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.
This month between April and May, the activity of UK HCPs discussing respiratory disease more broadly online was much higher than in the previous month, with the 05 May seeing the greatest number of posts for non COVID-19 conversation in all of 2021. This month there were less posts regarding COVID-19 in the UK HCP respiratory disease conversation than in any of the preceding months in 2021.
The key driver behind the spike seen on 05 May was World Asthma Day, an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. The theme this year was ‘Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions’ with the aim to provide a call to action to address common myths and misconceptions about asthma which are often detrimental and don’t help to raise awareness.
The day itself saw 549 social media posts from 249 UK HCP authors relating to the topic within the respiratory disease conversation. HCPs took the opportunity to address topics such as inhaler technique and also shared personal stories of treating asthma.
TODAY IS WORLD ASTHMA DAY
I will tell u a story of what happened during my NYSC camp in Kogi state.
One of the evenings after socials, I was seated in front of camp clinic, I heard people shouting & gathering round a lady. She was struggling to breathe😢
Thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Ur2AhM3piX
— The Male Nurse ™️ (@KelvinOssai) May 5, 2021
HCPs used social media to spread the latest articles and scientific findings surrounding Asthma, including data that young people with asthma have an increased risk of anxiety and depression during the pandemic. A possible reason being people with asthma could be at a high risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19.
Longitudinal data from amazing @CO90s
People with #asthma are more vulnerable to the negative #mentalhealth impact of #lockdown. Highlights the need to provide support for anxiety and depression in younger people with asthma.#WorldAsthmaDay @asthmauk https://t.co/dMcLXZfZFq
— James Dodd (@theotherdodd) May 5, 2021
In what was a quiet month for COVID-19 posts in the UK HCP respiratory disease conversation, there was concern and sympathy for the nation of India which saw a devastating second wave. HCPs were quick to offer their help, such as respiratory and intensive care physician Rahuldeb Sarkar (@rahuldebsarkar).
India is burning and it is unbearable to watch. As a respiratory and intensive care physician, I am one of many who are willing to serve, be it in-person, telemedicine or training healthcare workers. Can a mission be facilitated. @FCDOGovUK @UKinIndia @wbdhfw #medicstoIndia
— Rahuldeb Sarkar (@rahuldebsarkar) April 29, 2021
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 April and 20 May 2021 using CREATION Pinpoint®.
- Between 21 April and 20 May 2021, there were 3,913 UK HCP mentions of respiratory disease and related terms, from 1,648 unique UK HCP authors.
