Combining Topic Modeling, Sentiment Analysis, and Corpus Linguistics to Analyze Unstructured Web-Based Patient Experience Data: Case Study of Modafinil Experiences.
Walsh, Julia, Cave, Jonathan, Griffiths, Frances·Journal of medical Internet research·2024
Researchers analyzed nearly 70,000 posts from online forums and social media where people discussed their experiences taking modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting medication. They used computer programs to organize and understand what people wrote about how the drug affected them, what side effects they experienced, and whether it helped their symptoms. They found that most people reported positive experiences, but this contrasts sharply with what formal clinical trials have shown about modafinil's effectiveness.