Misinformation about spinal manipulation and boosting immunity: an analysis of Twitter activity during the COVID-19 crisis

Chiropractic & Manual Therapies
Greg KawchukLuana Nyirö

Abstract

Social media has become an increasingly important tool in monitoring the onset and spread of infectious diseases globally as well monitoring the spread of information about those diseases. This includes the spread of misinformation, which has been documented within the context of the emerging COVID-19 crisis. Understanding the creation, spread and uptake of social media misinformation is of critical importance to public safety. In this descriptive study, we detail Twitter activity regarding spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) and claims it increases, or "boosts", immunity. Spinal manipulation is a common intervention used by many health professions, most commonly by chiropractors. There is no clinical evidence that SMT improves human immunity. Social media searching software (Talkwalker Quick Search) was used to describe Twitter activity regarding SMT and improving or boosting immunity. Searches were performed for the 3 months and 12 months before March 31, 2020 using terms related to 1) SMT, 2) the professions that most often provide SMT and 3) immunity. From these searches, we determined the magnitude and time course of Twitter activity then coded this activity into content that promoted or refuted a SMT/immunity link. Content ...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Nov 6, 2020·Chiropractic & Manual Therapies·J Keith Simpson, Stanley Innes
Dec 5, 2020·Chiropractic & Manual Therapies·Casper Glissmann NimCharlotte Leboeuf-Yde

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Software Mentioned

Talkwalker Quick Search
Talkwalker
TalkerWalker Quick Search

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