By Mark Sullivan 
Each month, CREATION.co’s respiratory tracking update brings you the latest insights into the online UK healthcare professional (HCP) conversation regarding respiratory disease. You can find the most up to date insights, and the archive, on our Respiratory Tracker landing page.
The conversation Level of UK HCPs discussing respiratory disease on Twitter
The month, between 21 June and 20 July, 2021, followed the pattern we have seen so far this year, where the volume of COVID-19 related posts was less than the volume of non COVID-19 respiratory disease mentions.
The latest respiratory disease insights from
UK HCPs online
One thing that remained consistent throughout the month was the mentioning of Asthma UK in HCPs posts. This account was mentioned 65 times by HCPs throughout the month (more than any other account) and these posts were retweeted a further 116 times by HCPs. The majority of posts that tagged Asthma UK were raising awareness for management of the lung condition, by promoting correct inhaler technique such as specialist nurse Viv Marsh’s post.
A picture tells a story, lets make it the right one! #RightInhalerImage #asthma #inhalertechnique #controllingasthma @LauraKingCNS 💗 @SaraNelsonRGN @just_TUX @RespNprang @ARNS_UK @PCRSUK @IPCRG @asthmauk @rotherhamresp @MDASAsthma @BwchResp @swoolnough @bevbostock @juliecatch pic.twitter.com/hakKwh9s1z
— viv marsh (@vivmarsh) June 29, 2021
This month also saw the end of COVID-19 restrictions and HCPs were keen to share their opinions in the build up to “Freedom Day”. There was debate surrounding the use of masks post 19 July with HCPs having differing opinions and motives. For the second month running the post with the largest engagement was from Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford Trisha Greenhalgh, whose post promoting the use of masks received over 1,800 retweets.
Doctor here. I'm promoting mask-wearing beyond 19th July. I've never made a penny selling masks, but I know what it feels like to have a relative die, alone and frightened, from Covid-19 respiratory failure. https://t.co/Il5XRPsbFq
— Trisha Greenhalgh (@trishgreenhalgh) July 4, 2021
The general consensus amongst UK HCPs was that it would be wise to continue to wear masks to reduce the risk of infection and HCPs encouraged others to do so.
How prepared are you to manage a critically ill child with #bronchiolitis?
The UK is planning for a possible early out-of-season surge of #RSV & other respiratory viruses
Join us on Thursday 15th July 13.00-14.30 to learn about pre-#PedsICU managementhttps://t.co/EHMLNArKgM pic.twitter.com/ZAjSefI8WN
— Paediatric Critical Care Society (@PICSociety) July 9, 2021
Finally, HCPs shared a zoom meeting hosted by Paediatric Critical Care Society, which aimed to raise awareness for the treatment of children with Bronchiolitis, which is a common lower respiratory tract infection that affects babies and young children under 2 years old. 71 UK HCPs, including Pediatric physiotherapist Lynne Schofield, retweeted this post and were keen to join the zoom meeting whilst encouraging others to also do so.
Each month, we track the HCP conversation relating to respiratory disease. You can keep up to date with this and other pharmaceutical tracking updates, including COVID-19 developments, within the Tracking section of CREATION Knowledge, or sign up to receive our monthly eJournal with all of our latest HCP insights.
If you would like to dig deeper into what we have seen this month then please do get in touch.
Methodology
- This article analysed the Twitter conversations of HCPs in the UK discussing respiratory disease and related terms between 21 June and 20 July 2021 using CREATION Pinpoint®.
- Between 21 June and 20 July 2021, there were 3,459 UK HCP mentions of respiratory disease and related terms, from 1,694 unique UK HCP authors.
