Strong Fears, Weak Ties, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Medical Inquiries About Injury, Wound, and Scar Care from a Self-Harm Subreddit

Health Communication, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 13

Published: Feb. 11, 2025

Through the theoretical lens of Strength Weak Ties Theory, this study examined medical advice sought within a self-harm subreddit. Using social constructionist epistemology and employing Reflexive Thematic Analysis, we explored 596 inquiries for about nonsuicidal self-injury-related injuries, wounds, scar care. Five overarching themes were identified: (a) pleading wound care help from weak-ties, (b) expressing fear hospitalization deterring requests to strong-ties, (c) seeking validation harm-reduction weak-ties (d) asking how navigate unexpected outcomes, (e) requesting conceal scars strong-ties. Our findings align with previous research by describing Reddit as valuable resource when strong-ties are inaccessible or unapproachable. They extend existing literature highlighting users' frequently asserted preference online due stigma involuntary fears often associated mental health providers. We discuss need injury best practices in accessible spaces while offering practical implications key stakeholders. Given frequent spread mis/disinformation on user-generated networks, also emphasize importance verifying accuracy received before implementing suggestions anonymous weak ties connections. Ultimately, highlights nuances between inquiries, support, barriers empathetic healthcare individuals engaging self-injury.

Language: Английский

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Investigating Substance Use via Reddit: Systematic Scoping Review

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 25, P. e48905 - e48905

Published: Sept. 13, 2023

Reddit's (Reddit Inc) large user base, diverse communities, and anonymity make it a useful platform for substance use research. Despite growing body of literature on Reddit, challenges limitations must be carefully considered. However, no systematic scoping review has been conducted the Reddit as data source research.This aims to investigate studying by examining previous studies' objectives, reasons, limitations, methods using Reddit. In addition, we discuss implications contributions studies identify gaps in that require further attention.A total 7 databases were searched keyword combinations including substance-related keywords April 2022. The initial search resulted 456 articles, 227 articles remained after removing duplicates. All included peer reviewed, empirical, available full text, pertinent use, they all written English. After screening, 60 met eligibility criteria review, with 57 identified from database 3 ancestry search. A codebook was developed, qualitative content analysis performed extract relevant evidence related research questions.The grown steadily since 2015, sharp increase 2021. primary objective tendencies patterns various types discussions (52/60, 87%). also used explore unique experiences, propose methodologies, interactions, develop interventions. 9 reasons study identified, such platform's anonymity, its widespread popularity, explicit topics subreddits. noted, low representativeness general population lack demographic information. Most application programming interfaces collection quantitative approaches analysis, few approaches. Machine learning algorithms are commonly natural language processing tasks. theoretical, methodological, practical summarized discussed. most prevalent investigating prevailing discussions, providing recommendations clinical practices policies, comparing across sources.This provides an overview Although considered, analyzing them can understanding experiences use. Our highlights suggests avenues future

Language: Английский

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How to apply zero‐shot learning to text data in substance use research: An overview and tutorial with media data

Addiction, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 119(5), P. 951 - 959

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

Abstract A vast amount of media‐related text data is generated daily in the form social media posts, news stories or academic articles. These provide opportunities for researchers to analyse and understand how substance‐related issues are being discussed. The main methods large (content analyses specifically trained deep‐learning models) require substantial manual annotation resources. machine‐learning approach called ‘zero‐shot learning’ may be quicker, more flexible fewer Zero‐shot learning uses models on large, unlabelled (or weakly labelled) sets classify previously unseen into categories which model has not been trained. This means that a pre‐existing zero‐shot can used without need task‐specific training. particularly important analysing time critical. article describes relatively new concept it applied substance use research, including brief practical tutorial.

Language: Английский

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Contextualizing Changes in e-Cigarette Use During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic and Accompanying Infodemic (“So Much Contradictory Evidence”): Qualitative Document Analysis of Reddit Forums

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 27, P. e66010 - e66010

Published: March 20, 2025

Background Understanding how social media platforms facilitate information exchange and influence behavior during health crises can enhance public responses times of uncertainty. While some risk factors for COVID-19 susceptibility severity (eg, old age) were clear, whether e-cigarette use increased was not clear. People who used e-cigarettes had to navigate both the infodemic a conflicting, politicized, changing environment about interaction between use. Objective This study aims characterize contextualize e-cigarette–related changes early pandemic illuminate role that played in decision-making. Methods We conducted qualitative analysis COVID-19–related discussions on 3 Reddit forums e-cigarettes. collected 189 relevant discussion threads made first 6 months (collected from June 27, 2020, July 3, 2020). Threads included 3155 total comments (mean 17 comments) approximately 1200 unique Redditors. developed applied emergent codes related perceptions behaviors nicotine do-it-yourself narratives) web-based community interactions advice), identified thematic patterns across codes, model synthesize socioecological context behaviors. Results e-Cigarette subreddits provided platform Redditors discuss experiences with e-cigarettes, make sense information, provide emotional support. Discussions reflected an array behavioral responses, including increases decreases intensity, purchasing practices stockpiling), vaping reusing disposable pods). presented theoretically empirically informed circumstances created by activity space product shortages) compelled changes. drew their existing perceptions, intentions, tobacco products; personal experiences; participation decide change pandemic. Forums uncertainty, stress, debate rapidly evolving complicated information. Consumption news articles peer-reviewed publications) Decisions distrust media. Conclusions Variations individual traits environmental why there no unified direction this period. Information also decisions Social is effective important place communicate particularly crisis or disaster situations. Moving forward, transparent, accurate, specific message development should consider struggles, stigma people address roles mistrust misinformation play decisions.

Language: Английский

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Affinity and Advocacy

Published: March 28, 2025

Language: Английский

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Signals of increasing co-use of stimulants and opioids from online drug forum data

Harm Reduction Journal, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: May 25, 2022

Despite recent rises in fatal overdoses involving multiple substances, there is a paucity of knowledge about stimulant co-use patterns among people who use opioids (PWUO) or being treated with medications for opioid disorder (PTMOUD). A better understanding the timing and PWUO based on mentions these substances social media can help inform prevention programs, policy, future research directions. This study examines co-mention trends PWUO/PTMOUD over years. We collected publicly available data from 14 forums Reddit (subreddits) that focused prescription illicit opioids, (MOUD). Collected ranged 2011 to 2020, we also timelines comprising past posts sample users (Redditors) forums. applied natural language processing generate lexical variants all included stimulants detect them chosen subreddits. Finally, analyzed described co-mentions. Posts 13,812 Redditors showed 12,306 (89.1%) mentioned at least 1 opioid, opioid-related medication, stimulant. Analyses revealed number proportion mentioning both and/or steadily increased time. Relative rates co-mentions by same Redditor heroin methamphetamine, most commonly co-mentioned, decreased years, while fentanyl MOUD methamphetamine increased. Our analyses reflect increasing stimulants, particularly PWUO/PTMOUD, which closely resembles growth overdose deaths stimulants. These findings are consistent reports suggesting receiving treatment disorder. offer insights emerging epidemic underscore importance scaling efforts address co-occurring including harm reduction comprehensive healthcare access spanning mental-health services substance treatment.

Language: Английский

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Characteristics of Intimate Partner Violence and Survivor’s Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From Subreddits Related to Intimate Partner Violence

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(17-18), P. 9693 - 9716

Published: April 27, 2023

Intimate partner violence (IPV) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collecting actionable IPV-related data from conventional sources (e.g., medical records) was challenging pandemic, generating a need to obtain relevant non-conventional sources, such as social media. Social media, like Reddit, is preferred medium of communication for IPV survivors share their experiences and seek support with protected anonymity. Nevertheless, scope available on media rarely documented. Thus, we examined availability information Reddit characteristics reported Using natural language processing, collected publicly four subreddits between January 1, 2020 March 31, 2021. Of 4,000 posts, randomly sampled 300 posts analysis. Three individuals research team independently coded resolved coding discrepancies through discussions. We adopted quantitative content analysis calculated frequency identified codes. 36% (

Language: Английский

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The Use of Natural Language Processing Methods in Reddit to Investigate Opioid Use: Scoping Review

JMIR Infodemiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4, P. e51156 - e51156

Published: Sept. 13, 2024

Background The growing availability of big data spontaneously generated by social media platforms allows us to leverage natural language processing (NLP) methods as valuable tools understand the opioid crisis. Objective We aimed how NLP has been applied Reddit (Reddit Inc) study use. Methods systematically searched for peer-reviewed studies and conference abstracts in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, ACL Anthology, IEEE Xplore, Association Computing Machinery repositories up July 19, 2022. Inclusion criteria were investigating use, using techniques analyze textual corpora, source. specifically interested mapping studies’ overarching goals findings, methodologies software used, main limitations. Results In total, 30 included, which classified into 4 nonmutually exclusive goal categories: methodological (n=6, 20% studies), infodemiology (n=22, 73% infoveillance (n=7, 23% pharmacovigilance (n=3, 10% studies). used identify content relevant use among vast quantities data, establish potential relationships between patterns or profiles contextual factors comorbidities, anticipate individuals’ transitions different opioid-related subreddits, likely revealing progression through stages. Most an embedding technique (12/30, 40%), prediction classification approach topic modeling (9/30, 30%), sentiment analysis (6/30, 20%). most frequently programming languages Python (20/30, 67%) R (2/30, 7%). Among that reported limitations 67%), cited was uncertainty regarding whether redditors participating these forums representative people who opioids (8/20, 40%). papers very recent (28/30, 93%), from 2019 2022, with authors a range disciplines. Conclusions This scoping review identified wide variety applications support surveillance interventions addressing Despite clear enable identification opioid-relevant its analysis, there are limits degree interpretive meaning they can provide. Moreover, we need standardized ethical guidelines govern safeguard anonymity privacy forums.

Language: Английский

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“It’s Also Pushed People to a New Level of Desperation:” COVID-19 Impacts on Experiences of Persons Who Use Illicit Opioids

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 56(1), P. 127 - 134

Published: Dec. 22, 2022

The purpose of this qualitative study is to characterize the impacts COVID-19 pandemic on drug use experiences among persons who illicit opioids (PWUO) in Arizona. Between 12/2020 and 05/2021, interviews were conducted via Zoom with 22 PWUO from across Participants recruited through Craigslist social media ads, referrals by a local harm reduction organization, other participants. transcribed analyzed using NVivo. 25–51 years age, 36% female, 55% non-Hispanic White. Most reported past month heroin, and/or counterfeit (pressed) non-pharmaceutical fentanyl (NPF) pills. Nearly all changes their during pandemic. discussed profound negative isolation escalating mental health problems, boredom, ease hiding others, leading increases use. Loss daily routines, employment difficulties, challenges accessing treatment due restrictions also driving factors for increased growing availability NPF pills led many individuals transition heroin more frequent pill results emphasize need quality behavioral care services an focus economic support systems.

Language: Английский

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Obstetrics and gynecology applicant perceptions of residency program culture with virtual interviews: a qualitative analysis of social media posts

BMC Medical Education, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: March 8, 2024

Abstract Background In the United States, Obstetrics and Gynecology residency interviews are instrumental in assessing compatibility between medical student applicants programs during match process. Applicant perceptions of culture a key component determining how they rank programs. 2020, transitioned to virtual format, little is known about evaluated program this first round universal interviews. Medical students States commonly use Reddit, popular social media platform, discuss share interview experiences. We explored applicants’ considerations regarding season 2020–2021 by analyzing posts on Google spreadsheet accessed through Reddit. Methods 2022, we imported 731 from “2020-21 OB GYN Residency Spreadsheet” posted Interview Spreadsheet megathread r/medicalschool subreddit NVivo 12(QSR International, Burlington, MA), qualitative analysis software program. Three investigators used inductive techniques code identify themes. Results Applicants visual, verbal behavioral cues understand three components workplace culture: prioritization diversity, equity inclusion, environment, resident workload. Conclusions convey information their behavior, appearances responses residents interviewers applicant questions. To ensure accurately represent applicants, should consider educating faculty around implications interview-day conduct.

Language: Английский

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