Bacsu Juanita-Dawne, Fraser Sarah, Chasteen Alison L, Cammer Allison, Grewal Karl S, Bechard Lauren E, Bethell Jennifer, Green Shoshana, McGilton Katherine S, Morgan Debra, O'Rourke Hannah M, Poole Lisa, Spiteri Raymond J, O'Connell Megan E
Department of Psychology, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
JMIR Aging. 2022 Mar 31;5(1):e35677. doi: 10.2196/35677.
During the pandemic, there has been significant social media attention focused on the increased COVID-19 risks and impacts for people with dementia and their care partners. However, these messages can perpetuate misconceptions, false information, and stigma.
This study used Twitter data to understand stigma against people with dementia propagated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We collected 1743 stigma-related tweets using the GetOldTweets application in Python from February 15 to September 7, 2020. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the tweets.
Based on our analysis, 4 main themes were identified: (1) ageism and devaluing the lives of people with dementia, (2) misinformation and false beliefs about dementia and COVID-19, (3) dementia used as an insult for political ridicule, and (4) challenging stigma against dementia. Social media has been used to spread stigma, but it can also be used to challenge negative beliefs, stereotypes, and false information.
Dementia education and awareness campaigns are urgently needed on social media to address COVID-19-related stigma. When stigmatizing discourse on dementia is widely shared and consumed amongst the public, it has public health implications. How we talk about dementia shapes how policymakers, clinicians, and the public value the lives of people with dementia. Stigma perpetuates misinformation, pejorative language, and patronizing attitudes that can lead to discriminatory actions, such as the limited provision of lifesaving supports and health services for people with dementia during the pandemic. COVID-19 policies and public health messages should focus on precautions and preventive measures rather than labeling specific population groups.
在疫情期间，社交媒体大量关注了痴呆症患者及其护理伙伴感染新冠病毒的风险增加和所受影响。然而，这些信息可能会使误解、虚假信息和污名化现象长期存在。
本研究利用推特数据来了解在新冠疫情期间传播的针对痴呆症患者的污名化现象。
我们在2020年2月15日至9月7日期间，使用Python中的GetOldTweets应用程序收集了1743条与污名化相关的推文。采用主题分析法对推文进行分析。
基于我们的分析，确定了4个主要主题：（1）年龄歧视和贬低痴呆症患者的生命价值；（2）关于痴呆症和新冠病毒的错误信息和错误观念；（3）将痴呆症用作政治嘲讽的侮辱性词汇；（4）挑战对痴呆症的污名化。社交媒体被用来传播污名，但它也可以用来挑战负面信念、刻板印象和虚假信息。
迫切需要在社交媒体上开展痴呆症教育和提高认识运动，以消除与新冠病毒相关的污名。当关于痴呆症的污名化言论在公众中广泛传播和被接受时，就会产生公共卫生影响。我们谈论痴呆症的方式塑造了政策制定者、临床医生和公众如何看待痴呆症患者的生命价值。污名化使错误信息、贬损性语言和居高临下的态度长期存在，可能导致歧视性行动，比如在疫情期间为痴呆症患者提供有限的救生支持和医疗服务。新冠疫情政策和公共卫生信息应侧重于预防措施，而不是给特定人群贴标签。
