Analysis of Endometriosis Related Hashtags on Instagram

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Instagram is a social media platform that provides education and support for endometriosis patients. The objective of our study was to analyze the authorship and content of Instagram posts utilizing endometriosis related hashtags. DESIGN: 15 hashtags were identified utilizing the ACOG Endometriosis FAQ and a hashtag finder program. Hashtags included: endometriosis, endo, endowarrior, endometriosisawareness, endosisters, endometriosiswarrior, pelvicpain, chronicpelvicpain, painfulperiod, painfulsex, invisibleillness, fatigue, uterus, hysterectomy, and laparoscopy. The authorship and content of the “top 9” and most recent 30 posts were evaluated for each hashtag and categorized by authorship and content. We also analyzed groups of hashtags. Non-English posts were excluded. SETTING: NA PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: NA INTERVENTIONS: NA MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 585 posts were analyzed. Authorship: patients (54.2%), health professional (16.2%), for-profit group (9.6%), holistic provider (8.7%), and non-profit group (4.6%). Regarding content: support (33.5%), personal post (21.2%), advertisement (17.8%) and education (13.5%). Endometriosis specific group: patient (74.8%), for-profit commercial group (6%), holistic provider (5.1%), health professional (3.8%), support (40.6%), personal post related to endometriosis (23.5%), personal post unrelated to endometriosis (20.9%), education (6.4%). General symptoms group: patient (47.4%), holistic provider (14.1%), for-profit commercial group (12.8%), health professional (2.6%), support (34.6%), advertisement (21.8%), personal post related to diagnosis (20.5%), personal post unrelated to diagnosis (15.4%), education (7.7%). Pain group: health professional (34%), patient (32.7%), for-profit commercial group (15.4%), holistic provider (12.8%), non-profit organization (4.5%), support (27.6%), education (25.6%), personal post related to diagnosis (10.9%), personal post unrelated to diagnosis (7.1%). Procedure group: patient (59%), health professional (29.5%), non-profit organization (3.8%), personal post related to diagnosis (42.3%), support (20.5%), education (14.1%), personal post unrelated to diagnosis (10.3%). CONCLUSION: When analyzing the hashtags, endometriosis specific and general symptoms groups, the majority of posts were authored by patients with education being the least represented content. When grouping into pain and procedure, more posts were authored by health professionals with more educational content.