Individuals Frequently Search Google With Questions About the Management of Meniscal Tears and the Indications for and Technical Details of Surgery but the Quality of the Information Is Suboptimal
Purpose: To analyze the frequently asked questions that patients search online regarding meniscal tears and meniscal surgery and evaluate the quality of websites used to answer these common queries. Methods: This study used Google’s People Also Ask function to extract the most common 300 questions a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X24002049 |
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| Summary: | Purpose: To analyze the frequently asked questions that patients search online regarding meniscal tears and meniscal surgery and evaluate the quality of websites used to answer these common queries. Methods: This study used Google’s People Also Ask function to extract the most common 300 questions and associated Web pages regarding meniscal tears and meniscal surgery. Questions on both meniscal tear and meniscal surgery were categorized using the Rothwell classification, and websites were evaluated with The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria. Results: The Rothwell classification of questions on meniscal tear/surgery was 54.0%/55% fact, 37.7%/30.0% policy, and 8.3%/15.0% value. The meniscal tear cohort asked significantly more questions related to policy (P = .047), whereas the meniscal surgery cohort asked significantly more questions about value (P = .011). Academic (31.7% and 27.3%), medical practice (23.0% and 25.3%), and single-surgeon (12.3% and 13.3%) websites were the most common types of sites encountered. The mean total JAMA score was 1.3 of 4, with journals (mean, 3.4) having the highest score. Single-surgeon practice (mean, 0.5) and legal (mean, 0) sites had the lowest JAMA scores. The most frequently encountered query in the meniscal tear cohort was “What are three signs of a meniscus tear in the knee?” In contrast, in the meniscal surgery cohort, it was a tie between “What is the fastest way to recover from meniscus surgery?” and “Should meniscus surgery be done over 65?” Conclusions: The quality of online information related to meniscal tears and surgery is often suboptimal based on objective measures of value. Individuals frequently search for insights into indications, management, and technical details. Clinical Relevance: Understanding common themes in online searches can provide valuable insights that could improve patient education. Surgeons can use this information to anticipate potential questions, establish appropriate patient expectations, and enhance informed decisions. |
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| ISSN: | 2666-061X |