Unraveling Online Perspectives and Misinformation Surrounding Urinary Tract Infections: A Thematic Analysis of 1200 Instagram Posts

TL;DR

This study analyzed 1200 Instagram posts about urinary tract infections to understand the types of information and support shared online.

Contribution

The study reveals common themes in social media content about UTIs, highlighting misinformation and commercial promotion.

Findings

Five main themes emerged: commercial advertising, personal suffering, warning signs, remedies, and triggers to avoid.

Many posts contained personal narratives of frustration with healthcare and promoted unproven treatments.

Urologists should be aware of patients potentially receiving misinformation from social media.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections are burdensome for patients. Social media is increasingly used as a platform for patients and public to seek and share support. The study aimed to evaluate what patients encounter when they turn to Instagram for urinary tract infection–related support and advice.

The first 200 posts appearing on the “top posts” section of Instagram for 6 key hashtags (#UTI, #UTIs, #urinarytractinfection, #urinarytractinfections, #bladderinfection, #bladderinfections) were selected. Thematic analysis (TA) was used to identify themes present in the Instagram captions.

Across 1200 posts analyzed, 5 main themes were identified. 1) “We can help…,” this was largely commercial advertising with the promotion of healthcare clinics. 2) “I’m suffering,” which contained first-person narratives about an unpleasant experience with a disease or treatment as well as frustration at health services. 3) “Warning signs,” posts describing signs or symptoms that the creator claims indicate poor health. 4) “Remedies,” these posts detailed therapies to try, often herbal. 5) “Avoid and change,” which covered triggers to avoid symptom flare ups.

There is a large amount of content on social media related to UTIs. Urologists should be aware that patients may have sought out advice using these platforms and may therefore have received misinformation and products that have been advertised but lack scientific evidence.

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