Analysing adherence to guidelines for time-lapse imaging information on UK fertility clinic websites.

This study aims to systematically analyze the provision of information on Time-lapse Imaging (TLI) by UK fertility clinic websites. We conducted an analysis of 106 clinic websites that offer fertility treatment to self-funded patients. The analysis aimed to examine whether these clinics offer TLI, the associated cost for patients, and the clarity and quality of the provided information. Out of the 106 websites analysed, 71 (67%) claimed to offer TLI. Among these websites, 25 (35.2%) mentioned charging patients between £300 and £850, 25 (35.8%) claimed not to charge patients, and 21 (29.6%) did not provide any cost information for TLI. Furthermore, 64 (90.1%) websites made claims or implied that TLI leads to improved clinical outcomes by enhancing embryo selection. Notably, 34 (47.9%) websites did not mention or provide any links to the HFEA rating system. It is crucial to provide patients with clear and accurate information to enable them to make fully informed decisions about TLI, particularly when they are responsible for the associated costs. The findings of this study raise concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the information available on fertility clinic websites, which are typically the primary source of information for patients.

Artificial Intelligence Language Models Are Useful Tools for Patients Undergoing Total Ankle Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs), such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT), have gained traction as both augmentative tools in patient care but also as powerful synthesizing machines. The use of ChatGPT in orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery, particularly as an informative resource for patients, has not been described to date. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of information provided by ChatGPT in response to commonly asked questions about total ankle replacement (TAR). METHODS: ChatGPT was asked 10 frequently asked questions about TAR in a conversational thread. Responses were recorded without follow-up, and subsequently graded A, B, C, or F, corresponding with "excellent response," "adequate response needing mild clarification," "inadequate response needing moderate clarification," and "poor response needing severe clarification." RESULTS: Of the 10 responses, 2 were grade "A," 6 were grade "B," 2 were grade "C," and none were grade "F." Overall, the LLM provided good-quality responses to the posed prompts. Conclusion. Overall, the provided responses were understandable and representative of the current literature surrounding TAR. This study highlights the potential role LLMs in augmenting patient understanding of foot and ankle operative procedures. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Assessment of the quality and accuracy of information contained within the websites of marketed orthodontic products: a cross-sectional investigation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality and accuracy of information contained within the websites of providers of marketed orthodontic products. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one websites of orthodontic appliance and adjunct (product) providers were identified. The website content was assessed via two validated quality-of-information instruments (DISCERN and the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA] benchmarks) and an accuracy-of-information instrument. Website content was qualitatively analyzed for themes and subthemes. RESULTS: More than half (n = 11; 52.3%) of the assessed websites contained clinician testimonials. The mean (SD) DISCERN score was 33.14 (5.44). No website recorded the minimum of three JAMA benchmarks required to indicate reliability. The most common content themes related to quality-of-life impact and treatment duration. Just 8% of the statements within the websites were objectively true. The Pearson correlation coefficient indicated that the DISCERN scores were correlated with the accuracy-of-information scores (r = .83; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The quality and accuracy of information contained within the websites of the providers of marketed orthodontic products was poor. The combined use of DISCERN and the accuracy-of-information instrument may help overcome the shortcomings of each. Clinicians should check the accuracy of information on orthodontic product provider websites before adding links to those websites on their own sites.

Quality assessment of available Internet information on early orthodontic treatment.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the content, reliability, quality and readability of information on Internet websites about early orthodontic treatment. METHODS: The "early orthodontic treatment" search term was individually entered into four web search engines. The content quality and reliability were reviewed with DISCERN, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), and Health on the Net code (HONcode) tools using the contents of websites meeting predetermined criteria. The readability of websites was evaluated with Flesch Reading Facilitate Score (FRES) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). RESULTS: Eighty-six websites were suitable for inclusion and scoring of the 200 websites. 80.2% of websites belonged to orthodontists, 15.1% to multidisciplinary dental clinics and 4.7% to professional organizations. The mean DISCERN score of all websites (parts 1 and 2) was 27.98/75, ranging between 19 and 67. Professional organization websites had the highest scores for DISCERN criteria. Moreover, 45.3% of websites were compatible with JAMA's disclosure criterion, 7% with the currency criterion, 5.8% with the authorship criterion and 5.8% with the attribution criterion. Only three websites met all JAMA criteria, and these websites belonged to professional organizations. None of the websites had the HONcode logo. Mean FRES and FKGL were 47.6 and 11.6, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of web-based information about early orthodontic treatment is poor, and readability is insufficient. More accurate and higher quality Internet sources are required on the web.

Characteristics of the most viewed Hybrid Assistive Limb-related videos on YouTube.

Objectives. YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing tools and is used as a forum for sharing information about experiences with new technology-based exercise programs, such as the wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL). This study aimed to analyze the content and quality of HAL-related videos viewed by people to clarify the content required by YouTube viewers. Methods. We searched HAL-related YouTube videos and selected the top 100 most viewed videos. The number of views, video length, upload date, content, and uploaders of each video were recorded. In addition, DISCERN was used to evaluate the quality of videos. Results. Of the 100 videos, the most shared content was the training videos on HAL (n = 58). The videos uploaded by YouTubers had a significantly higher number of views than those uploaded by other uploaders (hospital, company, and municipality) (p < .001). Furthermore, they had significantly higher DISCERN Questions 16 scores, which serve as the basis for the overall evaluation of the publication's overall quality (p < .001). Conclusion. HAL-related videos on YouTube, featuring the experiences and feedback of YouTubers who are HAL users, are favored more by viewers than by service providers.

Quality and Readability of Spanish-Language Online Information for Aortic Aneurysm and Its Endovascular Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Aortic aneurysms represent a chronic degenerative disease with life-threatening implications. In order for patients to comprehend health related information, it must be written at a level that can be readily understood. STUDY DESIGN: In January 2023, we searched "aneurisma aorta" and "endoprótesis aorta" terms on Google, Yahoo and Microsoft/Bing. The 31th websites provided by each search engine were analyzed. Four readability measures were used to evaluate websites regarding aortic aneurysm and their endovascular treatment in Spanish language: Flesch Index, Flesch-Szigriszt Index, Fernández-Huerta Index and grading Inflesz scale. The quality on information was evaluated by the HONcode seal, the DISCERN instrument and the JAMA benchmark criteria. RESULTS: 180 websites containing the terms "aneurisma aorta" and "endoprótesis aorta" were analyzed. Among the websites retrieved, the mean Flesh index score (53.12 ± 6.09 and 47.48 ± 7.12, respectively; P = .019), the Flesch-Szigriszt index (56.39 ± 5.72 and 48.10 ± 8.33; P = .000), and the Fernández Huerta index (61.30 ± 5.59 and 53.19 ± 8.21; P = .000), corresponding to a "somewhat difficult" readability level. In addition, the Inflesz scale (2.62 ± .59 and 2.07 ± .61; P = .000) reported a "somewhat difficult" readability, higher for the websites regarding aortic aneurysm. The HONcode seal was only presented in websites regarding aortic aneurysm (16.7%), whereas none of the websites relating to aortic endoprostheses presented it (0%) (P = .000). Websites that presented the HONcode seal obtained higher DISCERN score (P = .000, 95% CI = 6.42-16.84) and JAMA score (P = .000, 95% CI = 3.44-11.32). CONCLUSION: Internet information on aortic aneurysms and aortic endoprostheses is too difficult to read for the general Spanish-speaking population and is lacking in quality.

Dietary and herbal supplement consumer health information for pain: A cross-sectional survey and quality assessment of online content.

Background: Patients are increasingly utilizing the internet to learn about dietary and herbal supplements (DHSs) for various diseases/conditions, including pain management. Online health information has been found to be inconsistent and of poor quality in prior studies, which may have detrimental effects on patient health. This study assessed the quality of online DHSs consumer health information for pain. Methods: Six search items related to DHSs and pain were used to generate the first 20 websites on Google across four English-speaking countries. The identified 480 webpages produced 68 eligible websites, which were then evaluated using the DISCERN tool. The mean scores and standard deviations (SD) of the reviewers' ratings on each of the 15 DISCERN instrument items as well as the overall total score were calculated. Results: The mean summed score for the 68 eligible websites was 46.6 (SD = 10.1), and the mean overall rating was 3.3 (SD = 0.8). Websites lacked information regarding areas of uncertainty, the effects of no treatment being used, and how treatments affect the overall quality of life. These shortcomings were especially apparent across commercial websites, which frequently displayed bias, failed to report the risks of DHS products, and lacked support for shared decision-making regarding the use of DHSs. Conclusion: Variability exists in the quality of online consumer health information regarding DHS use for pain. Healthcare providers should be aware of and provide guidance to patients regarding the identification of reliable online resources so that they can make informed decisions about DHS use for pain management.

Evaluating the Quality, Readability, and Activity of Online Information on Brain Arteriovenous Malformations.

Introduction Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are vascular deformities created by improper connections between arteries and veins, most commonly in the brain and spinal cord. The management is complex and patient-dependent; further understanding of patient education activities is imperative. Internet access has become more ubiquitous, allowing patients to utilize a large database of medical information online. Using Google Trends (GT) (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA), one can see the public interest in a particular topic over time. Further, when presented with numerous search results, patients may not be able to identify the highest-yielding resources, making objective measures of information quality and readability imperative. Methods A GT analysis was conducted for "hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia," "cerebral aneurysm," and "arteriovenous malformation". These relative search volumes (RSV) were compared with the 2017 to 2019 annual USA AVM diagnosis quantity for correlation. These RSVs were also compared with the 2017 to 2019 annual USA deaths due to cerebral hemorrhagic conditions. One search was conducted for "brain arteriovenous malformation". Since most users looking for health information online use only the first page of sources, the quality and readability analyses were limited to the first page of results on Google search. Five quality tools and six readability formulas were used. Results Pearson's correlation coefficients showed positive correlations between USA AVM RSVs and annual AVM deaths per capita from 2017 to 2019 (R2=0.932). The AVM annual diagnosis quantity and AVM RSVs showed a strong positive correlation as well (R2=0.998). Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and cerebral aneurysms had strong positive correlations between their RSVs and their corresponding annual diagnoses in the 2017 to 2019 time period (R2=0.982, R2=0.709). One-way ANOVA, for USA's 2004 to 2021 AVM RSVs and 2004 to 2019 deaths per capita, displayed no month-specific statistically significant repeating pattern (all p>0.483). The DISCERN tool had four websites that qualified as "poor" and five as "good." The average score for the tool was "good." The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark scores were very low on average, as four websites achieved zero points. There was a wide variance in the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose (CRAAP) scores, indicating an inconsistent level of webpage reliability across results. The patient education materials assessment tool (PEMAT) understandability (86.6%) showed much higher scores than the PEMAT actionability (54.6%). No readability score averaged at or below the American Medical Association (AMA)-recommended sixth-grade reading level. Conclusion These GT correlations may be due to patients and families with new diagnoses researching those same conditions online. The seasonality results reflect that no prior research has detected seasonality for AVM diagnosis or presentation. The quality study showed a wide variance in website ethics, treatment information quality, website/author qualifications, and actionable next steps regarding AVMs. Overall, this study showed that patients are routinely attempting to access information regarding these intracranial conditions, but the information available, specifically regarding AVMs, is not routinely reliable and the reading level required to understand them is too high.

ChatGPT and most frequent urological diseases: analysing the quality of information and potential risks for patients.

PURPOSE: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of systems or combinations of algorithms, which mimic human intelligence. ChatGPT is software with artificial intelligence which was recently developed by OpenAI. One of its potential uses could be to consult the information about pathologies and treatments. Our objective was to assess the quality of the information provided by AI like ChatGPT and establish if it is a secure source of information for patients. METHODS: Questions about bladder cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and urinary stones were queried through ChatGPT 4.0. Two urologists analysed the responses provided by ChatGPT using DISCERN questionary and a brief instrument for evaluating the quality of informed consent documents. RESULTS: The overall information provided in all pathologies was well-balanced. In each pathology was explained its anatomical location, affected population and a description of the symptoms. It concluded with the established risk factors and possible treatment. All treatment answers had a moderate quality score with DISCERN (3 of 5 points). The answers about surgical options contain the recovery time, type of anaesthesia, and potential complications. After analysing all the responses related to each disease, all pathologies except BPH achieved a DISCERN score of 4. CONCLUSIONS: ChatGPT information should be used with caution since the chatbot does not disclose the sources of information and may contain bias even with simple questions related to the basics of urologic diseases.

The quality of YouTube videos related to patellofemoral pain syndrome is insufficient.

BACKGROUND: Videos uploaded to YouTube do not go through a review process. The educational aspect of these videos may be insufficient for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP). OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability and educational quality of PFP videos on YouTube. METHODS: A standard search was performed in the YouTube database using the following terms: patellofemoral pain syndrome/anterior knee pain syndrome/anterior knee pain/patellofemoral pain. For each search term, the top 50 videos based on "relevance" assignment of YouTube's algorithm were included in the examination. The remaining 96 videos after exclusion were included in the study. The educational quality and reliability of videos was analyzed using DISCERN, JAMA (The criteria of Journal of the American Medical Association), GQS (Global Quality Score) and PFPSS (Patellofemoral Pain Specific Score). RESULTS: According to PFPSS, 81.2% of the videos were evaluated as low and very low quality. According to the DISCERN classification, 74.9% of the videos were evaluated as poor and very poor. According to GQS, 59.4% of the videos had scores of 2 or less, which were considered poor quality. According to JAMA, 41.7% of the videos scored 2 and below. CONCLUSIONS: The information content of YouTube videos is inadequate. Video design should be created to be understandable by patients and to attract their attention while making these videos.

Google Trends™ and Quality of Information Analyses of Google™ Searches Pertaining to Concussion.

Sports-related concussions occur with high incidence in the United States. Google Trends™ (GT) analyses indicate changes of public interest in a topic over time, and can be correlated with incidence of health events such as concussion. Internet searches represent a primary means of patient education for many health topics, including concussion; however, the quality of medical information yielded by internet searches is variable and frequently of an inappropriate reading level. This study therefore aims to describe GT over time and evaluate the quality and readability of information produced by Google™ searches of the term "concussion." We identified a strong negative correlation from 2009 to 2016 between GT scores and total number of American high school football participants (R 2 = 0.8553) and participants per school (R 2 = 0.9533). Between 2004 and 2020, the monthly GT popularity score were variable (p = 3.193E-08), with September having the greatest scores, correlating with the height of American tackle football season. Applying five validated quality assessment scoring systems at two time points, it was confirmed that different sources yielded varying quality of information. Academic and non-profit healthcare sources demonstrated the highest quality metrics across two time points. There was significant variability of scores among the different scoring systems, however. The majority of searches at both time points yielded information that was rated as "fair" to "poor" in quality. Applying six readability tests, we revealed that only a single commercial website offered information written at or below the American Medical Association- recommended 6th-grade level for healthcare information. In summary, GT data analyses suggest that searches correlate with the American tackle football season and increased between 2009 and 2016, given that public interest in concussion increased and annual participation in football decreased. The quality of information yielded by Google™ searches and readability are inadequate, indicating the need for significant improvement.

The quality of informational social support in online health communities: A content analysis of cancer-related discussions.

Objective: Informational social support is one of the main reasons for patients to visit online health communities (OHCs). Calls have been made to investigate the objective quality of such support in the light of a worrying number of inaccurate online health-related information. The main aim of this study is to conceptualize the Quality of Informational Social Support (QISS) and develop and test a measure of QISS for content analysis. A further aim is to investigate the level of QISS in cancer-related messages in the largest OHC in Slovenia and examine the differences among various types of discussion forums, namely, online consultation forums, online support group forums, and socializing forums. Methods: A multidimensional measurement instrument was developed, which included 20 items in a coding scheme for a content analysis of cancer-related messages. On a set of almost three million posts published between 2015 and 2019, a machine-learning algorithm was used to detect cancer-related discussions in the OHC. We then identified the messages providing informational social support, and through quantitative content analysis, three experts coded a random sample of 403 cancer-related messages for the QISS. Results: The results demonstrate a good level of interrater reliability and agreement for a QISS scale with six dimensions, each demonstrating good internal consistency. The results reveal large differences among the social support, socializing, and consultation forums, with the latter recording significantly higher quality in terms of accuracy (M = 4.48, P < .001), trustworthiness (M = 4.65, P < .001), relevance (M = 3.59, P < .001), and justification (M = 3.81, P = .05) in messages providing informational social support regarding cancer-related issues. Conclusions: This study provides the research field with a valid tool to further investigate the factors and consequences of varying quality of information exchanged in supportive communication. From a practical perspective, OHCs should dedicate more resources and develop mechanisms for the professional moderation of health-related topics in socializing forums and thereby suppress the publication and dissemination of low-quality information among OHC users and visitors.

Evaluation of YouTube Videos on Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: As in every field, online information has become increasingly used in health. However, it is well known that some information online containing health advice is incorrect and may even include false statements. For this reason, it is crucial for public health that individuals reach reliable, high-quality resources when they are trying to obtain health information. Studies have been conducted on the quality and reliability of online information about many diseases, but no similar study has been found in the literature on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In this descriptive study, videos on YouTube (www.youtube.com) about HCC were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the modified DISCERN tool. RESULTS: While 129 (89.58%) of the videos examined within the study were considered useful, 15 (10.42%) were misleading. The GQS scores of the videos considered useful were significantly higher than the scores of the misleading videos, with a median (min-max) score of 4 (2-5) (P < 0.001). When we compared the DISCERN scores, the scores of the useful videos were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the scores of the misleading videos. CONCLUSION: YouTube should be considered a complex structure where accurate and reliable health information can be presented, as well as erroneous and misleading information. Users should understand the importance of video sources and focus their research on videos from doctors, academics, and universities.

The quality and reliability of the Internet as a source of information for hypodontia patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the quality, reliability and usability of information on the Internet regarding hypodontia. METHOD: A survey of patients with hypodontia revealed seven key search terms favoured by patients: Hypodontia; Congenitally missing teeth; Missing teeth; Gaps in teeth; Cure of missing teeth; Information on missing teeth; and Treatment of missing teeth. These were entered into four search engines: Google; Ask; Wikipedia; and NHS Choices. Relevant websites were assessed for their overall demographics, author type, country of origin and rank within the search engine. They were then analysed using five validated assessment tools. Intra-examiner reliability was assessed, and statistical analysis of the data was undertaken. RESULTS: Good intra-examiner reliability was observed. A total of 48 websites were included for analysis from an initial 1718. There was no relationship between the ranking of a website on a search engine and the quality of information it contained. When medical search terminology was used, it resulted in websites of better quality than layperson search terms. Most websites were produced by general dental or specialist dental practices but the quality of these was poorer than those developed by private companies and medical organisations. The country of origin was primarily the USA and UK; however, this had no relationship to website quality. Overall, the majority of websites scored poorly for the validated tools and none scored well across multiple tools. A statistical analysis showed a positive relationship between the LIDA and DISCERN instruments but no other correlation between other validated tools was found. CONCLUSION: The quality and reliability of information on the Internet regarding hypodontia is generally poor. There is a need for a reliable online hypodontia resource that can be recommended for patient use.

The quality of health information provided on web sites selling cannabis to consumers in Canada is poor.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is used by millions of people for both medical and recreational purposes, and this use is even greater in jurisdictions where it is legalized, such as Canada. Online cannabis vendors have gained popularity for purchasing cannabis due to easy access and convenience to consumers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of health information provided by web sites of cannabis vendors selling products to Canadian consumers and to further identify trends in the information provided. METHODS: Six different searches were conducted on Google.ca, and the first 40 webpages of each search were screened for eligibility. A total of 33 unique web sites of cannabis vendors selling products to Canadian consumers were identified and included. The DISCERN instrument, which consists of 16 questions divided into three sections, was used to evaluate the quality of cannabis-related health information on these web sites. RESULTS: Across the 33 web sites, the average of the summed DISCERN scores was 36.83 (SD = 9.73) out of 75, and the mean score for the overall quality of the publication (DISCERN question 16) was 2.41 (SD = 0.71) out of 5. Many of these web sites failed to discuss uncertainties in research evidence on cannabis, the impact of cannabis use on quality of life, alternatives to cannabis use, risks associated with cannabis use, and lacked references to support claims on effects and benefits of use. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the quality of cannabis-related health information provided by online vendors is poor. Healthcare providers should be aware that patients may use these web sites as primary sources of information and appropriately caution patients while directing them to high-quality sources. Future research should serve to replicate this study in other jurisdictions and assess the accuracy of information provided by online cannabis vendors, as this was outside the scope of the DISCERN instrument.

Evaluating the quality of HPV vaccine-related information on the Portuguese Internet.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the second largest human carcinogen after tobacco and is responsible for 5% of all cancers, 10% of cancers in women, and 15% of all cancers in developing countries. Among these, cervical cancer is the most prevalent. An HPV vaccine has recently been developed to provide primary protection against the viral infection. In 2014, Brazil's National Immunization Program (Programa Nacional de Imunizações, PNI) started making a quadrivalent vaccine available to the public. However, after 2014, the vaccine coverage dropped and did not reach the PNI's targets. Among other factors, this low uptake was due to the quality of information on the Internet. Using Google Trends, the main search terms used to search for vaccine-related information on the Internet were identified. The content of the identified websites was analyzed using the DISCERN instrument and their reach was determined using their page authority score. Most of the texts analyzed were not of high quality. The data that most commonly reach the lay public are from sites that lack scientific rigor. We found a weak correlation between the DISCERN and page authority scores. Based on our analysis, we inferred that the information that reaches the user is not always the most accurate and can lead to harmful decisions on vaccination. The content that reaches the user most easily is not always of sound quality. New analyses are important, especially on the impact of social networks that present even fewer criteria in publications and are more easily accessible.

Orthodontic clear aligners and TikTok videos: A content, reliability and quality analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The social media platform, TikTok, has the potential to disseminate orthodontic information to an enormous global audience. The aim of this investigation was to assess the content, reliability and quality of videos regarding orthodontic clear aligners (OCAs) on the TikTok platform. METHODS: Three search terms were used to identify relevant videos. Characteristics such as video source and the number of views were documented. An 8-point information domain score was applied to categorise the videos as "not useful", "slightly useful", "moderately useful" and "very useful". The DISCERN tool and the Global Quality Score (GQS) were used to evaluate video reliability and quality. Intraclass coefficients (ICC) were computed for intrarater reliability. Statistical analyses were via IBM® SPSS®, version 27.0.0.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Of the 117 videos that satisfied inclusion/exclusion criteria, most were uploaded by laypersons (44.4%) and orthodontists (35.9%). The assessed videos had over 300 million views. The overall mean (SD) number of information domains present in the videos was 1.85/8 (1.73). Most videos were deemed "slightly useful" (54.7%) or "not useful" (26.5%). The overall mean (SD) DISCERN score was 1.8/5 (1.28). The overall mean (SD) GQS was 2.48/5 (0.86). Higher DISCERN scores correlated with higher GQS (r=0.73; P<0.01). ICC scores (0.92-0.94) indicated excellent intrarater reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The content, reliability and quality of videos found on TikTok related to OCAs was poor. The orthodontic profession must direct patients to reliable and high-quality resources as well as uploading content onto TikTok to counteract the deficiencies highlighted in this study.

Ectopic and impacted maxillary canines: A quality evaluation of online information.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the quality of online information regarding ectopic and impacted maxillary canines (EIMCs). DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey on the Internet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online search using eight terms was carried out using four search engines. The relevant content of websites satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed for quality by applying three quality of information instruments and one readability tool. Statistical analyses were performed through GraphPad Prism 9.0. RESULTS: In total, 77 websites were evaluated. Most of the assessed content was associated with oral and maxillofacial surgery (49.35%) and orthodontic websites (31.18%). The overall mean DISCERN score was 38.05 ± 9.76/80 with 59.73% of websites recording a poor or very poor score. Three (3.9%) websites contained the HONCode seal. Twelve (15.58%) websites satisfied at least three out of a maximum four JAMA benchmarks and 11 (14.29%) satisfied none. The mean SMOG score was 9.81 ± 1.52 (95% confidence interval = 9.46-10.16; range = 6.7-15.1). CONCLUSION: The quality of online information related to EIMCs was poor and the content was difficult to read. Professional societies and clinicians should consider the use of quality of information and readability tools to enable the provision for reliable, high-quality and readable online information. This will assist EIMC treatment-related decision-making and management by patients and their families.

Analysis of the information contained within TikTok videos regarding orthodontic retention.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the content, reliability, and quality of relevant TikTok videos regarding orthodontic retention. METHODS: Six relevant terms were searched on the TikTok social media Web site. Uploaded videos satisfying inclusion/exclusion criteria were assessed for the presence of nine predetermined content domains and categorized as "high-content" (≥5) or "low-content" (<5). Reliability was determined using the DISCERN instrument and quality by the Global Quality Score (GQS). Layperson videos were evaluated for themes using discourse analysis. Intraclass coefficients for content, DISCERN scores, and GQS were calculated for intrarater reliability. Statistical analysis was via IBM SPSS Statistics (version 27.0.0.0; SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Orthodontists uploaded 37.8% and laypersons 34% of the 209 assessed videos. Just 22.1% of videos were considered to be 'high-content.' Quality of life issues related to retainer wear was the domain that was present least often in the videos provided by orthodontists (13.9%) and most often in those uploaded by laypersons (53.5%). High-content videos recorded greater mean GQS and DISCERN scores compared with low-content videos (P < 0.001). Strong positive associations existed between the number of domains present and DISCERN scores (rho = 0.808; P < 0.01) and between GQS and DISCERN scores (rho = 0.67; P < 0.01). Intraclass coefficient scores ranged between 0.92 and 0.98. Dissatisfaction with the need for long-term retainer wear was a prevalent negative theme in layperson videos. CONCLUSIONS: The content, reliability, and quality of TikTok videos regarding orthodontic retention were poor. The orthodontic profession must use TikTok effectively to ensure it delivers high-quality information relevant to laypersons' concerns.

The quality and readability of online molar incisor hypomineralization patient education materials: a systematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is estimated to affect 14% of children worldwide. It is crucial that patients and their families have access to easily comprehensible and reliable MIH-relevant information. This study aims to determine the quality, reliability and readability of online patient education materials about MIH. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was adopted. Five validated tools were used to assess the content of the 21 websites that satisfied inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data analyses were applied via GraphPad Prism software version 9 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). RESULTS: Five (23.8%) websites only satisfied the criteria for understandability and two (9.5%) websites satisfied the criteria for actionability using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). No website contained the Health on the Net (HON)Code Seal and the mean (SD) Journal of the American Medical Association number of benchmarks per website was 1.33/4 (1.02). All websites failed to reach recommended minimum readability levels. Higher PEMAT scores were associated with 'easier' readability. CONCLUSIONS: Online patient education materials related to MIH are lacking in quality and reliability, and are too difficult for most to read easily. The authors of MIH-related online content should consider reference to quality of information tools when developing patient education materials.