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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · 3d

@sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social

Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Emma Grundtvig Gram @emmagram.bsky.social · 3d

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

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

University of Sydney (USYD) @sydney.edu.au · Aug 19

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

Collage of three smiling people above text "Sydney researchers named NSW Young Tall Poppy winners".

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Sophiescott2.bsky.social @sophiescott2.bsky.social · Aug 18

Teaching media and communication skills to Sydney School of Public health researchers @brookenickel.bsky.social @julieleask.bsky.social Katie Spaceley @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Jul 6

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Jun 9

Thanks @jdkite.bsky.social!

Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Jun 3

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · May 20

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · May 16

Thanks @sophiescott2.bsky.social - very much looking forward to working with and learning from you! @joshzadro.bsky.social @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Sophiescott2.bsky.social @sophiescott2.bsky.social · May 14

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

A pink slide saying j am grateful for my experiences and lessons

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

University of Sydney (USYD) @sydney.edu.au · Apr 10

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Mar 30

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Mar 2

Our study covered on the latest ABC Health Report.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social

Influencers spreading misinformation online - ABC listen

If you’re like thousands of other Australians you’ve watched the new series on Belle Gibson, agape at the misinformation she spread on social media. Since she was exposed in 2015, platforms like Inst...

www.abc.net.au

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Mar 1

Thanks @mgtmccartney.bsky.social! I have been closely following your work on the MCED tests and what we saw being promoted about these so called “holy grail” cancer tests on social media was quite shocking!

Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · Feb 27

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

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · Feb 27

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Feb 27

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Feb 27

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Feb 27

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Feb 27

💯 the wild, wild, west!

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Sydney Health Literacy Lab @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au · Feb 27

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

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Reposted by Brooke Nickel

Kenny Lin, MD, MPH @kennylinafp.bsky.social · Feb 26

Social Media Posts About Medical Tests With Potential for Overdiagnosis jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... via @brookenickel.bsky.social

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Feb 19

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Feb 18

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

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Brooke Nickel @brookenickel.bsky.social · Jan 31

First lead author study of 2025 now published!

Are AI chatbots concordant with evidence-based cancer screening recommendations? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

@julieayre.bsky.social
@melodytaba.bsky.social
@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social

Are AI chatbots concordant with evidence-based cancer screening recommendations?

This study aimed to assess whether information from AI chatbots on benefits and harms of breast and prostate cancer screening were concordant with evi…

www.sciencedirect.com

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