Table 2.
Sentiment expressed in tweets and linked articles about the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) recommendations on prostate cancer screening.
| Category | Definition | Example | Draft | Finalized |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number (%) | ||||
| TWEETS | 2042 | 5357 | ||
| No Opinion | 1850 (91) | 5141 (96) | ||
| Reporting | Simply reporting the story | “U.S. Panel Advises Against Routine Prostate Test” | 1626 (88) | 4783 (93) |
| Discussion | Stimulating discussion or indicating controversy | “Will you skip the PSA screening for prostate cancer? why or why not?” | 113 (6) | 107 (2) |
| Humorous | Infusing humor | “A panel says most men over 50 don’t need a PSA test for prostate cancer, which is OK since most men over 50 are uninsured due to layoffs” | 40 (2) | 34 (1) |
| Confused | Unclear understanding or showing exasperation | “We want to stay healthy - but sometimes we get mixed messages” | 39 (2) | 60 (1) |
| Enthusiastic | Showing enthusiasm or drawing special attention | “Must Read! Medical group to say men don’t need prostate cancer screenings, source says […]” | 32 (2) | 157 (3) |
| Opinion | 192 (9) | 216 (4) | ||
| Anti-Screening | Agree with USPSTF report, against screening | “Three out of four healthy men with an elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer. Flipping a coin is a better screening test.” | 43 (22) | 70 (32)* |
| Pro-Screening | Disagree with USPSTF report, for screening | “My dad is here today because a PSA test detected his prostate cancer at 51. Shame on these people.” | 149 (78) | 146 (68) |
| ARTICLES | 1754 | 4528 | ||
| Neutral | Presents both sides of the issue without taking a stance | “[…] medical group of doctors and advisers vote against routine screenings of prostate cancer […] health groups worried that the move will increase deaths in men at risk of the cancer.” | 999 (57) | 2258 (50) |
| Anti-Screening | Reports lopsided evidence against screening or explicitly supports USPSTF decision | “Many physicians have understood these results for several years. I have refused prostate cancer screening since turning 50, because I understood two factors – the test has mediocre characteristics and prostate cancer treatment has significant side effects.” | 643 (37) | 2122 (47)* |
| Pro-Screening | Reports lopsided evidence for screening or explicitly opposes USPSTF decision | “Without PSA testing, there is no mechanism for early detection of prostate cancer, leaving thousands of men vulnerable and with no option to protect their health” | 112 (6.4) | 148 (3.3) |
*
significant increase (p<0.05) in proportion of anti-screening content between draft and finalized study periods.