Content Analysis of Frequency of Information About Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip on Twitter

INTRODUCTION: Early detection and screening of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) are critical in reducing complications; thus, advocacy and awareness are paramount. Social media, Twitter, in particular, connects users based on their content engagement, allowing global audience to interact with one another, providing an opportunity to spread awareness and support for children and families affected by conditions such as DDH. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and content of information being published on Twitter pertaining to DDH. METHODS: A search strategy using key terms was developed. An a priori coding guide using search terms was then created to establish a framework to identify themes regarding DDH on Twitter. Data were extracted over one-week periods in June and July of 2019 and 2020. An excel-based coding guide was developed to organize and analyze the extracted data. RESULTS: A total of 142 tweets were extracted for analysis; 41 in 2019 and 101 in 2020. The most frequently used search terms were hip dysplasia, developmental dysplasia of the hip, and dislocated hip. In 2019, the most frequent tweet authors were healthcare organizations (13/41, 31.7%) and healthcare professionals (12/41, 29.3%). In contrast in 2020, 32.7% (33/101) tweets were authored by patients. Prevention, treatment, and general discussions were top categories in 2019, compared to education, awareness, and general discussions in 2020. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that user engagement with DDH content on Twitter increased by 2.5-fold from 2019 to 2020. We found similar patterns regarding the types of authors and content type in both years. However, focus shifted toward topics of education and awareness in 2020. SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis identified trends and gaps in the use of Twitter that could be implemented by users to optimize messages, such as connecting directly and conversing with users through replies. Findings also indicate the importance of multi-author engagement to increase the breadth of distribution of information. Social media platforms can efficiently disseminate information to a wide range of individuals; however, they must be leveraged appropriately to accurately inform the public about DDH. Engaging with Twitter users hold great potential to promote advocacy and increase early detection and screening for DDH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.