Descriptive analysis of GeoSentinel publication altmetrics data.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Assessing the societal impact of scientific publications is crucial for understanding public health communication.
• GeoSentinel, a global network of travel medicine clinics, publishes articles relevant to public health.
• Online attention, particularly via social media, can serve as a proxy for public engagement with health information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the extent and nature of public online attention received by GeoSentinel articles.
• To determine if online attention correlates with societal and public health impact.
• To identify characteristics of GeoSentinel articles that gain significant online traction.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of GeoSentinel articles was conducted.
• Social media monitoring tools were used to track mentions and engagement.
• Analysis focused on the volume of shares, likes, and comments.
• Correlation analysis was performed between article characteristics and online attention metrics.

Main Results:

• The majority of GeoSentinel articles analyzed received some level of public online attention, primarily through social media platforms.
• Articles focusing on specific communicable diseases garnered more attention.
• Mentions by high-impact organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were associated with increased visibility.
• Engagement levels varied significantly across different social media channels.

Conclusions:

• Public online attention, especially via social media, serves as a valuable indicator of the societal and public health impact of GeoSentinel articles.
• Communicable disease topics are more likely to capture public and organizational attention online.
• Collaboration and amplification by key public health organizations enhance the reach and impact of travel medicine research.