Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify social perceptions and public concerns related to male hormone levels and prostate cancer. To do so, we analyzed news and community data from Naver, Daum, and Google, the three most active social media platforms in South Korea, to explore how male hormone levels and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are covered in the media and discussed within online communities. METHODS: We analyzed three years of data from community discussions and news articles from July 2021 to June 2024. Text mining techniques were used to collect data with the keyword 'male hormone levels' to understand the portrayal of these issues in news and online communities as well as the public's social perceptions and concerns. RESULTS: The analysis showed that news coverage of 'male hormone levels' initially drew public attention by highlighting information related to celebrities and events while discussion on 'prostate enlargement' largely focused on medical treatments and information. The online community served as a platform where news-triggered issues were rediscussed through personal experiences and opinions, thus influencing public perceptions. However, the community discussions leaned more towards sexual dysfunction rather than prostate enlargement. These findings suggest that while news and online communities shape public awareness in different way, they both contribute to shaping social understanding of male hormone level and BPH. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the significant roles that news and online communities play in shaping social perceptions of male hormone levels and BPH. However, sensationalism in media coverage may lead to biased information and reinforce false stereotypes. Future studies can be done to incorporate data from diverse cultural contexts and extend the data collection period to further explore shifts in public perceptions and the evolution of social discussions surrounding male hormone levels and BPH.