Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jun 20, 2023
Date Accepted: Mar 8, 2024
"#LongCOVID affects children too": A Twitter analysis of healthcare workers' sentiment and discourse about Long COVID in children and young people in the UK
ABSTRACT
Background:
There is increasing information regarding COVID-19 experience long-term effects. Unfortunately, the information available on this phenomenon in children is recent, so hearing the healthcare workers (HCW) voices may be helpful to increase understanding of this condition.
Objective:
With a social media analysis of the discourse surrounding the prevalence of Long COVID in children and young people (CYP), this study aims to explore HCW’s perceptions concerning Long COVID in CYP in the UK between January 2021 and January 2022.
Methods:
From a pragmatic paradigm, we used a mixed methods approach. Through discourse, keyword, sentiment, and image analysis, using PulsarTM and Infranodus, we analysed discourse about the Long COVID experience in CYP in the UK shared on Twitter between January 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, from a sample of healthcare workers with Twitter accounts whose biography identifies them as healthcare workers.
Results:
We obtained 2588 tweets. HCW were responsive to announcements issued by authorities regarding the management of COVID-19 in the UK. The most frequent sentiment expressed was negative. The main themes were uncertainty about the future, policies and regulations, managing and addressing COVID-19 and Long COVID in CYP, vaccination, using Twitter to share scientific literature and management strategies, and clinical and personal experiences.
Conclusions:
The perceptions described on Twitter by HCW concerning the presence of Long COVID in CYP appear to be a relevant and timely issue and responsive to the declarations and guidelines issued by health authorities over time. We recommend further support and training strategies for HCW and school staff regarding the manifestations and treatment of Long COVID in CYP.
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