Brooke Nickel
brookenickel.bsky.social
Brooke Nickel
@brookenickel.bsky.social
NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow at The University of Sydney. All things evidence-based healthcare communication and decision making, and overdiagnosis.
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
October 16, 2025 at 12:22 AM
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
October 15, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
Misinformation about health is flooding social media, exposing the limits of current regulations and interventions. In this scoping review, we highlight key challenges and gaps in the current landscape: ebm.bmj.com/content/earl... @brookenickel.bsky.social @sydney.edu.au @ucph.bsky.social
Addressing misleading medical information on social media: a scoping review of current interventions
Background Misleading information about medical products on social media may cause overuse. Objectives Explore interventions targeting the problem of misleading medical information and marketing on s...
ebm.bmj.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
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
August 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM
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
August 18, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Lung cancer screening hopes to save lives. But we also need to watch out for possible harms: theconversation.com/lung-cancer-...

@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
Lung cancer screening hopes to save lives. But we also need to watch for possible harms
The new lung cancer screening program needs to be independently evaluated to keep it on track, and to minimise the harms.
theconversation.com
July 6, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Our article in Public Health Post on misleading information about popular medical tests on social media: publichealthpost.org/mental-behav...

@joshzadro.bsky.social
Misleading Information About Popular Medical Tests on Social Media
As more people turn to social media for health advice, posts about medical testing may be a possible new driver of overdiagnosis.
publichealthpost.org
June 3, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Thanks Dr Karl for inviting me on Shirtloads of Science to discuss the murky world of health misinformation on social media, exposing how overdiagnosis and unverified health claims are thriving in a mostly unregulated space.

shirtloadsofscience.libsyn.com/health-misin...
Shirtloads of Science: Health Misinformation on Social Media & Overdiagnosis with Dr Brooke Nickel (428)
Dr. Brooke Nickel dives into the murky world of health misinformation on social media, exposing how overdiagnosis and unverified health claims are thriving in a mostly unregulated space. We explore th...
shirtloadsofscience.libsyn.com
May 20, 2025 at 6:25 AM
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
May 14, 2025 at 1:04 AM
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
April 10, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Most of what influencers are doing or promoting on social media in relation to health and “wellness” doesn’t have any evidence to support it.

My thoughts on influencer morning routines here: www.abc.net.au/listen/https...

@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
The 'unhealthy' obsession with morning routine videos - ABC listen
How the rich, famous and super-healthy start their day has undeniable appeal to the rest of us. Trending social media posts are littered with influencers and celebrities sharing their morning routines...
www.abc.net.au
March 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
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
February 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
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
February 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Influencers Call These Medical Tests Lifesaving. Here’s What You May Not Know.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/w...
Influencers Call These Medical Tests Lifesaving. Here’s What You May Not Know.
New research examined nearly 1,000 posts on tests for fertility, testosterone levels and cancer risk.
www.nytimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Social media influencers are ‘fearmongering’ to promote health tests with limited evidence, study finds

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
February 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Our article out in The Conversation today!

“If information about medical tests promoted by influencers in social media sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

theconversation.com/we-analysed-...

@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
We analysed almost 1,000 social media posts about 5 popular medical tests. Most were utterly misleading
87% of posts mentioned the benefits of the tests, while only 15% mentioned potential harms.
theconversation.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
JUST PUBLISHED!

New research led by our Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Brooke Nickel (@brookenickel.bsky.social) in JAMA Network Open titled "Social Media Posts About Medical Tests With Potential for Overdiagnosis"!

➡️ Read here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

@jama.com
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
February 27, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
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
February 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Important discussion about wellness claims and products and misinformation on social media, brought about by the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar.

Thanks ABC Radio National Life Matters for inviting me to come on and discuss.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Apple Cider Vinegar to wellness conspiracies: how can we combat health misinformation? - ABC listen
Netflix's new show Apple Cider Vinegar has reignited the debate about wellness scammer Belle Gibson. A decade on, where are we with health misinformation online, and is there anything that can be don...
www.abc.net.au
February 18, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Reposted by Brooke Nickel
The Sydney Health Literacy Lab is coming to Bluesky soon! This is about half of us, working across a huge range of health topics. We're passionate about #healthcommunication that meets #healthliteracy needs to improve equity, using behavioural & social science methods with a codesign approach.
December 13, 2024 at 12:17 AM