The power of #physiotherapy: a social media hashtag investigation on X (formerly Twitter)

Abstract

Aim: The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has emerged as a significant hub for healthcare-related conversations and sharing information. This study aims to investigate the impact and reach of the #physiotherapy hashtag on the X platform. Methods: We collected and analyzed tweets containing the hashtag #physiotherapy posted between September 1, 2022, and September 1, 2023. Data was retrieved from X using the Fedica analytics platform on October 26, 2023. The data were analyzed and expressed in number and percentage and categorical data were tested by chi-square test. Results: Over the course of one year, a total of 57,788 tweets were shared using #physiotherapy by 21,244 users, generating a remarkable 108,743,911 impressions. On average, there were 6 tweets posted per day (with a range from 3 to 9). Among the users, the majority (42%) had between 100 and 1000 followers, while 31.6% had fewer than 100 followers. The top three countries contributing to #physiotherapy tweets were the UK (29.9%), India (23.75%), and the USA (11.85%). An analysis of sentiment revealed that 84% of the tweets had a neutral tone, while 9% were positive and 7% were negative (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The examination of tweets related to #physiotherapy unveiled a vibrant global dialogue, with active engagement from diverse backgrounds. Notably, contributions from the UK, India, and the USA were prominent.