Fairfax, Va. – November 02, 2026 -- Nearly 95,000 social media views of Allergy & Asthma Network's Oral Corticosteroids (OCS) Overexposed campaign were recorded, and 62% of them came from four large states, according to research the nonprofit will present at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2026 Annual Meeting and Expo in San Antonio, Texas.

Selected states with higher asthma burden and greater barriers to healthcare accounted for smaller shares of views. The campaign educates patients about the risks of repeated oral corticosteroid use and encourages informed conversations with healthcare providers.

Two presentations set for Tuesday afternoon, November 3

Tori Martel, MPH, CHES, Director of Public Health Engagement at the Network, will deliver both sessions. The oral presentation, "The Digital Health Paradox: Evaluating Social Media Campaign Reach in High-Burden Asthma Regions," falls under the session on digital methods and strategies, including apps, AI and social media.

Her poster, "Linking Digital Engagement with Structural Asthma Inequities: Insights from the OCS Overexposed Campaign and the Asthma Equity Explorer," is part of a session on vaccine information, misinformation and digital innovations.

Campaign analytics paired with Asthma Equity Explorer data

The research combines campaign analytics with data from the Network's Asthma Equity Explorer. It argues for looking beyond traditional engagement metrics to test whether health education reaches the communities that need it most. The findings point to targeted digital outreach and trusted community partnerships as potential strategies for more equitable access to public health information.

Martel said technology alone cannot build trust and that communication strategies must be grounded in evidence and patients' lived experiences.

APHA meeting expects about 11,000 attendees

The APHA event runs November 1-4 at the Henry B. González Convention Center under the theme "Together We Thrive: Health Across the Lifespan." Organizers expect approximately 11,000 public health professionals and partners from around the world.