Assessing the Reliability of Facial Feminization Content on Social Media and Its Impact on the Dissemination of Misinformation.

BACKGROUND: The surge in social media usage has transformed the dissemination and consumption of healthcare information, notably impacting plastic surgery and cosmetic specialties. This study focuses on the influence of social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, in shaping perceptions of individuals seeking facial feminization (FF) procedures. METHODS: Using the validated DISCERN scale, we assessed the reliability and accuracy of FF content on TikTok and Instagram. The study also analyzed the relationship between content reliability on engagement metrics (likes, comments, views) and the type of content shared (educational, testimonial, promotional). RESULTS: The analysis encompassed 225 TikTok videos and 75 Instagram posts. TikTok content showed 9.33% as "very poor," 66.2% as "poor," 22.6% as "fair," and only 1.33% as "excellent." Similarly, Instagram content demonstrated 14.67% as "very poor" and 69.33% as "poor," with no content rated as "good" or "excellent." Educational content received higher reliability scores on both platforms. TikTok engagement metrics showed lower reliability ratings correlating with more views, comments, and likes. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the critical role of social media in shaping patient perspectives on FF procedures. The prevalence of inaccurate information necessitates a focus on responsible engagement by healthcare professionals, aiming to provide accurate, educational content that aligns with patients' informational needs and ultimately enhances surgical outcomes.

Evaluating the Impact of Residency Research Productivity on Craniofacial Surgeons' Career Trajectory.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate trends in publication productivity over the past 50 years and how they correlate with the stage of training as well as the competitiveness of residency and fellowship programs. The authors hypothesize that research qualifications play an important role in obtaining a competitively ranked craniofacial surgery fellowship and that over the past 50 years, there has been an upward shift in the research qualifications held by applicants at the time of application. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed involving all 121 academic craniofacial surgeons in the United States for whom sex, years since fellowship, current institution rank, current academic position, and years since graduation were available. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between research qualifications, as determined by the overall number of publications, number of first authorship publications, H-index scores, and years since fellowship completion, was examined. The study also analyzed the placement of surgeons at programs ranked in the top 25 versus the lower 25. RESULTS: As the number of decades since beginning craniofacial fellowship decreased, the average number of first authorship publications and average H-index increased. Those who attended higher-ranking residency and fellowship programs had a higher average number of publications, number of first authorship publications, and H-index. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past 5 decades, research productivity at all stages of medical training has surged, potentially fueled by the trend toward pass/fail grading in medical school evaluations and standardized exams and the need to differentiate oneself in an increasingly competitive field.