Brooke Nickel
@brookenickel.bsky.social
160 followers 120 following 16 posts
NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow at The University of Sydney. All things evidence-based healthcare communication and decision making, and overdiagnosis.
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Reposted by Brooke Nickel
Super excited to be part of this study on social media marketing of women’s health interventions!

We’ve focussed on 5 interventions targeting women across the lifespan like: #BoricAcidSuppositories, #FertilityTests, #MenopauseTests, #MenopauseTreatments and #HormoneTherapies.

Results coming soon!🤩
JMIR Res Protocols: Social Media Marketing of Non-Evidence-Based Women's Health Interventions: #Protocol for a Content Analysis Using Participatory #Research Methods
Social Media Marketing of Non-Evidence-Based Women's Health Interventions: #Protocol for a Content Analysis Using Participatory #Research Methods
Background: The promotion of non-evidence-based health interventions to women on social media is a growing problem. Objective: This #Study aims to explore the use of social media to disseminate and promote health interventions that lack robust evidence and are of current interest and popularity. Methods: A content analysis of posts on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook about 5 health interventions targeted at women will be conducted using participatory #Research methods with consumers. English-language posts that discuss boric acid suppositories, fertility testing, perimenopause and menopause testing, supplements and hormone treatments for menopause, and menopause hormone therapy for disease prevention will be included. Using keyword searches related to each health intervention, consumers will screen the top posts until 100 eligible posts on 2 different social media platforms are identified (1000 posts total across the 5 health interventions). Data from the post’s caption, on-screen text, and audio and/or video will be included in the analysis. The analysis of these posts will take both a deductive approach using a prespecified framework and an inductive approach, generating key themes from the post content. Results: Data on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have been searched and screened. Development of the coding framework and analysis is now underway. The findings will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed international medical journals and presentations at national and international conferences in 2025 and 2026. Conclusions: This novel #Study will provide important insights into how information on various women’s health interventions and products, which currently lack robust evidence of benefit, are being disseminated and promoted on social media to women. Understanding this is essential for developing strategies to mitigate potential harm and plan solutions, thus protecting women from the low-value interventions marketed to them, becoming patients unnecessarily, and taking finite resources away from the health care system.
dlvr.it
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
JMIR Res Protocols: Social Media Marketing of Non-Evidence-Based Women's Health Interventions: #Protocol for a Content Analysis Using Participatory #Research Methods
Social Media Marketing of Non-Evidence-Based Women's Health Interventions: #Protocol for a Content Analysis Using Participatory #Research Methods
Background: The promotion of non-evidence-based health interventions to women on social media is a growing problem. Objective: This #Study aims to explore the use of social media to disseminate and promote health interventions that lack robust evidence and are of current interest and popularity. Methods: A content analysis of posts on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook about 5 health interventions targeted at women will be conducted using participatory #Research methods with consumers. English-language posts that discuss boric acid suppositories, fertility testing, perimenopause and menopause testing, supplements and hormone treatments for menopause, and menopause hormone therapy for disease prevention will be included. Using keyword searches related to each health intervention, consumers will screen the top posts until 100 eligible posts on 2 different social media platforms are identified (1000 posts total across the 5 health interventions). Data from the post’s caption, on-screen text, and audio and/or video will be included in the analysis. The analysis of these posts will take both a deductive approach using a prespecified framework and an inductive approach, generating key themes from the post content. Results: Data on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have been searched and screened. Development of the coding framework and analysis is now underway. The findings will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed international medical journals and presentations at national and international conferences in 2025 and 2026. Conclusions: This novel #Study will provide important insights into how information on various women’s health interventions and products, which currently lack robust evidence of benefit, are being disseminated and promoted on social media to women. Understanding this is essential for developing strategies to mitigate potential harm and plan solutions, thus protecting women from the low-value interventions marketed to them, becoming patients unnecessarily, and taking finite resources away from the health care system.
dlvr.it
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
Congratulations to our three @sydney.edu.au researchers named 2025 NSW Young Tall Poppy award winners 🎉

Dr Ros Gloag, Dr @brookenickel.bsky.social and Dr @loubirrell.bsky.social have been recognised for their contribution to science and health care.

Read more: go.sydney.edu.au/sORvSm
Collage of three smiling people above text "Sydney researchers named NSW Young Tall Poppy winners".
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
Teaching media and communication skills to Sydney School of Public health researchers @brookenickel.bsky.social @julieleask.bsky.social Katie Spaceley @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social
Thanks @sophiescott2.bsky.social - very much looking forward to working with and learning from you! @joshzadro.bsky.social @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
So excited to be working with early to mid career researchers including @brookenickel.bsky.social to give them science-backed skills for impactful communication and thought leadership
A pink slide saying j am grateful for my experiences and lessons
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
Have you seen the TV show Apple Cider Vinegar where influencers promote wellness remedies to cure illnesses?

A global study by USYD's Dr Brooke Nickel found that influencers are promoting “overwhelmingly” misleading information about medical tests on socials.

Learn more: go.sydney.edu.au/z1Eghk
Thanks @mgtmccartney.bsky.social! I have been closely following your work on the MCED tests and what we saw being promoted about these so called “holy grail” cancer tests on social media was quite shocking!
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
Yep! Ignore all the "longevity" & "optimization" BS.

You likely don't need that "wellness" text (MRI, genetic, microbiome) & potential for more harm than good)!

Social media influencers are ‘fearmongering’ to promote health tests with limited evidence www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Social media influencers are ‘fearmongering’ to promote health tests with limited evidence, study finds
Researchers warn of harms of overdiagnosis for generally healthy people as well as the cost of tests themselves
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
SO MUCH "testing" hype now. This can do harm.

Study: Social Media Posts About Medical Tests With Potential for Overdiagnosis jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

- 87.1% mentioned benefits
- 14.7% noted harms,
- 6.1% noted overdiagnosis

[Read: you don't need that full-body MRI!]
Social Media Posts About Medical Tests With Potential for Overdiagnosis
This cross-sectional study examines the tone and content of social media posts that discuss popular medical tests with potential for overdiagnosis or overuse.
jamanetwork.com
💯 the wild, wild, west!
Our invited Editorial is now published in the Journal of Women's Health: Education about breast density does not improve screening adherence among racial and ethnic minority women.

lnkd.in/eWf3EWnb

@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social