Reddit enables users to post content including texts, photos, and videos. In 2019, Reddit was ranked the 5th most visited site in the U.S., with roughly 430 million users worldwide. One online platform is Reddit (a play on “read it,” or “I read it on Reddit”). All of these involve bi-directional interactions with the public. Platforms currently utilized for PES include, but are not limited to: YouTube, Quora, and Yahoo! Answers. While PES dialogue has traditionally occurred in physical settings, there is a growing need to dive deeper into increasingly popular online platforms. In these times, we see a responsibility for subject matter experts (SMEs) and scientists to embrace a Public Engagement with Science (PES) mentality, in order to reach the public with accurate information leading to better care and outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the outbreak a Public Emergency of International Concern, and misinformation on COVID-19 has become a battle in and of itself, with the WHO establishing a team of social media and news experts to combat the rise of an “infodemic”. As of March 3rd, 2020, the disease had been identified in 60 other countries and territories, as well as the United States(U.S.). The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel virus SARS-CoV-2, began in Wuhan, China with confirmed cases beginning in late December of 2019. More posts provided facts or opinions, than posts that providing resources or requesting resources. Due to the volume of questions and ratio of experts to participants, not all questions were answered. The majority of bi-directional discussion occurred between participants. Results suggested that participants sought not only to obtain information, but to engage in discussion, and did so with each other in the absence of expert responses. We retroactively conducted an analysis of the questions and answers from this AMA session in order to better understand the public’s concerns around coronavirus and identify future opportunities for medical experts to leverage the Reddit AMA format in communicating with the general public.
On March 11, 2020, from 2:00 to 4:00pm EST, two Emergency Department physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital hosted an AMA session on coronavirus. Reddit provides an Ask Me Anything (AMA) format for subject matter experts to answer questions asked by the public. Currently a popular platform for PES is Reddit. COVID-19 has highlighted an opportunity for medical professionals to engage in online Public Engagement with Science (PES).
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