Inherited Cancer Knowledge Among Black Females with Breast Cancer Before and After Viewing a Web-Based Educational Video.

Purpose: Scalable solutions are needed to make pre-test genetic education about inherited cancer risk accessible across diverse and underserved populations. We evaluated an automated strategy to deliver genetic education through a web-based video among young Black females with breast cancer. Methods: 96 participants were recruited through state cancer registries in Florida and Tennesee. All participants viewed a 12 min video and completed a ten question quiz on inherited cancer knowledge before and after viewing the video. Median pre- and postvideo knowledge scores were categorized as <60% versus ≥60% and compared across demographic and clinical characteristics using binary logistic regression. Results: Of the 96 participants, mean age was 51, over 50% had income <$50 K, over 40% did not graduate college or have private insurance, and over 70% had previous genetic testing. Median knowledge scores significantly increased after viewing the video (p < 001), with no significant differences in those with or without prior testing. A higher post-video knowledge score was associated with an income ≥$50 K, a college degree, and private insurance (all p < .05). Conclusion: Among a population of young Black breast cancer patients, the educational video significantly increased knowledge. Findings support the use of automated pre-test educational tools as a scalable solution to make these services more accessible across populations.

Safety and Feasibility of Performing Antireflux Procedures at a Safety Net Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: One-half of Americans have limited access to health care; these patients often receive care through safety net hospitals, which are associated with worse medical outcomes. This study aims to compare the outcomes of patients who received foregut surgery at a safety net hospital to those at a private or university hospital. We hypothesized that patients treated at the safety net hospital will have a greater rate of radiographic recurrence and reoperations. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent hiatal hernia repair or fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease at an affiliated safety net, private, or university hospital from June 2015 to May 2020. The primary outcome was radiographic recurrence. The secondary outcomes included reoperation and symptom recurrence. Analysis was performed using analysis of variance, chi-square, and logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 499 patients were identified: 157 at a safety net hospital, 233 at a private hospital, and 119 at a university hospital. The median (interquartile range) follow-up was 16 (13) mo. The safety net hospital treated more Hispanics, females, and patients with comorbidities. Large hiatal hernias were more common at the safety net and private hospitals. Robotic surgery was more frequently at the university hospital. There was no difference in radiographic recurrence (13.4% versus 19.7% versus 17.6%; P = 0.269), reoperation (3.8% versus 7.2% versus 6.7%; P = 0.389), or postoperative dysphagia (15.3% versus 12.6% versus 15.1%; P = 0.696). On logistic regression, there were no differences in outcomes among institutions. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that despite the challenges faced at safety net hospitals, it could be feasible to safely perform minimally invasive foregut surgery with similar outcomes to private and university hospitals.

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) 510(k) Process: A Systematic Review of 1000 Cases.

BACKGROUND: The vast majority of devices cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are through the 510(k) process, which allows medical devices to be quickly introduced into the market. The FDA 510(k) process is designed to minimize the burden and expense of bringing new devices to market; however, as a result, the FDA may be limited in its ability to establish the safety of these devices. METHODS: The FDA 510(k) online archives were searched for devices cleared from 2013 to 2014. One thousand devices were randomly selected. PubMed was searched for each device to identify publications about the devices. The primary outcome was the percentage of devices cleared through the 510(k) process with no published research. Secondary outcomes included: conflict of interest (COI) of authors and outcomes of published studies on the devices. RESULTS: A total of 6152 devices were cleared through the 510(k) process in 2013-2014. Of the 1000 randomly selected devices, 17.8% had published research. There were 375 manuscripts, of which 47 (12.5%) were randomized controlled trials. One-fourth (25.1%) of studies had a clearly identifiable COI, while COI was unclear for half (49.9%). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: There is limited evidence examining the safety and effectiveness of devices cleared via the 510(k) process. Thousands of devices are cleared through the FDA's 510(k) process each year with limited or no evidence publicly available. This has led to the market being introduced to potentially costly, nonbeneficial, or harmful devices. Devices, like prescription drugs, should undergo a more rigorous clearance process.

Blood Clots Per Rectum in a Pediatric Patient With Salmonella Enteritis: A Case Report.

Infection is a common cause of hematochezia in children. While infectious diarrhea can present with bloody stools, it is rare to have the passage of frank blood clots per rectum in the pediatric population. This is a case of a seven-year-old male who presented with vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and passage of blood clots per rectum. As symptoms progressed, consideration of non-infectious causes was investigated and subsequently ruled out. The stool polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive for Salmonella species, while stool culture was negative for any enteropathogen. This report highlights the unusual occurrence of the passage of blood clots per rectum in a child with salmonella enterocolitis.

An Otolaryngologist's Guide to Understanding the H-index and How It Could Affect Your Future Career.

Objectives: The h-index is a measure of research output and contribution that shows strong correlation with academic promotion in medicine. The purpose of this article is to clearly explain how h-index scores are calculated and how otolaryngologists can effectively and advantageously use these scores for their career development. Data Sources: PubMed. Review Methods: We performed an up-to-date PubMed literature review describing the design of the h-index and how to use it effectively along with its role in academic medicine, including otolaryngology. Conclusions: H-index scores are used as a metric for scientific output that considers the number of publications and the number of times each is cited. Search engines can automatically calculate h-index scores for one's work. Studies also revealed significant positive correlations that the h-index has from fellowship involvement, which could be beneficial for career advancement in academic medicine. Implications for Practice: Aspiring academic otolaryngologists should create a research profile to link and calculate the h-index for publications, submit to well-read high-impact journals for increased viewership and citations, and expand on foundational and personal research topics. Future studies should evaluate faculty and resident awareness of h-indices in the otolaryngology department to see how we can further address any underlying barriers. Otolaryngologists with the knowledge and tools necessary to maximize h-index scores and produce high-quality research in modern-day medicine not only provide potential advantages in career development but also bring significant contribution to the field of otolaryngology and patient care.

Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared with Commonly Used Medications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of medications commonly used in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and compare this to what current research has shown regarding medical cannabis use in this population. Methods: Searches were performed to collect information surrounding currently used medications and their safety and efficacy profiles, biologic plausibility of cannabis use for symptoms of ASD, and studies detailing cannabis' safety and efficacy profile for use in the ASD population. Results were used to compare medications to cannabis as a proposed treatment. Results: The heterogeneity of ASD produces great difficulties in finding appropriate treatment, leading to many medication changes or treatment trials throughout a patient's life. Commonly prescribed medications display varying levels of efficacy, safety, and tolerability between patients and symptoms targeted. Some of the most common side effects cited are also considered the most troubling symptoms associated with ASD; aggression, anxiety, irritability, and a negative effect on cognition, leading many patients to discontinue use as the side effects outweigh benefits. Recent case reports and retrospective studies have displayed the potential efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cannabidiol (CBD)-rich medical cannabis use for treating both core symptoms of ASD and many comorbid symptoms such as irritability and sleep problems. Studies have also identified circulating endocannabinoids as a possible biomarker for ASD, providing another possible method of diagnosis. Conclusions: Currently, there are no approved medications for the core symptoms of ASD and only two medications Food and Drug Administration approved for associated irritability. Prescribed medications for symptoms associated with ASD display varying levels of efficacy, safety, and tolerability among the heterogeneous ASD population. At the time of this study there are no published placebo-controlled trials of medical cannabis for ASD and the observational studies have limitations. CBD-rich medical cannabis seems to be an effective, tolerable, and relatively safe option for many symptoms associated with ASD, however, the long-term safety is unknown at this time.

Validation of the minimal clinically important difference for modified activities assessment scale.

BACKGROUND: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is the smallest change in patient-derived scores that is clinically important. We sought to validate the MCID of the modified activities assessment scale (mAAS). METHODS: Patients were surveyed prior to undergoing abdomen/pelvis CT scans and resurveyed one year later. Before resurvey, patients were asked if they had no change, worsening, or improvement in AW-QOL. The anchor-based MCID was calculated by taking a weighted mean of the difference between control (no change) and study (worsening/improved) groups. Distribution-based approach was calculated by one-half of the standard deviation in the QOL change. RESULTS: 52.8% of 181 patients self-reported no change, 39.2% reported improvement, and 8.3% reported worsening AW-QOL. The anchor-based approach MCID was 4. The distribution-based MCID was 16. CONCLUSION: Our study results validate prior work demonstrating similar ranges of the mAAS MCID. We recommend adopting an MCID of 5 and 15 for AW-QOL with mAAS.

Bilateral Effect of OC-01 (Varenicline Solution) Nasal Spray for Treatment of Signs and Symptoms in Individuals with Mild, Moderate, and Severe Dry Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: This study compares outcomes of therapy with OC-01 (varenicline solution) for dry eye disease in study eyes and nonstudy fellow eyes of participants in 2 pivotal clinical trials. METHODS: All 891 patients randomized to receive OC-01 (varenicline solution) 0.03 mg, OC-01 (varenicline solution) 0.06 mg, or vehicle control (VC) in each nostril twice daily for 28 days in the Phase IIb ONSET-1 (Evaluation of the Efficacy of OC-01 Nasal Spray on Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease) and Phase III ONSET-2 trials were included in this post hoc analysis. One eye was designated as the study eye. The mean change from baseline in anesthetized Schirmer test score (STS) and the percentage of eyes achieving a ≥10-mm STS improvement were compared between treatments in study and fellow eyes overall and by baseline Eye Dryness Score. FINDINGS: In the study eyes, the mean STS improvement from baseline to day 28 was 10.4 mm, 10.5 mm, and 4.9 mm in the 0.03 mg, 0.06 mg, and VC groups, respectively; comparable values in nonstudy fellow eyes were 8.7 mm, 8.8 mm, and 2.7 mm, respectively. The percentages of study eyes achieving a ≥10-mm STS improvement were 48.1%, 48.4%, and 25.9%, respectively, whereas the comparable values in nonstudy eyes were 42.9%, 43.9%, and 19.7%, respectively. No significant treatment-subgroup interactions were observed in study or fellow eye STS outcomes by baseline Eye Dryness Scores <40 and ≥40 (p > 0.05 for all). IMPLICATIONS: OC-01 (varenicline solution) nasal spray had significant tear film production improvements compared with VC in both study and fellow eyes. These findings suggest efficacy across a broad spectrum of presenting disease severity.

Gender Disparity Among American Medicine and Surgery Physicians: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Disparity exists between men and women physicians. We aimed to examine changes in gender disparity in the medical profession over the last two decades. The study reviewed publications on gender differences and the measures which have been implemented or suggested to rectify these disparities. METHODS: Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library were searched in December 2019 using ("gender disparity" OR "gender gap" OR "pay gap" OR "gender discrimination") from 1998-2019. The sources list of reviewed articles was also used to retrieve more relevant articles. Articles about physicians in the United States were included, and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to evaluate the quality of the articles. RESULTS: In this systematic review that includes 49 studies, there is still disparity and discrimination in research, leadership, and pay between male and female physicians. Women have less leadership roles and progress at a slower rate to associate and full professor. Women publish less articles and have a lower h-index than men. Men earn $20,000 more a year after salary adjustment. More women than men experience negative comments about their gender (36% vs 4%), experience gender discrimination (65% vs 10%) and sexual harassment (30% vs 6%). CONCLUSIONS: Although substantial research exists on this topic, there remains significant room for improvement to achieve gender equality. Institutions and individuals should implement interventions to rectify this disparity .

Postoperative Work and Activity Restrictions After Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to assess what is known about convalescence following abdominal surgery. Through a review of the basic science and clinical literature, we explored the effect of physical activity on the healing fascia and the optimal timing for postoperative activity. BACKGROUND: Abdominal surgery confers a 30% risk of incisional hernia development. To mitigate this, surgeons often impose postoperative activity restrictions. However, it is unclear whether this is effective or potentially harmful in preventing hernias. METHODS: We conducted 2 separate systematic reviews using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The first assessed available basic science literature on fascial healing. The second assessed available clinical literature on activity after abdominal surgery. RESULTS: Seven articles met inclusion criteria for the basic science review and 22 for the clinical studies review. The basic science data demonstrated variability in maximal tensile strength and time for fascial healing, in part due to differences in layer of abdominal wall measured. Some animal studies indicated a positive effect of physical activity on the healing wound. Most clinical studies were qualitative, with only 3 randomized controlled trials on this topic. Variability was reported on clinician recommendations, time to return to activity, and factors that influence return to activity. Interventions designed to shorten convalescence demonstrated improvements only in patient-reported symptoms. None reported an association between activity and complications, such as incisional hernia. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review identified gaps in our understanding of what is best for patients recovering from abdominal surgery. Randomized controlled trials are crucial in safely optimizing the recovery period.

An exploration of constructs related to dissemination and implementation of an early childhood systems-level intervention.

Obesity and overweight in early childhood have detrimental impacts on children's health and development. Changing policy, system and environmental features focused on physical activity and healthy eating behaviors as part of health promotion interventions can play a key role in prevention strategies in early childhood education settings. These types of changes can have broad reach and are often sustained over time, which allows for impact on children who enter the early childhood education setting year after year. However, there is currently a gap between the generation of evidence for health promotion programs and their application into practice. This study used qualitative methods to evaluate intervention-, organizational- and individual-level factors within a dissemination and implementation framework that may be related to the implementation of a health-promoting intervention in early childhood education settings. Intervention-level factors, including feasibility and adaptability, organizational-level factors, including staff and leadership engagement, and individual-level factors, including attitudes, skills and knowledge, were identified as constructs that impacted the successful implementation of the intervention. These findings provide insight into core dissemination and implementation constructs that should be targeted by obesity prevention interventions in early childhood education settings to ensure maximum impact on sustainable behavior change.

Otosclerosis and Measles: Do Measles Have a Role in Otosclerosis? A Review Article.

Otosclerosis is a common cause of conductive hearing loss which is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder related to abnormal bone remodeling of the human otic capsule that has complex etiopathogenesis attributed to genetics, autoimmunity, viral infection, inflammation, hormonal factor, environmental factor, and disturbed bone metabolism. It has a prevalence of 0.3%-0.4% in Caucasians, which makes up 5-9% of all hearing loss and 18-22% of all conductive hearing loss. This review article aims to study the postulated role of sustained measles virus infection in the etiopathogenesis of otosclerosis, among others. A PubMed search of the related topic identified 97,990 articles. After we applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria, it was determined that 52 articles were relevant, which included 38 observational studies, 13 review articles, and a systematic review. Among them, 33 observational studies, 13 review articles and a systematic review spotted a positive association between persistent measles virus infection and otosclerosis. On the contrary, five observational studies reported no evidence of the association. The majority of the current literature supported the presence of the measles virus component in the otosclerotic stapes samples and its role in the etiopathogenesis of otosclerosis. Measles virus infection may have the amplitude to initiate a pathological process, which in the presence of other factors like autoimmunity and genes plays a significant role in causing otosclerosis. However, other studies have failed to show the presence of the measles virus component in otosclerotic stapes. So, more studies are needed to probe the role of persistent measles virus infection in the etiopathogenesis of otosclerosis.

Parkinson's Disease and Its Dermatological Associations: Is Your Skin Whispering You a Diagnosis?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized clinically by the triad of resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Although PD is primarily known for motor disturbance, 98.6% of patients experience one or more non-motor symptoms at all stages of the disease. Dermatological disorders are discussed as common non-motor associations of PD since the 20th century. Many studies have shown that patients of PD are predisposed to skin disorders. This article is a traditional review done to analyze the association between PD and its dermatological manifestations. We did a literature search using six keywords in the PubMed database and took the relevant articles published in the last 10 years. We reviewed more than 100 articles, which also included animal studies. On meticulous review, we observed an increased incidence of certain skin disorders like seborrheic dermatitis, bullous pemphigoid, rosacea, and melanoma in patients of PD. These disorders share either common risk factors or underlying mechanisms revolving around genetics, immunology, inflammation, and pathophysiology of PD, but the exact causation yet seems obscured. We believe that this opens a horizon for more research in the link between the skin and nervous system. We also emphasize that the dermatologists, neurologists and general physicians should address the cutaneous disorders in PD timely, educate their patients, help them lessen the psychosocial distress, and improve their quality of life.

Prevalence and Impact on Quality of Life of Occult Hernias among Patients Undergoing Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: With the widespread use of advanced imaging there is a need to quantify the prevalence and impact of hernias. We aimed to determine the prevalence of abdominal wall hernias among patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) scans and their impact on abdominal wall quality of life (AW-QOL). METHODS: Patients undergoing elective CT abdomen/pelvis scans were enrolled. Standardized physical examinations were performed by surgeons blinded to the CT scan results. AW-QOL was measured through the modified Activities Assessment Scale. On this scale, 1 is poor AW-QOL, 100 is perfect, and a change of 7 is the minimum clinically important difference. Three surgeons reviewed the CT scans for the presence of ventral or groin hernias. The number of patients and the median AW-QOL scores were determined for three groups: no hernia, hernias only seen on imaging (occult hernias), and clinically apparent hernias. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients were enrolled. Physical examination detected 62 (25.2%) patients with a hernia while CT scan revealed 107 (43.5%) with occult hernias. The median (interquartile range) AW-QOL of patients per group was no hernia = 84 (46), occult hernia = 77 (57), and clinically apparent hernia = 62 (55). CONCLUSIONS: One-fourth of individuals undergoing CT abdomen/pelvis scans have a clinical hernia, whereas nearly half have an occult hernia. Compared with individuals with no hernias, patients with clinically apparent or occult hernias have a lower AW-QOL (by 22 and seven points, respectively). Further studies are needed to determine natural history of AW-QOL and best treatment strategies for patients with occult hernias.

Is the American College of Surgeons Online Communities a safe and useful venue to ask for surgical advice?

BACKGROUND: Many surgeons rely on the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Community Forums for advice on managing complex patients. Our objective was to assess the safety and usefulness of advice provided on the most popular surgical forum. METHODS: Overall, 120 consecutive, deidentified clinical threads were extracted from the General Surgery community in reverse chronological order. Three groups of three surgeons (mixed academic and community perspectives) evaluated the 120 threads for unsafe or dangerous posts. Positive and negative controls for safe and unsafe answers were included in 20 threads, and reviewers were blinded to their presence. Reviewers were free to access all online and professional resources. RESULTS: There were 855 unique responses (median 7, 2-15 responses per thread) to the 120 clinical threads/scenarios. The review teams correctly identified all positive and negative controls for safety. While 58(43.3%) of threads contained unsafe advice, the majority (33, 56.9%) were corrected. Reviewers felt that a there was a standard of care response for 62/120 of the threads of which 50 (80.6%) were provided by the responses. Of the 855 responses, 107 (12.5%) were considered unsafe/dangerous. CONCLUSION: The ACS Community Forums are generally a safe and useful resource for surgeons seeking advice for challenging cases. While unsafe or dangerous advice is not uncommon, other surgeons typically correct it. When utilizing the forums, advice should be taken as a congregate, and any single recommendation should be approached with healthy skepticism. However, social media such as the ACS Forums is self-regulating and can be an appropriate method for surgeons to communicate challenging problems.

Expectant Management of Patients with Ventral Hernias: 3 Years of Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The safety and effectiveness of expectant management (e.g., watchful waiting or initially managing non-operatively) for patients with a ventral hernia is unknown. We report our 3-year results of a prospective cohort of patients with ventral hernias who underwent expectant management. METHODS: A hernia clinic at an academic safety-net hospital was used to recruit patients. Any patient undergoing expectant management with symptoms and high-risk comorbidities, as determined by a surgeon based on institutional criteria, would be included in the study. Patients unlikely to complete follow-up assessments were excluded from the study. Patient-reported outcomes were collected by phone and mailed surveys. A modified activities assessment scale normalized to a 1-100 scale was used to measure results. The rate of operative repair was the primary outcome, while secondary outcomes include rate of emergency room (ER) visits and both emergent and elective hernia repairs. RESULTS: Among 128 patients initially enrolled, 84 (65.6%) completed the follow-up at a median (interquartile range) of 34.1 (31, 36.2) months. Overall, 28 (33.3%) patients visited the ER at least once because of their hernia and 31 (36.9%) patients underwent operative management. Seven patients (8.3%) required emergent operative repair. There was no significant change in quality of life for those managed non-operatively; however, substantial improvements in quality of life were observed for patients who underwent operative management. CONCLUSIONS: Expectant management is an effective strategy for patients with ventral hernias and significant comorbid medical conditions. Since the short-term risk of needing emergency hernia repair is moderate, there could be a safe period of time for preoperative optimization and risk-reduction for patients deemed high risk.

Perceptions on gender disparity in surgery and surgical leadership: A multicenter mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to identify perceptions of the environment for women in surgery among 4 academic institutions. METHODS: Faculty surgeons and senior surgery residents were randomly selected to participate in a parallel study with concurrent quantitative and qualitative data collection. Outcomes were perceptions of the environment for women in surgery. Measures included semi-structured interviews, survey responses, and responses to scenarios. RESULTS: Saturation was achieved after 36 individuals were interviewed: 14 female (8 faculty, 6 residents) and 22 male (18 faculty, 4 residents) surgeons. Men (100%) and women (86%) reported gender disparity in surgery and identified 6 major categories which influence disparity: definitions of gender disparity, gaps in mentoring, family responsibility, disparity in leave, unequal pay, and professional advancement. Overall 94% of participants expressed concerns with gaps in mentoring, but 64% of women versus 14% of men reported difficulties finding role models who faced similar obstacles. Over half (53%) reported time with loved ones as their biggest sacrifice to advance professionally. Both female and male respondents expressed system-based biases favoring individuals willing to sacrifice family. A global subconscious bias against the expectations, abilities, and goals of female surgeons were perceived to impede promotion and advancement. CONCLUSION: Both female and male surgeons report substantial gender-based barriers in surgery for women. Despite improvements, fundamental issues such as lack of senior role models, limited support for surgeons with families, and disparities in hiring and promotion persist. This is an opportunity to make substantive changes to the system and eliminate barriers for women joining surgery, advancing their careers, and achieving their goals in a timely fashion.

Lack of Regulations and Conflict of Interest Transparency of New Hernia Surgery Technologies.

BACKGROUND: Medical devices introduced to market through the 510K process often have limited research of low quality and substantial conflict of interest (COI). By the time high-quality safety and effectiveness research is performed, thousands of patients may have already been treated by the device. Our aim was to systematically review the trends of outcomes, research quality, and financial relationships of published studies related to de-adopted meshes for ventral hernia repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature was systematically reviewed using PubMed to obtain all published studies related to three de-adopted meshes: C-QUR, Physiomesh, and meshes with polytetrafluoroethylene. Primary outcome was change in cumulative percentage of subjects with positive published outcomes. Secondary outcome was percentage of published manuscript with COI. RESULTS: A total of 723 articles were screened, of which, 129 were analyzed and included a total of 8081 subjects. Percentage of subjects with positive outcomes decreased over time for all groups: (1) C-QUR from 100% in 2009 to 22% in 2018, (2) Physiomesh from 100% in 2011 to 20% in 2018, and (3) polytetrafluoroethylene from 100% in 1979 to 49% in 2018. Authors of only 20% of articles self-reported no COI, most representing later publications and were more likely to show neutral or negative results. CONCLUSIONS: Among three de-adopted meshes, early publications demonstrated overly optimistic results followed by disappointing outcomes. Skepticism over newly introduced, poorly proven therapies is essential to prevent adoption of misleading practices and products. Devices currently approved under the 510K processes should undergo blinded, randomized controlled trials before introduction to the market.

Are online surgical discussion boards a safe and useful venue for surgeons to ask for advice? A review of the International Hernia Collaboration Facebook Group.

BACKGROUND: Social media is a growing medium for disseminating information among surgeons. The International Hernia Collaboration Facebook Group (IHC) is a widely utilized social media platform to share ideas and advice on managing patients with hernia-related diseases. Our objective was to assess the safety and utility of advice provided. METHODS: Overall, 60 consecutive de-identified clinical threads were extracted from the IHC in reverse chronological order. A group of three hernia specialists evaluated all threads for unsafe posts, unhelpful comments, and if an established evidence-based management strategy was provided. Positive and negative controls for safe and unsafe answers were included in seven threads and reviewers were blinded to their presence. Reviewers were free to access all online and professional resources (except the IHC). RESULTS: There were 598 unique responses (median 10, 1-26 responses per thread) to the 60 clinical threads/scenarios. The review team correctly identified all seven positive and negative controls. Most responses were safe (96.6%) but some were unhelpful (28.4%). For sixteen threads, the reviewers believed there was an established evidence-based answer; however, only six were provided. In addition, 14 responses were considered unsafe, but only four were corrected. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of responses were considered helpful; however, evidence-based management is typically not provided and unsafe recommendations often go uncontested. While the IHC allows wide dissemination of hernia-related surgical advice/discussions, surgeons should be cautious when using the IHC for clinical advice. Mechanisms to provide evidence-based management strategies and to identify unsafe advice are needed to improve quality within online forums and to prevent patient harm.