Understanding anesthesia anxiety: A mixed-methods analysis of propofol discourse on reddit

Propofol is widely used in procedural sedation and general anesthesia, but often provokes anxiety among patients and some providers. This study investigates the emotional and thematic landscape of propofol-related discourse on Reddit, a major online health information platform.

We analyzed 921 publicly available Reddit posts referencing "propofol" and related sedation terms using a mixed-methods approach. Sentiment analysis was performed with TextBlob and complemented by manual thematic coding. Posts were categorized by subreddit, sentiment, and topic. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses examined relationships between sentiment, word count, and subreddit type.

Two coders achieved strong agreement (Cohen's κ = 0.82). Half of posts were neutral, whereas 30% were negative and 20% were positive. Negative sentiment was most common in patient-focused subreddits such as r/colonoscopy (38%), while provider forums like r/anesthesiology were more neutral or analytical. Among posts, 52% were patient-authored, 28% provider-authored, and 20% unclear. Patients more often expressed anxiety and confusion, while providers discussed clinical dilemmas and ethical issues. Higher word count was weakly correlated with more negative sentiment (r = -0.19). Four thematic clusters emerged: clinical sedation and medication questions; provider professionalism and ethics; veterinary use and animal care; and exam stress or career anxiety.

Reddit reveals emotionally rich propofol discourse, spanning patient fears and provider uncertainties. Analysis using digital health frameworks such as affective publics and the Technology Acceptance Model highlights opportunities for improved patient communication, education, and digital tool design. Limitations include platform demographic bias and limited generalizability. These findings offer a methodological foundation and conceptual framework for future digital health research and sentiment-aware clinical tools.