bims-librar Biomed News
on Biomedical librarianship
Issue of 2024‒06‒02
sixteen papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society



  1. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024 May;11(5): ofae218
      Medical librarians participating as infectious disease rounding team members add value by facilitating knowledge acquisition and dissemination and by improving clinical decision making. This pilot study implementing medical librarians on infectious disease rounding teams was a well-received and beneficial intervention to study participants.
    Keywords:  clinical librarianship; clinical library support; clinical rounding support; decision support; infectious diseases consultation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofae218
  2. Digit Health. 2024 Jan-Dec;10:10 20552076241259039
      Objective: In recent years, social media platforms, such as TikTok and RedBook, have emerged as important channels through which users access and share medical information. Additionally, an increasing number of healthcare professionals have created social media accounts through which to disseminate medical knowledge. This paper explores why users obtain their medical information from social media and how the signals transmitted by social platforms affect use behaviours.Methods: We combined the elaboration likelihood model and signal theories to construct a comprehensive model for this study. We used simple random sampling to investigate users' behaviours related to social media usage. A total of 351 valid questionnaires were completed by people in Mainland China. The participants were enthusiastic about social media platforms and had searched for health-related information on social media in the past three months. We analysed the data using partial least squares structural equation modelling to investigate the influence of two pathways and two signals (objective and subjective judgement pathways and positive and negative signals) on social media use behaviours.
    Results: When seeking medical information on social media, users tend to rely on subjective judgment rather than objective judgment, although both are influential. Furthermore, in the current era, in which marketing methods involving big data algorithms and artificial intelligence prevail, negative signals, such as information overload, have a more pronounced impact than positive signals.
    Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the subjective judgment path has a greater impact on users than the objective judgment path. Platforms are encouraged to focus more on users' emotional needs. The paper also discusses the negative impact of information overload on users, sounding an alarm for enterprises to control their use of homogeneous information resulting from the excessive use of big data algorithms.
    Keywords:  Medical platforms; elaboration likelihood model; health information; path transformation; signal theory
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241259039
  3. Health Info Libr J. 2024 May 26.
      BACKGROUND: Health information and resources are often provided in hospital outpatient waiting areas but may not meet the cultural and health literacy needs of older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.OBJECTIVES: To explore the perspectives and experiences of Cantonese- and Vietnamese-speaking patients and carers in this setting.
    METHODS: This qualitative interview-based study was conducted from December 2019 to March 2020 at a single outpatient rehabilitation service located at a tertiary public hospital. Four adult consumers (two older adult patients, two caregivers) from CALD backgrounds participated in semi-structured interviews with bilingual researchers. Data were transcribed, translated and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
    RESULTS: Five themes were developed which highlighted that older adults' language profiles shaped their health information needs and ability to access resources in waiting areas. Cultural factors such as filial responsibility may also influence health information preferences.
    DISCUSSION: Older consumers from CALD backgrounds did not have equitable access to health information and resources in the waiting area compared with English-literate older adults.
    CONCLUSION: Health information and resources in waiting areas warrant improving to better meet the needs of older patients from CALD backgrounds and their caregivers.
    Keywords:  Australia; health disparities; health information needs; health literacy; older people; patient education; research qualitative
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12534
  4. JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 May 29. 11 e52027
      BACKGROUND: In the digital age, search engines and social media platforms are primary sources for health information, yet their commercial interests-focused algorithms often prioritize irrelevant content. Web-based health applications by reputable sources offer a solution to circumvent these biased algorithms. Despite this advantage, there remains a significant gap in research on the effective integration of content-ranking algorithms within these specialized health applications to ensure the delivery of personalized and relevant health information.OBJECTIVE: This study introduces a generic methodology designed to facilitate the development and implementation of health information recommendation features within web-based health applications.
    METHODS: We detail our proposed methodology, covering conceptual foundation and practical considerations through the stages of design, development, operation, review, and optimization in the software development life cycle. Using a case study, we demonstrate the practical application of the proposed methodology through the implementation of recommendation functionalities in the EndoZone platform, a platform dedicated to providing targeted health information on endometriosis.
    RESULTS: Application of the proposed methodology in the EndoZone platform led to the creation of a tailored health information recommendation system known as EndoZone Informatics. Feedback from EndoZone stakeholders as well as insights from the implementation process validate the methodology's utility in enabling advanced recommendation features in health information applications. Preliminary assessments indicate that the system successfully delivers personalized content, adeptly incorporates user feedback, and exhibits considerable flexibility in adjusting its recommendation logic. While certain project-specific design flaws were not caught in the initial stages, these issues were subsequently identified and rectified in the review and optimization stages.
    CONCLUSIONS: We propose a generic methodology to guide the design and implementation of health information recommendation functionality within web-based health information applications. By harnessing user characteristics and feedback for content ranking, this methodology enables the creation of personalized recommendations that align with individual user needs within trusted health applications. The successful application of our methodology in the development of EndoZone Informatics marks a significant progress toward personalized health information delivery at scale, tailored to the specific needs of users.
    Keywords:  crowdsourcing; digital health; endometriosis; health informatics; information recommendation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2196/52027
  5. PeerJ. 2024 ;12 e17264
      Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) with heterogeneous clinical presentations. There are no clear testing parameters for its diagnosis, and the complex pathophysiology of IBS and the limited time that doctors have to spend with patients makes it difficult to adequately educate patients in the outpatient setting. An increased awareness of IBS means that patients are more likely to self-diagnose and self-manage IBS based on their own symptoms. These factors may make patients more likely to turn to Internet resources. Wikipedia is the most popular online encyclopedia among English-speaking users, with numerous validations. However, in Mandarin-speaking regions, the Baidu Encyclopedia is most commonly used. There have been no studies on the reliability, readability, and objectivity of IBS information on the two sites. This is an urgent issue as these platforms are accessed by approximately 1.45 billion people.Objective: We compared the IBS content on Wikipedia (in English) and Baidu Baike (in Chinese), two online encyclopedias, in terms of reliability, readability, and objectivity.
    Methods: The Baidu Encyclopedia (in Chinese) and Wikipedia (in English) were evaluated based on the Rome IV IBS definitions and diagnoses. All possible synonyms and derivatives for IBS and IBS-related FGIDs were screened and identified. Two gastroenterology experts evaluated the scores of articles for both sites using the DISCERN instrument, the Journal of the American Medical Association scoring system (JAMA), and the Global Quality Score (GQS).
    Results: Wikipedia scored higher overall with DISCERN (p < .0001), JAMA (p < .0001) and GQS (p < .05) than the Baidu Encyclopedia. Specifically, Wikipedia scored higher in DISCERN Section 1 (p < .0001), DISCERN Section 2 (p < .01), DISCERN Section 3 (p < .001), and the General DISCERN score (p < .0001) than the Baidu Encyclopedia. Both sites had low DISCERN Section 2 scores (p = .18). Wikipedia also had a larger percentage of high quality scores in total DISCERN, DISCERN Section 1, and DISCERN Section 3 (p < .0001, P < .0001, P < .0004, respectively, based on the above 3 (60%) rule).
    Conclusions: Wikipedia provides more reliable, higher quality, and more objective IBS-related health information than the Baidu Encyclopedia. However, there should be improvements in the information quality for both sites. Medical professionals and institutions should collaborate with these online platforms to offer better health information for IBS.
    Keywords:  Baidu encyclopedia; DISCERN instrument; Functional gastrointestinal disorder; Health information; Irritable bowel syndrome; Wikipedia
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17264
  6. J Surg Res. 2024 May 27. pii: S0022-4804(24)00224-5. [Epub ahead of print]300 93-101
      INTRODUCTION: Patients use the internet to learn more about health conditions. Non-English-speaking patients may face additional challenges. The quality of online breast cancer information, the most common cancer in women, is uncertain. This study aims to examine the quality of online breast cancer information for English and non-English-speaking patients.METHODS: Three search engines were queried using the terms: "how to do a breast examination," "when do I need a mammogram," and "what are the treatment options for breast cancer" in English, Spanish, and Chinese. For each language, 60 unique websites were included and classified by type and information source. Two language-fluent reviewers evaluated website quality using the Journal of American Medical Association benchmark criteria (0-4) and the DISCERN tool (1-5), with higher scores representing higher quality. Scores were averaged for each language. Health On the Net code presence was noted. Inter-rater reliability between reviewers was assessed.
    RESULTS: English and Spanish websites most commonly originated from US sources (92% and 80%, respectively) compared to Chinese websites (33%, P < 0.001). The most common website type was hospital-affiliated for English (43%) and foundation/advocacy for Spanish and Chinese (43% and 45%, respectively). English websites had the highest and Chinese websites the lowest mean the Journal of American Medical Association (2.2 ± 1.4 versus 1.0 ± 0.8, P = 0.002) and DISCERN scores (3.5 ± 0.9 versus 2.3 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). Health On the Net code was present on 16 (8.9%) websites. Inter-rater reliability ranged from moderate to substantial agreement.
    CONCLUSIONS: The quality of online information on breast cancer across all three languages is poor. Information quality was poorest for Chinese websites. Improvements to enhance the reliability of breast cancer information across languages are needed.
    Keywords:  Breast cancer screening; Breast cancer treatment; Multilingual health resources; Online information quality; Patient resources
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2024.04.055
  7. Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol (Engl Ed). 2024 May 29. pii: S2253-8089(24)00037-5. [Epub ahead of print] 500021
      PURPOSE: Searching for online health information is a popular approach employed by patients to enhance their knowledge for their diseases. Recently developed AI chatbots are probably the easiest way in this regard. The purpose of the study is to analyze the reliability and readability of AI chatbot responses in terms of the most commonly applied radionuclide treatments in cancer patients.METHODS: Basic patient questions, thirty about RAI, PRRT and TARE treatments and twenty-nine about PSMA-TRT, were asked one by one to GPT-4 and Bard on January 2024. The reliability and readability of the responses were assessed by using DISCERN scale, Flesch Reading Ease(FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level(FKRGL).
    RESULTS: The mean (SD) FKRGL scores for the responses of GPT-4 and Google Bard about RAI, PSMA-TRT, PRRT and TARE treatmens were 14.57 (1.19), 14.65 (1.38), 14.25 (1.10), 14.38 (1.2) and 11.49 (1.59), 12.42 (1.71), 11.35 (1.80), 13.01 (1.97), respectively. In terms of readability the FRKGL scores of the responses of GPT-4 and Google Bard about RAI, PSMA-TRT, PRRT and TARE treatments were above the general public reading grade level. The mean (SD) DISCERN scores assesses by nuclear medicine phsician for the responses of GPT-4 and Bard about RAI, PSMA-TRT, PRRT and TARE treatments were 47.86 (5.09), 48.48 (4.22), 46.76 (4.09), 48.33 (5.15) and 51.50 (5.64), 53.44 (5.42), 53 (6.36), 49.43 (5.32), respectively. Based on mean DISCERN scores, the reliability of the responses of GPT-4 and Google Bard about RAI, PSMA-TRT, PRRT, and TARE treatments ranged from fair to good. The inter-rater reliability correlation coefficient of DISCERN scores assessed by GPT-4, Bard and nuclear medicine physician for the responses of GPT-4 about RAI, PSMA-TRT, PRRT and TARE treatments were 0.512(95% CI 0.296: 0.704), 0.695(95% CI 0.518: 0.829), 0.687(95% CI 0.511: 0.823) and 0.649 (95% CI 0.462: 0.798), respectively (p < 0.01). The inter-rater reliability correlation coefficient of DISCERN scores assessed by GPT-4, Bard and nuclear medicine physician for the responses of Bard about RAI, PSMA-TRT, PRRT and TARE treatments were 0.753(95% CI 0.602: 0.863), 0.812(95% CI 0.686: 0.899), 0.804(95% CI 0.677: 0.894) and 0.671 (95% CI 0.489: 0.812), respectively (p < 0.01). The inter-rater reliability for the responses of Bard and GPT-4 about RAİ, PSMA-TRT, PRRT and TARE treatments were moderate to good. Further, consulting to the nuclear medicine physician was rarely emphasized both in GPT-4 and Google Bard and references were included in some responses of Google Bard, but there were no references in GPT-4.
    CONCLUSION: Although the information provided by AI chatbots may be acceptable in medical terms, it can not be easy to read for the general public, which may prevent it from being understandable. Effective prompts using 'prompt engineering' may refine the responses in a more comprehensible manner. Since radionuclide treatments are specific to nuclear medicine expertise, nuclear medicine physician need to be stated as a consultant in responses in order to guide patients and caregivers to obtain accurate medical advice. Referencing is significant in terms of confidence and satisfaction of patients and caregivers seeking information.
    Keywords:  GPT-4; Google Bard; Radionuclide therapy; Terapia con radionúclidos; cancer; cáncer; información para pacientes; patient information
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.remnie.2024.500021
  8. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2024 May-Jun 01;51(3):51(3): 199-205
      PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine which internet search engines and keywords patients with ostomies utilize, to identify the common websites using these terms, to determine what aspects of information they wanted, and to perform a quality and readability assessment for these websites.DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of persons with ostomies to identify search engines and terms, followed by a structured assessment of the quality and readability of the identified web pages.
    SUBJECT AND SETTINGS: The sample comprised 20 hospitalized patients with ostomies cared for on a colorectal surgical ward of a tertiary care hospital located in Melbourne, Australia. There were 15 (75%) adult males and 5 (25%) adult females; their mean age was 52.2 years. Participants were surveyed between August and December 2020.
    METHODS: Patients with newly formed ostomies were surveyed about which search engines and keywords they would use to look for information and for which questions regarding ostomies they wanted answers. In addition, 2 researchers then performed independent searches using the search terms identified by patient participants. These searches were conducted in August 2021, with the geographical location set to Australia. The quality of the websites was graded using the DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients, and Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool scoring assessments, and their readability was graded using the Flesch Reading Ease Score tool.
    RESULTS: Participants used Google as their primary search engine. Four keywords/phrases were identified: stoma for bowel surgery, ileostomy, colostomy, and caring for stoma. Multiple web pages were identified, 8 (21%) originated from Australia, 7 (18%) were from the United Kingdom, and 23 (61%) were from the United States. Most web pages lacked recent updates; only 18% had been undated within the last 12 months. The overall quality of the online information on ostomies was moderate with an average level of readability, deemed suitable for patient educational purposes.
    CONCLUSIONS: Information for persons living with an ostomy can be obtained from multiple web pages, and many sites have reasonable quality and are written at a suitable level. Unfortunately, these websites are rarely up-to-date and may contain advice that may not be applicable to individual patients.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000001077
  9. Technol Health Care. 2024 May 15.
      BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin, commonly referred to as botox, is frequently used in facial aesthetics, but also has therapeutic applications in various medical and surgical conditions such as bruxism treatment.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research is to evaluate the information quality of only English resources available on the Internet regarding the use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of bruxism.
    METHODS: The terms "Botox + Tooth Grinding" selected for this study were searched on the Internet using the Google Search Engine, and the URLs of the top 150 websites containing only English pages were recorded and examined. The websites were assessed using DISCERN tools, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark, and HONcode tools. The website readability evaluation involved utilizing the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL).
    RESULTS: A total of 130 websites met the inclusion criteria. The total mean DISCERN score (section 1 + section 2) for all websites was 39.75/75 (range: 15-67). The average FRES of all websites was 52.79, and the average FKGL score of all websites was 10.72. Internet blog websites had significantly higher DISCERN (Section 1) scores than other websites (p= 0.007). Only one website had the HON code. Internet blog websites showed better compliance with JAMA (authorship and currency) benchmarks. No statistically significant difference was determined related to FRES and FKGL scores between groups (p> 0.05).
    CONCLUSIONS: There is moderate and difficult-to-read information on the Internet about masseter botox injection for bruxism. Relevant guidelines are needed to improve the quality of websites about botulinum toxin for the treatment of bruxism.
    Keywords:  Botox; Internet; bruxism; dentistry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/THC-231674
  10. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024 May 30. 1-7
      PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality, reliability, and readability of online patient educational materials on leukocoria.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the Google search engine was searched for the terms "leukocoria" and "white pupil." The first 50 search outcomes were evaluated for each search term based on predefined inclusion criteria, excluding duplicates, peer-reviewed papers, forum posts, paywalled content, and multimedia links. Sources were categorized as "institutional" or "private." Three independent raters assessed each website for quality and reliability using DISCERN, Health on the Net Code of Conduct (HONcode), and JAMA criteria. Readability was evaluated using seven formulas: Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index, Automated Readability Index (ARI), Linsear Write (LW), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), and Coleman-Liau Index (CLI).
    RESULTS: A total of 51 websites were included. Quality, assessed by the DISCERN tool, showed a median score of 4, denoting moderate to high quality, with no significant differences between institutional and private sites or search terms. HONcode scores indicated variable reliability and trustworthiness (median: 10, range: 3 to 16), with institutional sites excelling in financial disclosure and ad differentiation. Additionally, institutional and private sites performed well in reliability and accountability, as measured by the JAMA Benchmark criteria (median: 3; range: 1 to 4). Readability, averaging an 11.3 ± 3.7 grade level, did not differ significantly between site types or search terms, consistently falling short of the recommended sixth-grade level for patient educational materials.
    CONCLUSIONS: The patient educational materials on leukocoria demonstrated moderate to high quality, commendable reliability, and accountability. However, the readability scores were above the recommended level for the layperson. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.].
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3928/01913913-20240425-02
  11. J Hand Surg Glob Online. 2024 May;6(3): 377-382
      Purpose: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are one of the most common fractures in adults. Adequate patient education is crucial for adherence to treatment. YouTube is a popular, accessible resource that has become a valuable tool for obtaining health information. The current study evaluated the top 50 YouTube videos on DRF treatment for patient education.Methods: A systematic search was conducted on YouTube using three searches to obtain 150 videos. Duplicate, nonrelevant, paid, and non-English videos were removed, and the top 50 rank-ordered videos were reviewed and characterized in terms of general (views, likes, video length, and publication date), source (publisher affiliation, presenter type, and target audience), and content (media type, topic coverage, advertisements, and bias) parameters.
    Results: Only 56% of videos were directed toward patients versus 40% for health care providers, highlighting a gap in patient-oriented educational content on YouTube. Most (86%) videos included effective visual aids, aligning with best practices for educational videos. Surgical management was overrepresented in 64% of the videos as opposed to nonsurgical management in 34% of videos. Only 31% of patient-oriented videos discussed surgical complications. Home exercises were emphasized in 75% of the videos discussing recovery topics.
    Conclusions: Although YouTube has the potential to be an effective resource for disseminating health information to patients, it has several limitations for education in DRF treatment including the lack of patient-oriented educational videos, overrepresentation of surgical treatment, and lack of information on surgical complications. Nonetheless, YouTube may have an important role as a supplementary resource, especially in certain topics such as guiding postoperative recovery with home exercises.
    Clinical relevance: This study allows health care providers and content creators to proactively address information gaps identified in educational YouTube videos on DRF treatment. It helps characterize the role of YouTube in supporting the treatment and recovery of patients experiencing DRFs.
    Keywords:  Distal radius fracture; Hand surgery; Social media; YouTube
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2024.02.009
  12. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2024 May 08. pii: S1462-3889(24)00103-0. [Epub ahead of print]70 102605
      PURPOSE: Online videos accessed via YouTube are a popular method to provide health education. Videos need to be critically evaluated for educational qualities as the information could influence health outcomes. The present study aimed to evaluate the understandability, actionability and reliability of videos available on YouTube regarding brain, head, and neck cancer information.METHODS: A scoping review was conducted with a specific search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria based on previous studies. For each video, video characteristics and user engagement activities were recorded. Videos were evaluated using the PEMAT-A/V and modified DISCERN criteria. Spearman's rank correlation, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for analysis.
    RESULTS: Out of 200 retrieved videos, 37 were included and analysed. The median length of the video was 3 min and 33 s. The majority of videos were published by health institutional and private channels (43.2%, n = 16). Health institutional channels received the highest actionability (Md = 37.5, p = 0.049), while private channels resulted in lower views/day (Md = 0.46, p = 0.001) and likes/day (Md = 0.01, p = 0.002). Animated and narrated videos acquired the highest understandability score (Md = 92.31, p < 0.001). Videos with professional transcripts reported higher actionability (Md = 62.5, p = 0.004), reliability (Md = 3.33, p = 0.028), views/day (Md = 29.31, p = 0.026), and likes/day (Md = 0.272, p = 0.023).
    CONCLUSION: YouTube videos pertaining to brain and head and neck cancer have low understandability, low actionability and moderate reliability. It is beneficial to have a stronger representation of trustworthy and credible organisations for sharing essential health information via YouTube. Including animations and professional video transcripts may improve their overall quality and consumer engagement.
    Keywords:  Brain cancer; Head and neck cancer; PEMAT; Patient information; Reliability; YouTube videos
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102605
  13. J Hand Surg Glob Online. 2024 May;6(3): 313-318
      Purpose: This study seeks to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on Dupuytren's contracture.Methods: The first 50 unique videos on Dupuytren's contracture were evaluated by searching YouTube for Dupuytren's contracture. Video metrics, source, and content type were recorded. Video reliability was assessed using the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark criteria. Video educational quality was assessed using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and a Dupuytren's Contracture-Specific Score (DC-SS).
    Results: The total number of views for all 50 videos evaluated was 1,908,608 (mean, 38,172.16 ± 5,502.45 views). The mean reliability (JAMA) score was 2.21 ± 0.69 (range 0-4), the mean educational quality (GQS) score was 2.80 ± 1.28 (range 1-5), and the mean disease-specific (DC-SS) score was 6.05 ± 2.17 (range 0-15). Nonphysician health care professionals had the most popular videos, but the lowest DC-SS. GQS varied based on the video source, with physician-uploaded videos having the highest average quality scores. Physician source was an independent positive predictor of higher quality (GQS) (β = 0.477).
    Conclusions: Videos on Dupuytren's contracture were frequently viewed on YouTube but had overall low educational quality and reliability. Of the videos that discussed collagenase as a treatment option, 40% failed to mention percutaneous needle aponeurotomy. Patients may be exposed to an incomplete set of treatment options. Educational content on YouTube should be interpreted cautiously and proper in-office education and high-quality resources for Dupuytren's contracture should be provided by physicians.
    Type of Study/Level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV.
    Keywords:  Dupuytren’s contracture; Internet; Patient education; Social media; YouTube
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2024.01.006
  14. J Ophthalmol. 2024 ;2024 8810500
      Introduction: Social media has increasingly become a prominent source of health information. Platforms like TikTok that allow for videos to reach millions of viewers have become among the most common platforms to share and receive health information. Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) videos and patients' experiences are commonly discussed on social media. The quality of these videos remains to be assessed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the content, quality, and reach of the top 100 videos related to LASIK eye surgery on TikTok.Methods: Video quality was assessed using the DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS instruments which have all been proven to be both reliable and valid.
    Results: 100 videos were included in the study. Results showed that the videos have an immense reach with a total view count of 245 million views and 21.9 million likes. Two thirds of the videos were posted by personal accounts as compared ophthalmologists that only constituted 26% of the content. Healthcare professionals produced higher quality videos compared to nonhealthcare professionals (p < 0.0001) although there was no significant difference in video duration (p=0.18). Increased duration, view count, comments, shares, saves, and views/day were all associated with increased DISCERN score and quality of the videos. Educational videos were of higher quality compared to entertainment videos, and videos outlining the procedure details had the highest quality score.
    Conclusions: LASIK videos on TikTok have established a wide reach, whereby viewers are highly interacting and viewing these videos. It appeared that viewers interacted more with the higher quality videos. Ophthalmologists approximately only contributed to a quarter of the videos analyzed in this study. This highlights the need for ophthalmologists to establish a presence on TikTok and produce high quality videos.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8810500
  15. Health Info Libr J. 2024 May 28.
      BACKGROUND: Clinicians' information-seeking behaviours impact patient care quality. Earlier studies indicated that barriers to accessing information deter clinicians from seeking answers to clinical questions.OBJECTIVES: To explore primary care clinicians' information-seeking behaviour at point-of-care, focusing on when and how they seek answers to clinical questions.
    METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 clinicians after clinical sessions to investigate their information-seeking habits. Follow-up interviews were conducted after a week for those intending to address unanswered queries.
    RESULTS: Two thirds of clinicians encountered questions during care, with nearly three quarters resolving them during the session. Colleagues, guidelines and online platforms were common information sources, with smartphones being used to access Google, WhatsApp or UpToDate®. Facilitators included reliable sources and the drive to confirm knowledge, while barriers included ineffective search methods and high workload. Despite challenges, most clinicians expressed satisfaction with their information-seeking process.
    DISCUSSION: The findings underscore the increasing use of smartphones for accessing clinical information among Singaporean primary care clinicians and suggest the need for tailored training programmes and guidelines to optimise information-seeking practices.
    CONCLUSION: Insights from this study can inform the development of training programmes and guidelines aimed at improving information-seeking practices among primary care clinicians, potentially enhancing patient care quality.
    Keywords:  Asia, south east; Mobile health (M‐Health); clinical guidelines; clinical questions; digital information resources; evidence‐based medicine; evidence‐based nursing; information literacy; internet access; primary care
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12535
  16. J Cancer Educ. 2024 May 28.
      This study examined health information-seeking behavior among cancer survivors, including informational sources used and the factors correlated with information-seeking across different racial/ethnic groups. We used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (2017-2022). Adjusted logistic regression was conducted to identify the predictors of information-seeking by race/ethnicity. Predicting variables were organized into demographic (age, education, race, income, and comorbidity), enabling (having health insurance, having a regular provider, and frequency of care visits), predisposing (quality of care, self-efficacy, and confidence in one's ability to get information), and reinforcing (patient-centered communication, ease of getting information, and confusing information available) factors based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model. We included 4723 cancer survivors, of which 15.41% have breast cancer, 17.50% have skin cancer, and 11.11% have prostate cancer. A majority (75.08%) had sought health information. Healthcare providers were the most preferred sources of information across demographic groups, followed by the Internet. Health insurance, a regular provider, and frequent visits were enabling factors that positively influenced information-seeking behavior. Confidence in getting information when needed and self-efficacy were predisposing factors positively associated with the information-seeking behavior. Finally, reinforcing factors (ease of getting information and non-confusion of the information available) were also positively associated with information-seeking. Study findings suggest that one-fourth of cancer survivors had not sought cancer-related information. The results have implications for identifying patients at increased risk for unmet information needs. They also contribute to our understanding of critical racial differences and similarities. Further, findings can help guide interventions to assist in information seeking based on patient preferences.
    Keywords:  Cancer information; Cancer survivors; Health disparities; Health information seeking; Race
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-024-02448-3