Preprint / Version 1

Twitter Poll as a Medium for Questionnaire-Based Health Survey: An Experience of a Pilot Study on the Preference of Systems of Medicine for Various Health Conditions

Authors

  • Shaikat Mondal Physiology, Raiganj Government Medical College And Hospital, Raiganj, IND
  • Purab Modak Physiology, Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital, Hazaribagh, IND
  • Mohammad Selim Physiology, Jalpaiguri Government Medical College, Jalpaiguri, IND
  • Himel Mondal Physiology, Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput, IND
  • Chayan Baidya Panchakarma, Institute of Post Graduate Ayurvedic Education & Research at Shayamadas Vaidya Shastra Pith, Kolkata, IND
  • Mojca Hribersek Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AUT
  • Rajeev Singla Institute for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, CHN
  • Bairong Shen Institute for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, CHN
  • Atanas Atanasov Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AUT

Keywords:

questionnaire, health survey, poll, survey, patient opinion, primary care education, twitter, social media platform, survey methodology, public opinion

Abstract

The easy accessibility of smartphones and internet connections enables people to stay virtually connected to communities via social media. However, social media is also being explored for health care education and dissemination of health-related information. Twitter (Twitter, Inc., San Francisco, California) is one of the popular social media used for spreading health-related information. Twitter enables users to create polls to get opinions from their users. The Twitter poll is a less-explored avenue for health surveys. Objective In this pilot study, we aimed to explore the feasibility of conducting a questionnaire-based health survey (on the preference of different systems of medicine for the treatment of various health problems) as a Twitter poll. Methods This observational study was conducted on Twitter for five consecutive days starting from May 31, 2021. We posted five Twitter polls, one poll each day, for five days in a #INPST unique Twitter campaign. Preferences on the use of modern medicine, traditional medicine, a combination of these two systems, and self-medication were collected on five health conditions. We collected the data from the landing poll page and Tweet Analytics (insight about the engagement of tweets provided free by Twitter). The Chi-square test, binomial test, and one-way Analysis of Variance were used to compare data, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to find a correlation between categorical variables. Results We had a mean 4358.6±590.3 poll reach with the engagement of 108.2±36.87 Twitter users and 67.6±28.06 votes. Most of the responses were received on the first day of posting the poll. The participation then gradually decreased. Modern medicine was the first choice for emergency medical care (85.1%, P <0.0001), treatment of cancer (43.6%, P <0.0001), and sexual disorder or transmitted diseases (48.9%, P <0.0001). Traditional medicine was the first choice (37.5%, P = 0.63) for the treatment of common illnesses, and a combination of modern and traditional medicine was the first choice (37.5%, P = 0.01) for the treatment of chronic diseases. Conclusion A medical survey with short questions with a maximum of four response options can be conducted on Twitter. Survey results can be obtained without any third-party analytic service. The response rate is highest on the first day and participation may decrease when multiple polls are posted within a Twitter campaign. Preference for systems of medicine found in this study can be used for designing large-scale surveys in the future. Keywords: questionnaire, health survey, poll, survey, patient opinion, primary care education, twitter, social media platform, survey methodology, public opinion

Author Biography

Rajeev Singla, Institute for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, CHN

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, IND

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