RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Facet joint injection (FJI) is a minimally invasive procedure used to relieve pain and inflammation in the facet joints of the spine. In light of the growing presence of social media, it is essential to comprehend its effects on the healthcare industry. Little is known about how FJI is discussed on Instagram. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and production sources of FJI-related posts on Instagram. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study provides a descriptive analysis of Instagram posts with the keywords #facetjointinjection, #facetjointinjections, #facetinjection, #facetinjections, #facetblock, and #facetblocks on March 1, 2023. The results were categorized by source into four groups; posts created by healthcare professionals (surgeon/non-surgeon), medical organizations, patients, or not otherwise specified. The content was categorized by type (educational and patient/physician experience) and user influence (number of followers and posts). RESULTS: The search resulted in 2718 posts. Most post uploaders were mainly physicians (43.1%, n = 275). The distribution of remaining Instagram users with FJIs posts was as follows: 27.1% (n=173) patients, 16.3% (n=104) medical organizations, and 13.4% (n=86) not otherwise specified. Among the posts, 1136 (41.7 %) were from accounts created by patients, 1015 (37.3%) by physicians, 441 (16.2%) by medical organizations, and 126 (4.6%) were unspecified. The analysis showed a significant difference in the distribution of posts among patients and physicians, as well as patients and other unspecified groups (p<0.05). The reported side effects were as follows: pain around the injection site (36%), swelling (17%), weight gain (15%), and anxiety (32%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that physicians are widely present on social media. However, when searching for posts about facet joint interventions, posts written by patients are more likely to be seen by the public. The results of this article emphasize the impact physicians have on online platforms and the need to raise FJI awareness on Instagram. Due to a lack of information and their anxiety about the unknown, patients have voiced hesitation about undergoing FJIs. To address this issue, it is the responsibility of physicians to enhance the accessibility of accurate information for patients in order to alleviate their anxiety. Additionally, reputable pain medicine societies and qualified specialists should upload credible posts on facet joint interventions that include accurate information, high-quality images and videos, and proper scientific commentary, with the aim of enhancing the quality of online health information.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) on pain, disability, quality of life and patient satisfaction in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled double-blind study, 60 patients with a diagnosis of MPS were randomized into two groups. In group ESPB (N.=30), US-guided ESPB was performed, and in group RIB (N.=30), US-guided RIB was performed. The pain severity of the patients was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale before treatment, and immediately after the intervention, on the first day, and one, two, four and six weeks after the intervention. The Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) for health-related Quality of Life, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and patient satisfaction were evaluated before treatment and six weeks after treatment. RESULTS: In both groups, significant improvements were observed in all parameters during the six-week follow-up period compared to pretreatment values (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between groups for any parameters at any time interval. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that ESPB and RIB blocks are effective techniques for pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with MPS. We suggest that the interfascial space can be useful in the administration of analgesic agents for the treatment of MPS.
Asunto(s)
Síndromes del Dolor Miofascial , Bloqueo Nervioso , Humanos , Estudios Prospectivos , Calidad de Vida , Bloqueo Nervioso/métodos , Dolor , Síndromes del Dolor Miofascial/tratamiento farmacológico , Ultrasonografía Intervencional/métodos , Dolor PostoperatorioRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Brain death has been accepted medically and legally as biological death. Nevertheless, it is a difficult concept for the public to understand, resulting in a reliance on online resources for clarity. When the information is inaccurate, misleading, or elusive, the internet could have adverse effects on the public's decision-making. Here we aimed to assess the quality and readability of information regarding brain death on the internet. METHODS: The five most popular search engines were queried using the keyword 'brain death' and the top 30 websites of each search engine were evaluated. Authorship was classified as medical or public. Gunning Fog Index (GFI) and Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) were calculated to analyze readability. The LIDA was used to assess quality. RESULTS: The overall LIDA score was 60,3%, with a mean score of 60.8%, 60.7%, and 59.3% for accessibility, usability, and reliability, respectively, indicating a moderate level. The accessibility of medical websites (P=0.037) and the reliability of public websites (P=0.031) were found to be significantly weaker. The average FRES was 41.6±14.6 rated as difficult, and the mean GFI was 15.7±3.4, indicating mean readability at "difficult, grade >10". CONCLUSIONS: Online health information on brain death exceeds the National Institutes of Health recommended reading levels. Our results emphasize the need to establish quality guidelines to improve the comprehensiveness of health website content. Brain death is still a contentious topic; therefore, reliable, and easy-to-read online educational materials can help public understand the concept of brain death and potentially improve the transplant rate.