Contributions
Abstract: EP1500
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - Immunomodulation/Immunosuppression
Introduction: On 18th January 2016 2.4 million people watched a BBC Panorama television programme on the use of autologous haematopoietic stem cell therapy (AHSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied the impact the programme had on public awareness of this treatment.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHNHSFT), MS Trust and MS Society dedicated website page views, email enquiries, telephone calls and posts on Twitter and Facebook.
Results: Page views of the STHNHSFT, MS Society and MS Trust websites peaked at 20000, 27686 and 7540 hits respectively on the day of the programme. Within six weeks from broadcasting, STHNHSFT had received over 400 AHSCT email enquiries; within 3 days we recieved 105 emails, 60% were from relatives/friends of patients and 64% from individuals outside the UK. Of those, 20% were from patients with other neurological conditions and 31% from patients with secondary progressive MS. The MS Society helpline received 202 calls (»200 % of average calls/day) and 51 emails (»500 % of average emails /day) on the day following the programme.
On the week the programme aired, the enquiries received by the MS Trust peaked at 46% (average 2-18%). Of those, 74% were from MS patients and 26% from relatives/friends of patients. On the day of the broadcast, the most popular Facebook post on AHSCT for MS was seen by 25469 people, the MS Trust live tweets (Twitter) had 56444 impressions generating 434 click throughs to the website and the hashtag #MS Panorama became the 4th most popular hashtag.
Conclusion: The Panorama TV programme was very successful in increasing public awareness about AHSCT for MS and also MS in general. This strategy could be used to raise public awareness about novel treatments for a variety of medical conditions.
Disclosure: Azza Ismail: nothing to declare
Simon Hickman: nothing to declare
David Plaing : nothing to declare
Julie phelan: nothing to declare
Jane Havercroft: nothing to declare
Simon Webster:nothing to declare Helena Jidborg Alexander: nothing to declare
John Snowden:nothing to declare
Basil Sharrack:nothing to declare
Abstract: EP1500
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - Immunomodulation/Immunosuppression
Introduction: On 18th January 2016 2.4 million people watched a BBC Panorama television programme on the use of autologous haematopoietic stem cell therapy (AHSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied the impact the programme had on public awareness of this treatment.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHNHSFT), MS Trust and MS Society dedicated website page views, email enquiries, telephone calls and posts on Twitter and Facebook.
Results: Page views of the STHNHSFT, MS Society and MS Trust websites peaked at 20000, 27686 and 7540 hits respectively on the day of the programme. Within six weeks from broadcasting, STHNHSFT had received over 400 AHSCT email enquiries; within 3 days we recieved 105 emails, 60% were from relatives/friends of patients and 64% from individuals outside the UK. Of those, 20% were from patients with other neurological conditions and 31% from patients with secondary progressive MS. The MS Society helpline received 202 calls (»200 % of average calls/day) and 51 emails (»500 % of average emails /day) on the day following the programme.
On the week the programme aired, the enquiries received by the MS Trust peaked at 46% (average 2-18%). Of those, 74% were from MS patients and 26% from relatives/friends of patients. On the day of the broadcast, the most popular Facebook post on AHSCT for MS was seen by 25469 people, the MS Trust live tweets (Twitter) had 56444 impressions generating 434 click throughs to the website and the hashtag #MS Panorama became the 4th most popular hashtag.
Conclusion: The Panorama TV programme was very successful in increasing public awareness about AHSCT for MS and also MS in general. This strategy could be used to raise public awareness about novel treatments for a variety of medical conditions.
Disclosure: Azza Ismail: nothing to declare
Simon Hickman: nothing to declare
David Plaing : nothing to declare
Julie phelan: nothing to declare
Jane Havercroft: nothing to declare
Simon Webster:nothing to declare Helena Jidborg Alexander: nothing to declare
John Snowden:nothing to declare
Basil Sharrack:nothing to declare