bims-librar 2025-02-02 papers

bims-librar

Biomed News

on Biomedical librarianship

Issue of 2025–02–02
thirty papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

The University and the Library: A Study in Ecology.
Do Academic Libraries Contribute to Students' and Communities' Wellbeing?: A Scoping Review.
Understanding how and why users might use NHS repositories: A mixed methods study.
Broadband internet access as a social determinant of health in the early COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. counties.
Explore barriers to using the internet for health information access in African countries: A systematic review.
Comparing answers of ChatGPT and Google Gemini to common questions on benign anal conditions.
ChatGPT-4.0 vs. Google: Which Provides More Academic Answers to Patients' Questions on Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair?
Quality of Chatbot Responses to the Most Popular Questions Regarding Erectile Dysfunction.
Assessing chatbots ability to produce leaflets on cataract surgery: Bing AI, chatGPT 3.5, chatGPT 4o, ChatSonic, Google Bard, Perplexity and Pi.
Assessing the performance of AI chatbots in answering patients' common questions about low back pain.
Quality of Information in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Social Media Platforms Versus Large Language Models.
ChatGPT as a source of information on asthma.
CARDBiomedBench: A Benchmark for Evaluating Large Language Model Performance in Biomedical Research: A novel question-and-answer benchmark designed to assess Large Language Models' comprehension of biomedical research, piloted on Neurodegenerative Diseases.
A Comprehensive Analysis on the Readability of Rhinoplasty-Based Web Content for Patients.
Assessing the readability, quality and reliability of responses produced by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity regarding most frequently asked keywords about low back pain.
Assessing Readability of Patient Education Materials on Adult-Acquired Buried Penis.
Quality and content assessment of internet information on nasoalveolar molding.
Assessing the accuracy and usefulness of YouTube videos on small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery for patients and healthcare professionals.
Health information analysis of cryptorchidism-related short videos: Analyzing quality and reliability.
Evaluation of online videos and websites on inspiratory muscle training for individuals with chronic lung disease.
Assessment of the content and quality of YouTube videos on retinopathy of prematurity: a cross-sectional study.
Assessment of Online YouTube Videos as a Source of Information and Instruction for Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Evaluation of the Quality of Educational Content of YouTube Videos on Silver Diamine Fluoride.
Comparison of patient testimonials of orthognathic surgery on YouTube and TikTok.
Information Regarding Dermatology as Seen on the Social Media Platform TikTok.
A grounded theory study on medical students' proxy online health information seeking behavior.
Websites parents' access for information regarding their child's chronic lower limb pain: A qualitative study.
Online patients questions regarding reverse total shoulder arthroplasty pertain to timeline of recovery, specific activities, and limitations.
Using Health Information Resources for People With Cognitive Impairment (digiDEM Bayern): Registry-Based Cohort Study.
Searching for the unexpected - understanding information-seeking behaviours of people new to prison visits.

JAMA. 2025 Jan 30.

The University and the Library: A Study in Ecology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.18746
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jan 17. pii: 179. [Epub ahead of print]13(2):

Do Academic Libraries Contribute to Students' and Communities' Wellbeing?: A Scoping Review.

Shivani Suresh, David Lim, Kanchana Ekanayake, Amit Arora.

  Background/Objectives: Academic libraries offer a range of activities and initiatives for their students and community users. However, wellbeing, as a concept in academic libraries, is not very well defined and is poorly understood. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the role of academic libraries in student and community wellbeing, identify the various kinds of activities and initiatives that they carry out to address their wellbeing, and uncover gaps that might require further research. Methods: An extensive search was conducted in the Library Information Sciences Association (LISA), Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC), Medline (OVID), Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases. Grey literature was searched on a selection of library websites and digital repositories. Data were extracted from studies that met the inclusion criteria for the scoping review. Themes were identified by the authors and reported as a narrative summary. Results: Of the 5437 records identified, a total of 40 documents were included in this scoping review. The authors identified 11 different kinds of activities and initiatives carried out in academic libraries that promote student and community wellbeing, i.e., (1) animal-assisted activities; (2) facilitating dialogues about belonging and identity; (3) fun recreational activities; (4) study support; (5) physical activity promotion; (6) meditation, yoga, and mindfulness; (7) book clubs; (8) art exhibitions; (9) technology and digital support; (10) free food and tea; and (11) health awareness. These activities were found to promote the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of student and community users. Conclusions: This review highlights the need for further systematic research on the long-term effects of wellbeing initiatives and activities on both student and community users, and how they might impact aspects of wellbeing for specific population groups such as senior citizens and LGBTQIA members. This scoping review demonstrates the potential of academic libraries in promoting health and wellbeing for their users.

Keywords:  community; health promotion; library services; students; universities; wellbeing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020179
Health Info Libr J. 2025 Jan 25.

Understanding how and why users might use NHS repositories: A mixed methods study.

Matt Holland, Beth Rawson.

   BACKGROUND: There is little evidence on the use or potential use of NHS repositories within the UK.
METHODS: A mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) study of two repositories: amber-the home of ambulance service research, and East Midlands Evidence Repository (EMER). A structured online questionnaire was distributed via the repository home page, and promoted via social media, email networks, and lists. Next, three research leaders were interviewed in person online (see Appendix S1, supporting information). Transcripts of the recorded interviews were summarised using ChatGPT 3.5.
RESULTS: From the 148 questionnaire responses, 38% of respondents had used an NHS repository. Librarian activities were key to encouraging repository use (that is, searching and depositing materials). ResearchGate was the most widely used alternative. Perceived benefits of using repositories included open access to materials, and knowledge sharing with colleagues. Users generally did not know the deposit process, and over 50% of respondents were unaware of Green Open Access.
DISCUSSION: Building greater awareness, and institutional support is key to increasing repository usage. Marketing activities and educating researchers about the benefits of engaging with the repository are fundamental.
CONCLUSION: NHS librarians need to market NHS repositories using principles of knowledge management and ensure that the grey literature of research and evaluation reports in repositories is better used.

Keywords:  clinical librarians; institutional repositories; knowledge transfer; libraries; medical; open access (OA); research impact

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12566
SSM Popul Health. 2025 Mar;29 101747

Broadband internet access as a social determinant of health in the early COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. counties.

Spencer Allen.

  Recent work suggests that internet access was key in delivering life-saving health information about the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper expands on these findings by focusing on the early pandemic in the United States to examine the role of internet access on masking and COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Using county-level data from the American Community Survey, The New York Times, and other sources, weighted OLS regression models with state fixed-effects were used to predict the association of internet access on self-reported masking in July 2020 and COVID-19 incidence and mortality during multiple periods from July-October 2020. Results suggest that internet access is associated with a substantial decrease in a county's COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Most strikingly, models predict that counties with the highest internet access had less than 50% of the COVID-19 mortality as counties with the lowest internet access from July-October 2020. Meanwhile, though the association between internet access and masking is positive and significant, the effect size net of control variables is small. In sum, this paper finds that internet access is associated with COVID-19 outcomes in ways beyond information about masking alone.

Keywords:  COVID-19; Health disparities; Internet access; Social determinants of health

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2025.101747
PLOS Digit Health. 2025 Jan;4(1): e0000719

Explore barriers to using the internet for health information access in African countries: A systematic review.

Alex Ayenew Chereka, Adamu Ambachew Shibabaw, Fikadu Wake Butta, Mathias Nega Tadesse, Mekashaw Tareke Abebe, Fekadu Ayelgn Atanie, Gemeda Wakgari Kitil.

BACKGROUND: The Internet is a crucial source of health information, providing access to vast volumes of high-quality, up-to-date, and relevant healthcare information. Its impact extends beyond information access, influencing medical practice through the widespread adoption of telemedicine and evidence-based medicine. Despite the significant global increase in internet usage, Africa lags in internet penetration, particularly in utilizing the internet for health information. This study aims to systematically review the literature to explore barriers to accessing health information on the Internet in African countries.
METHODS: The study was conducted from January 1 to February 28, 2023. It followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline to systematically review published studies investigating the utilization of the Internet for health information in African countries. A comprehensive search was conducted across various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Hinari, CINAHL, and Global Health. The inclusion criteria were applied, resulting in the selection of six studies that formed the basis for our analysis.
RESULT: This systematic review identifies eleven barriers to accessing health information on the internet. These include a lack of ownership of smart electronic devices, infrequent internet use, limited internet access, low E-health and computer literacy, slow internet connection, high cost of internet access, insufficient information search skills, residing in rural areas, dealing with diverse fields, and having low perceptions.
CONCLUSION: Improving our understanding of barriers to accessing health information online is essential for policymakers, governments, academics, and healthcare professionals. To enhance the use of the Internet for health information and strengthen the overall health system, policymakers should prioritize increasing Internet accessibility, reducing costs, improving connections, offering basic computer skills training, and ensuring the availability of electronic devices in all institutions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000719
Tech Coloproctol. 2025 Jan 26. 29(1): 57

Comparing answers of ChatGPT and Google Gemini to common questions on benign anal conditions.

C M Maron, S H Emile, N Horesh, M R Freund, G Pellino, S D Wexner.

   INTRODUCTION: Chatbots have been increasingly used as a source of patient education. This study aimed to compare the answers of ChatGPT-4 and Google Gemini to common questions on benign anal conditions in terms of appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and language level.
METHODS: Each chatbot was asked a set of 30 questions on hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissures, and anal fistulas. The responses were assessed for appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and reference provision. The assessments were made by three subject experts who were unaware of the name of the chatbots. The language level of the chatbot answers was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score and grade level.
RESULTS: Overall, the answers provided by both models were appropriate and comprehensive. The answers of Google Gemini were more appropriate, comprehensive, and supported by references compared with the answers of ChatGPT. In addition, the agreement among the assessors on the appropriateness of Google Gemini answers was higher, attesting to a higher consistency. ChatGPT had a significantly higher Flesh-Kincaid grade level than Google Gemini (12.3 versus 10.6, p = 0.015), but a similar median Flesh-Kincaid Ease score.
CONCLUSIONS: The answers of Google Gemini to questions on common benign anal conditions were more appropriate and comprehensive, and more often supported with references, than the answers of ChatGPT. The answers of both chatbots were at grade levels higher than the 6th grade level, which may be difficult for nonmedical individuals to comprehend.

Keywords:  Benign anorectal conditions; ChatGPT; Google Gemini; Responses

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-024-03096-x
Cureus. 2024 Dec;16(12): e76380

ChatGPT-4.0 vs. Google: Which Provides More Academic Answers to Patients' Questions on Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair?

Atahan Eryilmaz, Mahmud Aydin, Cihangir Turemis, Serkan Surucu.

  Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) to provide academic answers to frequently asked questions using a comparison with Google web search FAQs and answers. This study attempted to determine what patients ask on Google and ChatGPT and whether ChatGPT and Google provide factual information for patients about arthroscopic meniscus repair. Method A cleanly installed Google Chrome browser and ChatGPT were used to ensure no individual cookies, browsing history, other side data, or sponsored sites. The term "arthroscopic meniscus repair" was entered into the Google Chrome browser and ChatGPT. The first 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs), answers, and sources of answers to FAQs were identified from both ChatGPT and Google search engines. Results Timeline of recovery (20%) and technical details (20%) were the most commonly asked question categories of a total of 30 questions. Technical details and timeline of recovery questions were more commonly asked on ChatGPT compared to Google (technical detail: 33.3% vs. 6.6%, p=0.168; timeline of recovery: 26.6% vs. 13.3%, p=0.651). Answers to questions were more commonly from academic websites in website categories in ChatGPT compared to Google (93.3% vs. 20%, p=0.0001). The most common answers to frequently asked questions were academic (20%) and commercial (20%) in Google. Conclusion Compared to Google, ChatGPT provided significantly fewer references to commercial content and offered responses that were more aligned with academic sources. ChatGPT may be a valuable adjunct in patient education when used under physician supervision, ensuring information aligns with evidence-based practices.

Keywords:  arthroscopy; artificial intelligence; chatgpt; google; meniscus; surgery

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.76380
Urol Res Pract. 2025 Jan 03. 50(4): 253-260

Quality of Chatbot Responses to the Most Popular Questions Regarding Erectile Dysfunction.

İrfan Şafak Barlas, Lütfi Tunç.

   Objective: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common cause of male sexual dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate the quality of ChatGPT and Gemini's responses to the most frequently asked questions about ED.
Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional, observational study. Google Trends was used to determine the most frequently asked questions on the internet. ChatGPT-3.5 and Gemini were compared for these chatbots' answers to the questions about ED. Two urologists with board certificates assessed the quality of responses using the Global Quality Score (GQS).
Results: Fifteen questions about ED were included according to the Google Trends. ChatGPT was able to answer all the questions systematically, whereas Gemini could not answer two questions. Upon assessing the quality of the responses provided by both researchers with the GQS, it was observed that the frequency of low-quality responses from Gemini exceeded that of ChatGPT. The agreement between researchers was 92% for ChatGPT and 95% for Gemini.
Conclusion: Despite the expeditious and comprehensive answers provided by chatbots, we identified inadequacies in their responses related to ED. In their current state, they cannot replace the patient-centered approach of healthcare professionals and require further development.

Keywords:  Artificial intelligence; ChatGPT; Chatbot; Erectile dysfunction; Gemini; Global Quality Score

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.5152/tud.2025.24098
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2025 Jan 31.

Assessing chatbots ability to produce leaflets on cataract surgery: Bing AI, chatGPT 3.5, chatGPT 4o, ChatSonic, Google Bard, Perplexity and Pi.

Dr Polly Thompson, Dr Richard Thornton, Mr Conor Ramsden.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate leaflets on cataract surgery produced by seven common free chatbots.
SETTING: Usage of conversational artificial intelligence services (chatbots) is becoming more prevalent in all aspects of life, including healthcare. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed operation in the world, with numbers set to increase. Possible applications for chatbots include information giving and education, allowing clinicians to allocate their time more efficiently.
DESIGN: Analysis of answers given by seven chatbots (Bing AI, chatGPT 3.5, chatGPT 4o, ChatSonic, Google Bard, Perplexity and Pi) were prompted to "make a patient information leaflet on cataract surgery".
METHODS: Answers were evaluated using the DISCERN instrument, Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), presence of misinformation, the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level readability score and material reliability.
RESULTS: The highest overall scored response was from ChatSonic, followed by Bing AI and then Perplexity. The lowest scoring was ChatGPT 3.5.ChatSonic achieved the highest DISCERN and PEMAT scores, and had the highest Flesch-Kincaid Grade level. The lowest DISCERN and PEMAT scores were for Pi. Only ChatGPT 3.5 included some misinformation in its response. Bing AI, ChatSonic and Perplexity included reliable references; the other chatbots provided no references.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a range of answers given by chatbots creating a cataract surgery leaflet, suggesting variation in their development and reliability. ChatGPT 3.5 scored the most poorly. However, ChatSonic indicated promise in how technology may be used to assist information giving in ophthalmology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001622
Ann Rheum Dis. 2025 Jan;pii: S0003-4967(24)00578-8. [Epub ahead of print]84(1): 143-149

Assessing the performance of AI chatbots in answering patients' common questions about low back pain.

Simone P S Scaff, Felipe J J Reis, Giovanni E Ferreira, Maria Fernanda Jacob, Bruno T Saragiotto.

   OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and readability of the answers generated by large language model (LLM)-chatbots to common patient questions about low back pain (LBP).
METHODS: This cross-sectional study analysed responses to 30 LBP-related questions, covering self-management, risk factors and treatment. The questions were developed by experienced clinicians and researchers and were piloted with a group of consumer representatives with lived experience of LBP. The inquiries were inputted in prompt form into ChatGPT 3.5, Bing, Bard (Gemini) and ChatGPT 4.0. Responses were evaluated in relation to their accuracy, readability and presence of disclaimers about health advice. The accuracy was assessed by comparing the recommendations generated with the main guidelines for LBP. The responses were analysed by two independent reviewers and classified as accurate, inaccurate or unclear. Readability was measured with the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES).
RESULTS: Out of 120 responses yielding 1069 recommendations, 55.8% were accurate, 42.1% inaccurate and 1.9% unclear. Treatment and self-management domains showed the highest accuracy while risk factors had the most inaccuracies. Overall, LLM-chatbots provided answers that were 'reasonably difficult' to read, with a mean (SD) FRES score of 50.94 (3.06). Disclaimer about health advice was present around 70%-100% of the responses produced.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of LLM-chatbots as tools for patient education and counselling in LBP shows promising but variable results. These chatbots generally provide moderately accurate recommendations. However, the accuracy may vary depending on the topic of each question. The reliability level of the answers was inadequate, potentially affecting the patient's ability to comprehend the information.

Keywords:  Internet; Low Back Pain; Pain

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1136/ard-2024-226202
Ann Plast Surg. 2025 Jan 24.

Quality of Information in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Social Media Platforms Versus Large Language Models.

Javier Suárez Aguilar, Manuel Viñuela Florido, Julio Mayol, Lara Cristóbal, Andrés A Maldonado.

INTRODUCTION: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment disease, and it is a subject of great interest and concern to medical professionals and the general public. Our study aims to analyze and compare the quality and accuracy of the information related to CTS provided by social media platforms (SMPs) and the new large language models (LLM).
METHODS: On YouTube, the first 20 videos in English and the first 20 videos in Spanish when searching for "carpal tunnel syndrome" and "síndrome túnel carpo" were selected. On Instagram, the first 20 videos with the hashtag #carpaltunnelsyndrome and #tunelcarpiano were chosen (in total 80 videos). Duration, number of likes, number of views, number of followers, upload date, and author category (medical specialist, patient, etc) were evaluated. Three specific questions about CTS were asked to 2 new LLMs (ChatGPT and Google Bard). The quality of information was analyzed and compared by two independent board-certified plastic surgeons using the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) and DISCERN scales.
RESULTS: LLMs showed a significant higher quality of information when compared with SMPs based on the DISCERN scores (P < 0.05). Average DISCERN scores for answers given by ChatGPT and Google Bard were 52.83 and 57.83, respectively (good quality). In YouTube and Instagram, the average score for the 80 videos based on the JAMA scale was 1.92 (low reliability) and 25.18 (very low quality) on the DISCERN scale. Videos created by medical professionals in SMPs were associated with a higher JAMA and DISCERN scores (P < 0.05). 53.8% of the videos were made by a nonmedical author.
CONCLUSIONS: The quality of information from LLMs was good and significantly better than in SMP. A low participation of board-certified surgeons in SMP was found. Board-certified surgeons should be more involved in LLM and SMPs to increase leadership, improve education, and spread knowledge of peripheral nerve surgery.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000004232
J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2025 Feb;4(1): 100390

ChatGPT as a source of information on asthma.

Amnuay Kleebayoon, Viroj Wiwanitkit.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100390
bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 21. pii: 2025.01.15.633272. [Epub ahead of print]

CARDBiomedBench: A Benchmark for Evaluating Large Language Model Performance in Biomedical Research: A novel question-and-answer benchmark designed to assess Large Language Models' comprehension of biomedical research, piloted on Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Owen Bianchi, Maya Willey, Chelsea X Alvarado, Benjamin Danek, Marzieh Khani, Nicole Kuznetsov, Anant Dadu, Syed Shah, Mathew J Koretsky, Mary B Makarious, Cory Weller, Kristin S Levine, Sungwon Kim, Paige Jarreau, Dan Vitale, Elise Marsan, Hirotaka Iwaki, Hampton Leonard, Sara Bandres-Ciga, Andrew B Singleton, Mike A Nalls, Shekoufeh Mokhtari, Daniel Khashabi, Faraz Faghri.

   Backgrounds: Biomedical research requires sophisticated understanding and reasoning across multiple specializations. While large language models (LLMs) show promise in scientific applications, their capability to safely and accurately support complex biomedical research remains uncertain.
Methods: We present CARDBiomedBench, a novel question-and-answer benchmark for evaluating LLMs in biomedical research. For our pilot implementation, we focus on neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), a domain requiring integration of genetic, molecular, and clinical knowledge. The benchmark combines expert-annotated question-answer (Q/A) pairs with semi-automated data augmentation, drawing from authoritative public resources including drug development data, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and Summary-data based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) analyses. We evaluated seven private and open-source LLMs across ten biological categories and nine reasoning skills, using novel metrics to assess both response quality and safety.
Results: Our benchmark comprises over 68,000 Q/A pairs, enabling robust evaluation of LLM performance. Current state-of-the-art models show significant limitations: models like Claude-3.5-Sonnet demonstrates excessive caution (Response Quality Rate: 25% [95% CI: 25% ± 1], Safety Rate: 76% ± 1), while others like ChatGPT-4o exhibits both poor accuracy and unsafe behavior (Response Quality Rate: 37% ± 1, Safety Rate: 31% ± 1). These findings reveal fundamental gaps in LLMs' ability to handle complex biomedical information.
Conclusion: CARDBiomedBench establishes a rigorous standard for assessing LLM capabilities in biomedical research. Our pilot evaluation in the NDD domain reveals critical limitations in current models' ability to safely and accurately process complex scientific information. Future iterations will expand to other biomedical domains, supporting the development of more reliable AI systems for accelerating scientific discovery.

Keywords:  Artificial Intelligence; Biomedical research; Large Language Models; Machine Learning; Multi-omics; Neurodegenerative disorders

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.15.633272
Plast Surg (Oakv). 2025 Feb;33(1): 107-115

A Comprehensive Analysis on the Readability of Rhinoplasty-Based Web Content for Patients.

Emma C Levine, Shayan A McGee, Joshua Kohan, James Fanning, Thomas D Willson.

  Background: Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed by plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists. Previous studies have concluded that the readability of rhinoplasty information does not meet the recommended guidelines for the 8th grade reading level. In this study, we performed an updated readability analysis and a comprehensive online review of decision-making factors for patients considering rhinoplasty. Additionally, the differences between plastic surgery and otolaryngology-specific web pages were also analyzed in this study. Methods: This study analyzed 30 websites from universities and private practice webpages for decision-making factors, readability, and tone. These sites were identified by performing a depersonalized Google search using the search terms "nose job decision factors" and "rhinoplasty decision factors." An independent t-test was performed to assess the differences between webpages. Results: A total of 30 websites were comprehensively reviewed for a comparative analysis of readability for potential rhinoplasty patients. Decision-making factors were divided into 3 categories: individual factors, goals of the procedure, and technical considerations. These categories were then further divided into subcategories. The most common decision-making factor discussed was procedural considerations (83.3%), the least common being lifestyle (10%). Additionally, only 26.7% of web pages mentioned ethnic background and skin type as potential considerations before surgery. Less than half (40%) discussed the importance of setting realistic expectations for the procedure. Of the total sites analyzed in the study, 65.5% were ENT-based, 24.1% were plastic surgery-based, 3.4% were dental/oral maxillofacial surgeons, and 6.9% were combined plastic surgeons and ENT. Statistically significant differences between ENT- and plastic surgeon-based webpages were observed. Risks and complications were more frequently discussed on ENT web pages (P = .02). ENT sites also had more adverbs (P = .024) and more uses of passive voice (P = .006). Additionally, plastic surgery web pages appeared to elicit more of the emotion "disgust" after analysis utilizing IBM Watson Natural Language Understanding (P < .001). Conclusions: This study highlights the necessity for continued improvement in the readability of webpages designed for patients considering rhinoplasty. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences between decision-making factors presented on ENT-based webpages and plastic-surgery-based webpages. This study may aid surgeons in developing websites that are more accessible, equitable to patients, and contain a more comprehensive discussion regarding key patient decision-making factors and preoperative considerations.

Keywords:  patient education; readability; rhinoplasty

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/22925503231195018
PeerJ. 2025 ;13 e18847

Assessing the readability, quality and reliability of responses produced by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity regarding most frequently asked keywords about low back pain.

Erkan Ozduran, Volkan Hancı, Yüksel Erkin, İlhan Celil Özbek, Vugar Abdulkerimov.

   Background: Patients who are informed about the causes, pathophysiology, treatment and prevention of a disease are better able to participate in treatment procedures in the event of illness. Artificial intelligence (AI), which has gained popularity in recent years, is defined as the study of algorithms that provide machines with the ability to reason and perform cognitive functions, including object and word recognition, problem solving and decision making. This study aimed to examine the readability, reliability and quality of responses to frequently asked keywords about low back pain (LBP) given by three different AI-based chatbots (ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini), which are popular applications in online information presentation today.
Methods: All three AI chatbots were asked the 25 most frequently used keywords related to LBP determined with the help of Google Trend. In order to prevent possible bias that could be created by the sequential processing of keywords in the answers given by the chatbots, the study was designed by providing input from different users (EO, VH) for each keyword. The readability of the responses given was determined with the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and Gunning Fog (GFG) readability scores. Quality was assessed using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) score. Reliability was assessed by determining with DISCERN and Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) scales.
Results: The first three keywords detected as a result of Google Trend search were "Lower Back Pain", "ICD 10 Low Back Pain", and "Low Back Pain Symptoms". It was determined that the readability of the responses given by all AI chatbots was higher than the recommended 6th grade readability level (p < 0.001). In the EQIP, JAMA, modified DISCERN and GQS score evaluation, Perplexity was found to have significantly higher scores than other chatbots (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: It has been determined that the answers given by AI chatbots to keywords about LBP are difficult to read and have low reliability and quality assessment. It is clear that when new chatbots are introduced, they can provide better guidance to patients with increased clarity and text quality. This study can provide inspiration for future studies on improving the algorithms and responses of AI chatbots.

Keywords:  Artificial intelligence; ChatGPT; Gemini; Low back pain; Online medical information; Perplexity

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18847
Ann Plast Surg. 2025 Jan 27.

Assessing Readability of Patient Education Materials on Adult-Acquired Buried Penis.

Sarah M Thornton, Doruk Orgun, Caroline C Bay, Allison J Seitz, Samuel O Poore.

INTRODUCTION: Adult-acquired buried penis (AABP) is an increasingly prevalent condition characterized by the penis "buried" in prepubic/suprapubic tissue. AABP affects urinary and sexual function, hygiene, and psychosocial well-being. Because many affected individuals are unfamiliar with the condition or hesitant to seek medical help, accessible, high-quality patient education materials (PEMs) are necessary. The American Medical Association recommends that PEMs be written at or below a 6th-grade reading level. This study aimed to assess the readability of the most easily accessible AABP PEMs.
METHODS: After disabling user account information, the top 10 results for "buried penis treatment" from 3 search engines were collected. Academic journal articles, advertisements, and pediatric PEMs were excluded. Plain texts without graphics and extraneous information were copied to the Readability Test Tool (WebFX, Harrisburg, PA) to generate readability scores. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS: The top 10 results for each search engine, excluding duplicates, resulted in 12 unique articles. Of 5 readability tests used by the Readability Test Tool, the mean grade level necessary to comprehend resource content was 12.3, or about a 12th-grade level. The mean age estimated for understanding was 17.7, or an age range of 17-18 years old. Complex words comprised on average, 16.6% of a resource's material.
CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the inadequate readability of current PEMs for AABP. The readability for most accessible materials exceeds the recommended reading level of at or below 6th grade. Providers should aim to publish easily comprehensible online PEMs to promote patient awareness and comprehension.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000004229
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 30. 25(1): 389

Quality and content assessment of internet information on nasoalveolar molding.

Merve Nur Eglenen, Can Arslan, Derya Germec Cakan.

   BACKGROUND: To evaluate the quality and content of websites related to nasoalveolar molding (NAM).
METHODS: A systematic Internet search was conducted using the keywords "nasoalveolar molding" and "presurgical nasoalveolar molding" determined through Google Trends and popular search engines: GoogleTM, YAHOO!® and Yandex®. The top 50 websites were evaluated for each keyword and search engine. Repetitive websites, advertisements, scientific articles, and irrelevant websites were excluded from the study. The remaining 40 websites were evaluated using JAMA benchmarks, HON criteria, DISCERN, and EQIP tools.
RESULTS: 75% of websites were created for informational purposes, and the remaining websites were created for clinical promotion and advertising. According to DISCERN, only 2.5% of the sites were classified as excellent (63 points): 7.5% very weak (16-26 points), 22.5% weak (27-38 points), 40% moderate (39-50 points), and 27.5% good (51 points-62 points).
CONCLUSIONS: Internet information on NAM was generally at a moderate to poor level in terms of quality and content. In this regard, patients should be informed about the limits of their Internet information, and the Internet content that patients can obtain information should be increased.

Keywords:  Content assessment; Internet information; Nasoalveolar molding; Quality and reliability

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21616-8
Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Jan 25. 40(1): 45

Assessing the accuracy and usefulness of YouTube videos on small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery for patients and healthcare professionals.

Sibel Ahmet, Ali Safa Balci, Burcu Kemer Atik, Hüsna Topçu, Ahmet Kırgız.

  To evaluate the quality, usefulness, and reliability of videos about Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) surgery on the YouTube platform. On January 19, 2022, a search was performed on YouTube ( www.youtube.com ) with the keywords 'small incision lenticule extraction', 'SMILE refractive surgery', and 'ReLex SMILE Surgery'. The default search option was "sort videos by relevance". The duration of videos (seconds), the number of views, the source of videos (surgeons/medical organizations-health channels/patients-others), the number of subscribers, the number of likes and dislikes, like ratio (like × 100/[like + dislike]), the number of comments, the time since upload date (days), the video content (surgery/theoretical information), the content of surgical videos (real surgery/animation), mode of expression (verbal narration/subtitle), and the presence of a conflict of interest (yes/no) were recorded. The videos were blindly evaluated by two refractive surgeons (SA and AK) using DISCERN, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and the Global Quality Score (GQS). A total of 101 videos were analyzed, 38 (37.6%) of which were uploaded by surgeons. The mean DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS were 37.73 ± 7.49; 1.90 ± 0.57; and 2.20 ± 0.73, respectively. The JAMA score, GQS, and video duration were all significantly correlated with the DISCERN score. The GQS was significantly correlated with all parameters except the JAMA score. Overall, SMILE surgery videos on the YouTube platform may provide cursory information to non-ophthalmologists; however, when the videos are evaluated using tools such as DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS, they are of low quality in terms of refractive surgery education for ophthalmologists. Experts should evaluate and review content uploaded to websites such as YouTube.

Keywords:  Refractive surgery; Small incision lenticule extraction; Video; YouTube

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-025-04299-w
Digit Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;11:11 20552076251317578

Health information analysis of cryptorchidism-related short videos: Analyzing quality and reliability.

Yuqiang Sun, Xingjian Liu, Xintao Zhang, Qiongqian Xu, Aiwu Li.

   Objective: Cryptorchidism is a common congenital anomaly in children. Short video content has increased awareness and urged timely intervention, but there is a lack of understanding about the quality and reliability of these videos. This survey assesses the quality and credibility of cryptorchidism-related videos on Chinese short video platforms to ensure accurate information for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Methods: We analyzed 228 videos from TikTok, Bilibili, and Kwai on 16 May 2024. Using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS), and modified DISCERN score, we evaluated the videos based on six factors: definition, risk factors, symptoms, tests, treatment, and outcome.
Results: Video quality varied significantly across platforms (P = .03). Medical professionals' videos had higher JAMA scores than those by nonmedical professionals (P < .001), but no significant differences were found in GQS (P = .633) or modified DISCERN scores (P = .853). Overall, video quality was suboptimal, focusing mainly on treatment, symptoms, and prognosis, while neglecting tests and risk factors. Longer videos correlated with higher GQS (r = .34, P < .001) and modified DISCERN scores (r = .39, P < .001), while newer videos were of higher quality (GQS: r = -.19, P < .005; modified DISCERN: r = -.25, P < .001). Higher engagement (comments: r = -.16, P = .01; shares: r = -.18, P = .04) was associated with lower quality.
Conclusion: Overall, the videos' quality and reliability were moderate, with professional content providing more accurate insights. This highlights the need for improved regulation of medical information on short video platforms.

Keywords:  Digital health; eHealth; health informatics; pediatrics; public health; social media

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251317578
Respir Med. 2025 Jan 27. pii: S0954-6111(25)00029-0. [Epub ahead of print] 107967

Evaluation of online videos and websites on inspiratory muscle training for individuals with chronic lung disease.

Sahar Sohrabipour, Ahmad Ibrahim, Jillian Dhawan, Omer Ahmad Choudhary, Brandon Luu, Josh Shore, Megha Ibrahim Masthan, Dmitry Rozenberg.

   BACKGROUND: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is an effective rehabilitation modality for individuals with chronic lung disease. IMT can improve dyspnea, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life. Online resources are common sources of health information for individuals. This study is the first to: 1) evaluate the content, reliability, quality, and comprehensibility of IMT-related videos and websites for individuals with chronic lung disease, and 2) determine the characteristics of these online resources.
METHODS: The search term "(respiratory muscle training) OR (inspiratory muscle training)" was used to evaluate the first 200 consecutive YouTube videos and 200 Google websites on IMT for chronic lung disease management. Online resources were evaluated using validated scoring metrics: modified DISCERN tool, Global Quality Scale (GQS), and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tools (PEMAT) understandability and actionability. Content comprising key IMT components was also scored.
RESULTS: Forty videos and fourteen websites were included, with majority uploaded by for-profit organizations. Content scores (out of 25) were low (videos 7.7±4.4; websites 11.4±5.3, p=0.01). Benefits of IMT were often highlighted, but safety considerations were infrequently mentioned. Resources scored poorly on modified DISCERN (videos 2/5 IQR[1.0-3.0]; websites 3.5/5 IQR[2.0-4.0], p=0.001), and GQS scores (videos 2/5 IQR[2.0-3.0]; websites 3/5 IQR[2.8-3.3], p=0.003). Online resources met the PEMAT threshold (>70%) for understandability, but not actionability.
CONCLUSIONS: Online IMT resources have mainly focused on the benefits of IMT and majority were developed by for-profit organizations. There is a need for high-quality, evidence-based online resources, as IMT is an important rehabilitation modality for chronic lung disease management.

Keywords:  Chronic Lung Disease; Health Information; Inspiratory Muscle Training; Obstructive Lung Disease; Online Resources; Restrictive Lung Disease

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2025.107967
Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2025 ;pii: S0004-27492025000400304. [Epub ahead of print]88(4):

Assessment of the content and quality of YouTube videos on retinopathy of prematurity: a cross-sectional study.

Ceren Durmaz Engin, Dilhan Karaca, Taylan Ozturk.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos as an educational resource about retinopathy of prematurity.
METHODS: Videos were sourced from YouTube using the search terms "retinopathy of prematurity" and "premature retinopathy" with the default settings. Each video was assessed on the following metrics: views, likes, dislikes, comments, upload source, country of origin, view ratio, like ratio, and video power index. The quality and reliability of the videos were evaluated by two independent researchers using the DISCERN questionnaire, the JAMA benchmarks, the Global Quality Score scale, the Health on the Net Code of Conduct, and the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients scale.
RESULTS: The study assessed 92 videos, the majority of which (42 videos, 45.7%) originated from the United States. Most of the videos focused on screening, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity (61.9%). The primary contributors were medical organizations (19 videos, 20.6%), nonacademic health channels (19 videos, 20.6%), and physicians (15 videos, 16.3%). Significant differences were found between the DISCERN (p=0.003), JAMA (p=0.001), Global Quality Score (p=0.003), Health on the Net Code of Conduct (p=0.006), and Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (p=0.001) scores among different video sources. However, the key video metrics did not differ. Using the DISCERN and Global Quality Score scales, the overall YouTube video content on retinopathy of prematurity was rated as moderate in quality. Using the Health On the Net Code of Conduct and Ensuring Quality Information for Patients scales, it was rated as high quality. Strong correlations were observed between the scores on all of the scales (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Videos from medical organizations and healthcare centers were of a higher quality than those from nonmedical sources. Despite the varied foci of each evaluation scale, the strong correlation between them indicates that they provide reliable and comprehensive assessments of the quality of informational content.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5935/0004-2749.2024-0214
Respir Med. 2025 Jan 28. pii: S0954-6111(25)00030-7. [Epub ahead of print] 107968

Assessment of Online YouTube Videos as a Source of Information and Instruction for Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Omer A Choudhary, Jillian Dhawan, Sahar Sohrabipour, Julie Semenchuk, Tania D Silva, Megha I Masthan, Gillian C Goobie, W Darlene Reid, Jolene H Fisher, Christopher J Ryerson, Dmitry Rozenberg.

   BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) benefits individuals with chronic respiratory conditions beyond COPD; however, the quality of online resources has not been evaluated. The aims of this study were to assess the content, quality, and comprehensibility of YouTube videos that provide PR to individuals with chronic lung diseases other than COPD.
METHODS: A search was conducted on YouTube for videos related to PR on non-COPD conditions, with the first 350 videos screened for eligibility (2004-2024). Videos were assessed for content based on predefined scoring matrix derived from PR guidelines, evaluated for their quality using the modified DISCERN tool and Global Quality Scale (GQS), and assessed for their understandability and actionability using the Patient Education Materials and Assessment Tool. Engagement metrics including viewing rate and interaction index were also analyzed.
RESULTS: Of the 59 videos included, there was significant heterogeneity in PR content (i.e. aerobic, strength training, flexibility, etc.). 83% of the videos were published following the onset of COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020), and 85% of the videos were not directed at specific disease states. Video quality was moderate, with median modified DISCERN and GQS of 3 IQR[3-4] and 3 IQR[2-4] out of 5, respectively. Mean understandability and actionability were above the 70% threshold. Engagement metrics revealed that median video views were 2,857 (IQR[637-10,729]), but engagement was low (1.4% IQR[1.0-2.7]).
CONCLUSION: The study highlights variability in PR content and moderate quality of videos, with reasonable comprehensibility. There is a need for more standardized and disease-specific PR online video resources for non-COPD states.

Keywords:  and patient education; chronic lung disease; exercise training; online health information; online videos; pulmonary rehabilitation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2025.107968
Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024 Dec;17(12): 1399-1403

Evaluation of the Quality of Educational Content of YouTube Videos on Silver Diamine Fluoride.

Satish Vishwanathaiah, Prabhadevi C Maganur, Yazeed K Al-Shomrani, Haider H Alhijji, Almaha Yahya A Koriri, Jubarah Mohammed M Mergami, Fatimah Balqasim M Hakami, Ruba Mohammed A Salem, Ismail A Alaama, Razan Abdullah A Mahdi, Hanan Hussain Najmi, Apathsakayan Renugalakshmi, Ganesh Jeevanandan, Varsha Manoharan.

   Aim: The aim of this research is to assess the accuracy and educational content concerning silver diamine fluoride (SDF) videos available on YouTube.
Materials and methods: Videos were sought on YouTube using relevant keywords related to SDF in pediatric dentistry via the Google Trends application. There were a total of 70 videos accessible. Following the application of exclusion criteria, 54 videos were chosen for analysis in this study. Video data were reviewed, including the video type, quantity of likes and dislikes, view count, upload duration, and the efficacy of the videos was evaluated.
Results: The majority of the assessed videos were classified as educational (81.4%), uploaded by healthcare professionals, and were moderately useful. A significant difference was observed in the duration (p = 0.02) between the educational videos (4.15 ± 2.17) and testimonial videos (2.12 ± 1.8). The association between viewing rate and usefulness score was found to be statistically significant, with videos categorized as moderately useful having the highest viewing rate (p = 0.04). Correlation analysis revealed that the usefulness score had a statistically significant negative correlation with the number of likes (r = -0.22) and a positive correlation with the number of views (r = 0.67) and view rate (r = 0.514).
Conclusion: The information available on YouTube regarding SDF was found to be satisfactory to some extent, and healthcare professionals should be encouraged to upload quality educational and testimonial videos on the uses and applications of SDF.
How to cite this article: Vishwanathaiah S, Maganur PC, Al-Shomrani YK, et al. Evaluation of the Quality of Educational Content of YouTube Videos on Silver Diamine Fluoride. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(12):1399-1403.

Keywords:  Educational; Healthcare professionals; Silver diamine fluoride; YouTube™

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-3014
Angle Orthod. 2025 Jan 30.

Comparison of patient testimonials of orthognathic surgery on YouTube and TikTok.

Arianna Alvarado Garcia, Leah Rahman, Mathew J Gregoski, Ildeu Andrade.

   OBJECTIVES: To investigate and compare the educational value of the most popular testimonials between TikTok (TT) and YouTube (YT), and to classify the emotional response of viewers through sentiment analysis of video comments on both platforms involving orthodontic patients who will undergo orthognathic surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two distinct social media searches were conducted using specific search phrases on TT and YT. For each search phrase, 30 videos were gathered from each platform, and details such as number of views, likes, and comments were recorded for each video. Each video was then evaluated for completeness of information using an Information Completeness Score (ICS). A set of comments were collected for each video, and a Sentiment Analysis Score (SAS) was assigned using Azure Machine Learning.
RESULTS: TT had a higher number of views, likes, and comments. YT videos had a significantly higher ICS than TT (P < .0001). No statistically significant difference was found when evaluating SAS between the platforms or across phrase groups (P > .05), and no relationship was found between views, likes, comments, and SAS or ICS.
CONCLUSIONS: YT had higher-quality information within patient testimonials posted due to higher ICS values found than TT. Patient testimonials were not determined to have a positive or negative influence on potential patient opinions in either platform. Orthodontists should leverage their own TT profiles to help direct patients toward meaningful YT testimonials through informative video links.

Keywords:  Orthognathic surgery; Patient testimonial; Social media; TikTok; YouTube

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2319/071724-571.1
JMIR Dermatol. 2025 Jan 28. 8 e59597

Information Regarding Dermatology as Seen on the Social Media Platform TikTok.

Alexandra Rose Nigro, Alim Osman, Ryan Charles Saal, Robert James Smith.



Keywords:  TikTok; dermatological content; dermatologists; dermatology; digital health; engagement; health care information; health information; internet; misinformation; online content; online information; online videos; patient education; patient health; skin care; social media; statistical analysis; web platforms

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2196/59597
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 27. 25(1): 339

A grounded theory study on medical students' proxy online health information seeking behavior.

Pan Minghao, He Leyun, Yang Jingying, Huang Wanyu, Wang Fan, Wang Linlin, Shen Meiyu.

   BACKGROUND: Although Internet has become the main way of access to health and medical information for most young people today, it might not be the case with older people. The elderly that have difficulty using the Internet rely largely on their family members to obtain and evaluate online health and medical information.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate medical students' proxy health information seeking behavior for their family members, and to look into how they search, evaluate, and even apply health information from the Internet. The paper is going to explore the influencing factors of health information seeking behavior of medical students as well as the concerns and difficulties they might encounter during the searching process.
METHODS: Based on grounded theory, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 medical students, from whom data were collected for analysis. Through the procedure of three-level coding, the theoretical framework of medical students' proxy online health information seeking behavior was constructed.
RESULTS: Findings of this study include the factors influencing medical student' proxy online health information seeking, the emotional attitudes of the interviewees, and the results of proxy information seeking behavior. Students' individual traits, information itself and the search platform all exercise influences on their seeking behavior. Interviewees mainly stay doubtful about the authenticity of health information and feel concerned over their parents' physical conditions. Proxy seeking results are generally marked by positive feedback and negative feedback.
CONCLUSIONS: It satisfies the family members' demand for health information that medical students seek online health information for them, and such behavior has a positive impact on the family members' physical condition. Still, to evaluate the quality of health information from the Internet remains a major challenge that medical students face. Only through the joint efforts of both medical students and the related departments could high quality health information be obtained. Besides, for effective delivery of health information, medical students should also stay patient while communicating with their family members.

Keywords:  Family members; Grounded theory; Internet; Medical students; Proxy online health information seeking behavior

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21394-3
Patient Educ Couns. 2025 Jan 21. pii: S0738-3991(25)00037-0. [Epub ahead of print]134 108670

Websites parents' access for information regarding their child's chronic lower limb pain: A qualitative study.

Luke M Davies, Jeremy Lai, Louise Tofts, Daphne Nguyen, Sacha McCulloch, Cylie M Williams, Verity Pacey.

   OBJECTIVE: To explore the parent experience of finding information on websites to support their child with chronic lower limb pain and explore the quality of information available on those websites.
METHODS: Parents of children with chronic lower limb pain conducted real-time searching of websites followed by semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Websites were evaluated by two reviewers across seven domains using the Health Information Website Evaluation Tool.
RESULTS: Fourteen parents of children impacted by chronic lower limb pain searched and viewed 34 websites. Four themes were identified: (i) aesthetics matter; (ii) trust builds trust; (iii) something is better than nothing, but it's never enough; (iv) improving accessibility. Nine websites (26 %) were considered 'good' quality and 25 (74 %) were considered 'moderate' quality. The Readability domain achieved maximum scores across 88 % of websites, and the Accuracy domain, reflecting referencing and evidence search processes, scored the most minimum scores on 74 % of websites.
CONCLUSION: Parents accessing online resources for their child's chronic lower limb pain seek accessible and in-depth information. While parents find easy to understand quality websites, there is a need for more paediatric-specific resources that reflect current evidence.

Keywords:  Adolescent; Chronic pain; Musculoskeletal pain; Paediatric

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2025.108670
JSES Rev Rep Tech. 2025 Feb;5(1): 7-13

Online patients questions regarding reverse total shoulder arthroplasty pertain to timeline of recovery, specific activities, and limitations.

Kyle K Obana, Dane R G Lind, Andrew J Luzzi, Michaela J O'Connor, Matthew R LeVasseur, William N Levine.

   Background: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) demonstrates favorable long-term data and has outpaced anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty as the most-performed shoulder arthroplasty procedure. As indications and outcomes continue to favor rTSA, patients may turn to the internet as an efficient modality to answer various questions or concerns. This study investigates online patient questions pertaining to rTSA and the quality of the websites providing information.
Hypotheses: (1) Questions will pertain to surgical indications, timeline of recovery, and postoperative restrictions; (2) the quality and transparency of online information is largely heterogenous.
Methods: Three rTSA searches were entered into the Google Web Search. Questions under the "People also ask" tab were expanded sequentially and 100 consecutive results for each query were included for analysis (300 in total). Questions were categorized based on Rothwell's Classification and subcategorized by topic. Websites were categorized by source. Website quality was evaluated by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria.
Results: Most questions fell into the Rothwell Fact category (49.7%). The most common question topics were Timeline of Recovery (17.3%), Specific Activities (14.7%), and Restrictions (11.3%). The least common question topics were Anatomy/Function (0.0%), Cost (0.3%), and Diagnoses/Evaluation (0.3%). The most common websites were Medical Practice (45.0%), Academic (22.3%), and Single Surgeon (12.3%). PubMed articles consisted of 41.2% of Government websites. The average JAMA score for all websites was 1.48 ± 1.27. Government websites had the highest JAMA score (3.11 ± 1.01) and constituted 55.9% of all websites with a score of 4/4. Medical Practice websites had the lowest JAMA score (0.99 ± 0.91).
Conclusion: Patients are interested in the timeline of recovery, ability to perform specific activities after surgery, and short-term and long-term restrictions following rTSA. Although all patients will benefit from education on ways to perform activities of daily living while abiding by postoperative restrictions, physicians should set preoperative expectations regarding return-to-activity following rTSA in younger, more active patients. Finally, surgeons should provide patients with physical booklets and online information available on their websites to avoid reliance on low-quality online sources.

Keywords:  Google; Internet; Joint replacement; Online; Surgery; rTSA

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xrrt.2024.09.005
JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jan 15. 9 e54460

Using Health Information Resources for People With Cognitive Impairment (digiDEM Bayern): Registry-Based Cohort Study.

Florian Weidinger, Nikolas Dietzel, Elmar Graessel, Hans-Ulrich Prokosch, Peter Kolominsky-Rabas.

   Background: Dementia is a growing global health challenge with significant economic and social implications. Underdiagnosis of dementia is prevalent due to a lack of knowledge and understanding among the general population. Enhancing dementia literacy through improved health information-seeking behavior is crucial for the self-determined management of the disease by those affected. Understanding the relationship between dementia literacy, health information-seeking behavior, and the use of various information sources among individuals with cognitive impairment is of high importance in this context.
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relevance of different sources of health information from the perspective of people with cognitive impairment, while also evaluating differences based on age, gender, and disease progression.
Methods: This study is part of the ongoing project "Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria - digiDEM Bayern." The Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria is a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal register study in Bavaria, Germany. People with cognitive impairment rated several information sources by using Likert scales with the values unimportant (1) to very important (5). Data were analyzed descriptively, and multiple 2-sample, 2-tailed t tests were used to evaluate differences by cognitive status and gender and using multiple one-way ANOVA to evaluate differences by age group.
Results: Data of 924 people with cognitive impairment (531 with dementia, 393 with mild cognitive impairment) were evaluated. The most relevant health information sources were "Personal visit to a medical professional" (mean 3.9, SD 1.1) and "Family / Friends" (mean 3.9, SD 1.2). "Internet" was 1 of the 2 lowest-rated information sources by people with cognitive impairment (mean 1.6, SD 1.1), with nearly three-quarters (684/924, 74%) of the participants rating the source as unimportant. The age-specific analyses showed significant differences for the sources "Internet" (F2,921=61.23; P<.001), "Courses / Lectures" (F2,921=18.88; P<.001), and "Family / Friends" (F2,921=6.27; P=.002) for the 3 defined age groups. There were several significant differences between people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia whereby the first group evaluated most sources higher, such as "Internet" (mean difference=0.6; t640=7.52; P<.001). The only sources rated higher by the dementia group were "TV / Radio" and "Family / Friends," with none of them showing significant differences. Gender-specific analyses showed women with cognitive impairment valuing every evaluated source higher than men apart from "Internet" (mean difference=0.4; t685=4.97; P<.001).
Conclusions: To enhance health and dementia literacy, the best way to communicate health information to people with cognitive impairment is through interpersonal contact with medical professionals and their friends and family. Slight changes in valuation should be considered as the medical condition progresses, along with variations by age and gender. In particular, the evaluation and use of the internet are dependent on these factors. Further research is needed to capture potential changes in the valuation of the internet as a health information source.

Keywords:  Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria; cognitive impairment; dementia; digiDEM; health information; health information–seeking behavior; information sources; mild cognitive impairment

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2196/54460
Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2025 ;32(1): 1-22

Searching for the unexpected - understanding information-seeking behaviours of people new to prison visits.

Nicole R Ryan, Nathan C Ryan.

  Often, when an offender is sentenced their family and friends find themselves in a state of uncertainty. At this point, family and friends of prisoners need support and often find themselves alone to navigate and learn the correctional system to gain visitation approval. It is unknown how people new to visitation learns the rules and processes of prison visits to gain visitation access. This study explores 21 prison visitors' information-seeking behaviour to understanding how people new to prison visitation learns to navigate the system to obtain visitation approval and identify any factors that might imped their ability to information-seek, thus delaying or preventing visitation. Using Flexible Pattern Matching Analysis we identified five factors that can occur prior to individual's need to information-seek, and one key factor that was common during the visit experience that can impact peoples 'ability to information seek'. Implications for prison visitation policy and practice are discussed.

Keywords:  flexible pattern matching analysis; information seeking; prison visitation; prison visitors; uncertainty management theory

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2023.2272910