Using Twitter to track conversations about nicotine, tobacco, and cancer
Leveraging Twitter to Monitor Nicotine and Tobacco Cancer Communication
This study looks at how people talk about nicotine, tobacco, and cancer on Twitter, especially focusing on young people and communities at higher risk, to better understand their feelings and the information being shared.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10696457 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how Twitter can be used to monitor public discussions related to nicotine and tobacco use, as well as cancer. By analyzing tweets, the team aims to understand the sentiments and information shared about these topics, particularly among adolescents, young adults, and racial and ethnic minorities who are at higher risk for tobacco-related health issues. The study employs advanced algorithms to systematically collect and analyze Twitter data, making the research replicable and transparent. The multidisciplinary team combines expertise from public health, behavioral science, and computer science to enhance the understanding of tobacco-related communication.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults, particularly from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, who are engaged in or affected by nicotine and tobacco use.
Not a fit: Patients who do not use nicotine or tobacco products and are not at risk for tobacco-related health issues may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved public health strategies and interventions targeting nicotine and tobacco use, ultimately reducing cancer rates.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully utilized social media data to monitor public health trends, indicating that this approach has potential for impactful findings.
Where this research is happening
Corvallis, United States
- Oregon State University — Corvallis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Primack, Brian a. — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Primack, Brian a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.