How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies
BackgroundIn recent years, incidents of public opinion triggered by major public health emergencies have emerged endlessly. Existing studies have focused on public attitudes during the early stages of containment measures but lacked research on how public opinion evolves after those measures are rel...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1438854/full |
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| author | Zhendong Niu Yunyun Gao Xusheng Wu Qingyuan Hu Dehua Hu |
| author_facet | Zhendong Niu Yunyun Gao Xusheng Wu Qingyuan Hu Dehua Hu |
| author_sort | Zhendong Niu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundIn recent years, incidents of public opinion triggered by major public health emergencies have emerged endlessly. Existing studies have focused on public attitudes during the early stages of containment measures but lacked research on how public opinion evolves after those measures are relaxed. In late 2022, however, China optimized its COVID-19 control measures, providing a unique window for this study.ObjectiveTo reveal public attitudes toward the adjustment of response measures for major public health emergencies and how these attitudes evolve over time, and to provide a reference for improving related policies and managing public opinion.MethodsWe collected Baidu Index and Weibo post data related to “epidemic prevention and control” between October 11, 2022 and March 15, 2023. Guided by the “Public Opinion Life Cycle Theory,” we analyzed the evolution of public opinion intensity using the Baidu Index. We applied the SKEP model for sentiment analysis on Weibo posts, exploring changes in public sentiment and differences among groups. Additionally, we used the LDA model for topic mining on Weibo posts, examining the evolution of discussion topics and their underlying causes.ResultsDuring the early stages of adjustments to prevention and control measures, public opinion surged but quickly subsided to a level significantly lower than before, following the announcement of more targeted measures. In the long term, the public generally holds a positive attitude toward these adjustments, though negative sentiment may emerge in the short term. Prior to the adjustments, discussions focused on community prevention and control. In the early phase, debates were intense, with expectations for a return to normal life and economic recovery alongside concerns about health risks and medical resources. After a prolonged adjustment period, discussions on economic and daily-life topics increased, but concerns about medication and reinfection risks remained high.ConclusionTo guide the healthy development of public opinion, policymakers should clearly explain the rationale for policy adjustments, promptly address public concerns, and encourage enterprises and opinion leaders to share positive information; additionally, they should ensure sufficient medical resources are secured before implementing policy changes and roll them out in a well-organized, step-by-step manner. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2eeceeefed054aad8a3567221689da8e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2eeceeefed054aad8a3567221689da8e2025-08-20T02:31:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14388541438854How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergenciesZhendong Niu0Yunyun Gao1Xusheng Wu2Qingyuan Hu3Dehua Hu4Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Information Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaShenzhen Health Development Research and Data Management Center, Shenzhen, ChinaThe Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaBackgroundIn recent years, incidents of public opinion triggered by major public health emergencies have emerged endlessly. Existing studies have focused on public attitudes during the early stages of containment measures but lacked research on how public opinion evolves after those measures are relaxed. In late 2022, however, China optimized its COVID-19 control measures, providing a unique window for this study.ObjectiveTo reveal public attitudes toward the adjustment of response measures for major public health emergencies and how these attitudes evolve over time, and to provide a reference for improving related policies and managing public opinion.MethodsWe collected Baidu Index and Weibo post data related to “epidemic prevention and control” between October 11, 2022 and March 15, 2023. Guided by the “Public Opinion Life Cycle Theory,” we analyzed the evolution of public opinion intensity using the Baidu Index. We applied the SKEP model for sentiment analysis on Weibo posts, exploring changes in public sentiment and differences among groups. Additionally, we used the LDA model for topic mining on Weibo posts, examining the evolution of discussion topics and their underlying causes.ResultsDuring the early stages of adjustments to prevention and control measures, public opinion surged but quickly subsided to a level significantly lower than before, following the announcement of more targeted measures. In the long term, the public generally holds a positive attitude toward these adjustments, though negative sentiment may emerge in the short term. Prior to the adjustments, discussions focused on community prevention and control. In the early phase, debates were intense, with expectations for a return to normal life and economic recovery alongside concerns about health risks and medical resources. After a prolonged adjustment period, discussions on economic and daily-life topics increased, but concerns about medication and reinfection risks remained high.ConclusionTo guide the healthy development of public opinion, policymakers should clearly explain the rationale for policy adjustments, promptly address public concerns, and encourage enterprises and opinion leaders to share positive information; additionally, they should ensure sufficient medical resources are secured before implementing policy changes and roll them out in a well-organized, step-by-step manner.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1438854/fullmajor public health emergenciesepidemic prevention and control policiesevolution of public opinionsentiment analysisLDA model |
| spellingShingle | Zhendong Niu Yunyun Gao Xusheng Wu Qingyuan Hu Dehua Hu How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies Frontiers in Public Health major public health emergencies epidemic prevention and control policies evolution of public opinion sentiment analysis LDA model |
| title | How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies |
| title_full | How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies |
| title_fullStr | How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies |
| title_full_unstemmed | How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies |
| title_short | How online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies |
| title_sort | how online public opinion evolves before and after policy adjustments in response to major public health emergencies |
| topic | major public health emergencies epidemic prevention and control policies evolution of public opinion sentiment analysis LDA model |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1438854/full |
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