Antonio Russo, COMU president: «Patients with tumors are fragile and there is a high probability that they will incur uncertified news. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are important means of promoting information campaigns»
For nine out of ten oncologists, social media is a useful tool in the fight against cancer and in professional training. On the other hand, however, 41% believe it is difficult to discriminate true information from fake news and for 30% social media is a source of stress, to the point that a third have reduced their use during the pandemic. This is what emerges from a survey of 1,076 European oncologists, published on ESMO Open, who examined their views on social networks and how they have used them during the Covid pandemic. If clinicians have the tools to extricate themselves from the mass of news produced by the Internet, the risks are greater for cancer patients, who are often frail. The decrease in trust in science often leads these citizens to rely on so-called “alternative therapies”, devoid of scientific validity.
The course for doctors and journalists in Palermo
As evidenced by two studies, published in Jama Oncology It is on Journal of the National Cancer Institutepatients using complementary medicine are more likely to refuse surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy and have more than twice as likely to die as people treated with traditional therapies. The first edition of the course for oncologists and journalists, organized by the COMU (University Medical Oncologists College), which opens on November 18 in Palermo, with the intervention of the mayor Roberto Lagalla.
Communicate the progress of science
“Too much distorted and false information published on non-authoritative websites and magazines is propagated through the reckless use of social media,” he explains. Anthony Russo, COMU president and full professor of medical oncology at the University of Palermo —. In the current era of fake news and distrust of institutions, efforts must be redoubled to accurately communicate the progress of scientific research in the fight against cancer to the lay public and patients and to ensure that real knowledge is separated from false material. This is why we promote the first COMU course for medical-scientific journalists and oncologists. The two worlds must get to know each other’s needs in order to respond to citizens’ requests for good information. We want to offer clinicians the tools to communicate with journalists and sign an alliance with the media world».
Rampant misinformation
A survey of 1,330 people, published in the European Journal of Cancer and edited by University College London and the University of Leeds, highlighted that 43% are convinced that stress triggers cancer, 42% food additives, while 19% blame microwave ovens and 15% drinking from plastic bottles. More than a third consider electromagnetic frequencies (35%) and GMO food (34%) as risk factors. The pandemic emergency has fueled the wave of irrationality, given that, as emerges from the Censis Report on the country’s social situation, for 5.9% of Italians (about 3 million) Covid does not exist, for 10.9% the vaccine is useless and ineffectivefor 31.4% it is an experimental drug and people who get vaccinated are guinea pigs and for 12.7% science produces more harm than good.
Social media is a weapon in the fight against cancer
«Social networks should not be demonized, because they can become important weapons in the fight against cancer – says Russo -. The aggregative potential of these tools makes it possible to expand the network of users (not only doctors, but also patients and citizens), to the point of involving them directly in the activities of scientific societies, thus promoting their viral diffusion. Social networks also allow you to realize awareness campaigns e you promote healthy lifestyles, reaching specific segments of the population, but they are still little employed in this sense». In the survey published on ESMO Openoncologists consider Twitter the most effective social network for information, updating and scientific training, LinkedIn for interacting with colleagues e facebook and instagram to communicate with cancer patients.
Patients feel less alone
«The latter use social networks to be part of a community, to feel less alone and to seek information – concludes Russo -. Some studies have shown that those who interact on social media are more likely to participate in clinical trials and screenings. The potential of these tools in oncology is truly remarkable he task of insiders is also to be the protagonists of this revolution, trying to understand better and better how to use social networks».
November 18, 2022 (change November 18, 2022 | 12:23)
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