Emulating a virtual digital cohort study based on social media data as a complementary approach to traditional epidemiology: When, what for, and how?

Diabetes Epidemiology and Management

Charline Bour¹  Guy Fagherazzi²  Adrian Ahne³ 

[1] Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit. Department of Precision Health. Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, LUXEMBOURG;Corresponding author.;Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit. Department of Precision Health. Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, LUXEMBOURG;

关键词: Digital epidemiology;    Diabetes;    Social media;    Online data;    Methodology;    Cohort;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

With an unprecedented volume of data generated online by individuals, it becomes more and more relevant to analyze them for health-related purposes. However, the field of digital epidemiology lacks standardization which prevents it from moving away from a reproducibility crisis. In this article, we introduce the concept of a virtual digital cohort study (VDCS), a standardized method that can mimic an actual cohort study design exclusively thanks to social media data. We draw parallels between principles in epidemiology and their adaptations for a VDCS, and we use two diabetes-related examples to illustrate how a VDCS can help address some research questions. We also argue that developing a VDCS is a valid alternative to a costly, real-life, cohort implementation for some but not all research questions. We provide guidelines and recommendations to future researchers willing to launch a VDCS and, finally, we demonstrate why combining both a virtual and a real-life cohort study, sequentially or in parallel, can help conduct more relevant, patient-centric, research.

【 授权许可】

Unknown