Cancer Misinformation and Harmful Information on Facebook and Other Social Media: A Brief Report
Paper cited by one bottleneck page and 15 idea pages, indexed on Europe PMC as PubMed record 34291289 and published in JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute; the citing pages link this DOI, which is how the record was matched.
Overview
There are few data on the quality of cancer treatment information available on social media. Here, we quantify the accuracy of cancer treatment information on social media and its potential for harm. Two cancer experts reviewed 50 of the most popular social media articles on each of the 4 most common cancers. The proportion of misinformation and potential for harm were reported for all 200 articles and their association with the number of social media engagements using a 2-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test. All statistical tests were 2-sided. Of 200 total articles, 32.5% (n = 65) contained misinformation and 30.5% (n = 61) contained harmful information. Among articles containing misinformation, 76.9% (50 of 65) contained harmful information. The median number of engagements for articles with misinformation was greater than factual articles (median [interquartile range] = 2300 [1200-4700] vs 1600 [819-4700], P =.05). The median number of engagements for articles with harmful information was statistically significantly greater than safe articles (median [interquartile range] = 2300 [1400-4700] vs 1500 [810-4700], P =.007).
Indexed on Europe PMC as PubMed record 34291289 (DOI 10.1093/jnci/djab141). Matched by DOI alone: one bottleneck page and 15 idea pages cite this DOI among their external links (the pages are listed under Related), and this page was written so that the citation resolves inside OnCo. No figure has been checked by an editor.
One bottleneck page and 15 idea pages on OnCo cite this paper by its DOI; this record gives the citation a page of its own so a reader can follow it without leaving OnCo. Read the abstract above alongside the citing pages listed under Related; the record was created automatically from the Europe PMC entry and its figures have not been checked by hand.
- Matched to the citing OnCo records by DOI alone; the summary reproduces the Europe PMC abstract and no figure has been verified against the full paper.
Similar pages
not linked directly; found by shared links- TermUnproven diet claims (alkaline, juice, 'anti-cancer' diets)
Shares Inoculate newly diagnosed patients against common cancer scams, Ask about diet at diagnosis, and prebunk the myths before the internet does, One definitive ketogenic diet trial in glioblastoma, then stop, Confirm or refute the harm of antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy.
- TechnologyDietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms
Shares An open supplement-drug interaction checker built into oncology prescribing, Ask about diet at diagnosis, and prebunk the myths before the internet does, Confirm or refute the harm of antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy, Misinformation and unproven therapies.
- TermWarburg-effect diet claims ('sugar feeds cancer')
Shares Ask about diet at diagnosis, and prebunk the myths before the internet does, One definitive ketogenic diet trial in glioblastoma, then stop, Misinformation and unproven therapies.
- TechnologyKetogenic diets in glioblastoma
Shares Ask about diet at diagnosis, and prebunk the myths before the internet does, One definitive ketogenic diet trial in glioblastoma, then stop, Misinformation and unproven therapies.
- TechnologyOncology nutrition assessment and medical nutrition therapy
Shares Ask about diet at diagnosis, and prebunk the myths before the internet does, One definitive ketogenic diet trial in glioblastoma, then stop, Confirm or refute the harm of antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy.
- IdeaA cancer misinformation rapid-response unit that rebuts within 48 hours
Shares Ask about diet at diagnosis, and prebunk the myths before the internet does, Misinformation and unproven therapies.
- TechnologySt John's wort: an interaction to avoid
Shares An open supplement-drug interaction checker built into oncology prescribing, Misinformation and unproven therapies.
- Key paperSwedish registry study: HPV vaccination almost eliminates cervical cancer when given before 17
Shares Community-tailored HPV vaccine confidence campaigns with school-based delivery, Misinformation and unproven therapies.