JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The wide availability of online sources, including social media, has supported rapid, wide-spread dissemination of health information. This dissemination can be an asset during public health emergencies, however it can also present challenges when the information is inaccurate or ill-informed. Of interest, many social media sources discuss cancer, specifically cutaneous melanoma and keratinocyte cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma).

Objective:

This study aims to understand the new and evolving world of social media information and misinformation regarding skin cancer diagnostics, prognostics, and prevention.

Methods:

We performed a systematic literature review to establish the relationship between social media and skin cancer, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. A literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 2000-June 2023. The included studies discussed social media and its relationship to and effect on skin cancer.

Results:

Through the search, 1009 abstracts were initially identified, 188 received full-text review, and 112 met inclusion criteria. The included studies were divided into seven groupings based on the publication’s primary objective. Misinformation (35%), prevention campaigns (17%), engagement (15%), research (11%), education (10%), demographics (9%), and patient support (3%) were the most common identified themes.

Conclusions:

Through this review, we gained a better understanding of the social media environment addressing skin cancer information, and we gained insight into the best practices by which social media could be used to positively influence the health care information ecosystem.