcolorectal cancerhealth disparitiesinformation exposureracial equity informationTwitterX

Identifiers

PMID39899839
PMCPMC11833265

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.