Evidence-Based Social Media: Wii, Google Trends and Wave June 9, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Health 2.0, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, science, Web 2.0.trackback
Last week, I started a series on evidence-based social media in which I share peer-reviewed articles that focus on using social media in medicine or healthcare.
The key words used as well as the number and geographic location of searches can provide trend data, as have recently been made available by Google Trends. We report briefly on exploring this resource using Lyme disease as an example because it has well-described seasonal and geographic patterns.
We aimed to explore patients’ and parents’ attitudes toward a local Web 2.0 portal tailored to young patients with type 1 diabetes and their parents, with social networking tools such as message boards and blogs, locally produced self-care and treatment information, and interactive pedagogic devices. Opportunities and obstacles to the implementation of Web 2.0 applications in clinical practice were sought.
In this pilot, randomized, single-blinded clinical trial with 2 parallel groups involving stroke patients within 2 months, we compared the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of virtual reality using the Nintendo Wii gaming system (VRWii) versus recreational therapy (playing cards, bingo, or “Jenga”) among those receiving standard rehabilitation to evaluate arm motor improvement.
No doubt that Google always ”finds” something and sometimes it is the only way, or it retrieves real pearls but where does it search? How can a researcher refine or limit the search? That is why we’ll explore some Google features not so widely known, and other search engines with useful devices to perform a more efficient search in the biomedical field.
Hi Berci.
I like your new series very much, but I think the title is not entirely appropriate.
I object to the term evidence based social media if you discuss/mention selected peer reviewed articles on Social Media. Because this suggests that you have exhaustively searched, selected and appraised the evidence. It also suggests that the studies are of good quality, which they are often not (in this field).
A single random paper (even if a RCT) is NOT EBM. Because any other random paper could state the opposite.
According to Dr. David Sackett: EBM is “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”
“Social Media Journal Club”, “Peer Reviewed (papers on) Social Media or something like that would be more appropriate…
But again, I like the theme and the papers discussed.
Jacqueline
Thanks, Jacqualine, obviously you’re right, I just wanted to give it a short and easily recognizable name.
I’ll change it next time.
Berci
[...] Evidence-Based Social Media: Wii, Google Trends and Wave « ScienceRoll [...]
[...] I share peer-reviewed articles that focus on using social media in medicine or healthcare. Though Jacqualine advised me to change the title, so now it will go on as Social Media Journal Club. [...]
Hello folks, I heard that Google developed a tool that is based on trend data that will show the likelihood of flu epidemic that might be on rise in parts of country. I think it is based on the change in the volume of searches for specific flu related keywords.
Dear Jane,
I think you have the right point. When an epidemic attack invade a country, the “panic” situation will arise among the community that makes them stand up and looking for information.
The easiest tools that they have to gain information is by using internet which means Google, since they predominate 80% of today’s used search engine.
Every time the internet user key in data, Google will record the data according to region. Yeah, that is how they can detect any epidemic outbreak in certain country or area.