| Title |
The Quality of Online Resources Available to Patients Interested in Knee Biologic Therapies is Poor
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
HSS Journal®, August 2018
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s11420-018-9621-9 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Benedict U. Nwachukwu, Ryan C. Rauck, Cynthia A. Kahlenberg, Chukwuma Nwachukwu, William W. Schairer, Riley J. Williams, David W. Altchek, Answorth A. Allen |
| Abstract |
As the use of biologic therapies for the management of knee pathology continues to expand, it is more likely that patients will turn to the Internet to gather information on this topic. Given the lack of scientific consensus on the use of biologics, care providers must understand what information is available online. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of websites that patients may use to educate themselves on knee biologics. Websites were identified using search terms relevant to multiple biologic therapies available for knee pathology. Websites were scored based on an author-derived grading rubric, with a total of 25 possible points relating to the role of knee biologics in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of knee pathology. Websites were categorized based on the source (e.g., physician-operated website vs. industry-related website). Reading level was assessed with the Flesch-Kincaid readability test. The initial search yielded 375 results, with 96 websites meeting final inclusion criteria. Mean website score was poor, at 6.01 of the 25 possible points (24.0%). Physician websites were the most common, with 60% of the articles identified. Industry-related websites scored the lowest (mean, 3.2 ± 0.97) while hospital-related websites scored the highest (mean, 8.3 ± 2.93). Overall, websites published from hospitals or orthopedic professional societies had significantly higher scores than other websites. The search term "knee PRP" yielded higher-quality results than "knee platelet rich plasma." Similarly, "knee BMAC" led to better results than "knee bone marrow aspirate concentrate." The average reading level was 11.4. Many online resources are available for patients seeking information about knee biologic therapies, but the quality of websites identified was very poor. Patients should be counseled that the information available online for knee biologic therapy is unreliable. Surgeons should play an increased role in providing resources to patients and educating them on biologic options. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 3 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 67% |
| Unknown | 1 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 1 | 33% |
| Scientists | 1 | 33% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 19 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 19 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 11% |
| Student > Master | 2 | 11% |
| Student > Bachelor | 1 | 5% |
| Other | 1 | 5% |
| Researcher | 1 | 5% |
| Other | 1 | 5% |
| Unknown | 11 | 58% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4 | 21% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 11% |
| Psychology | 1 | 5% |
| Unknown | 12 | 63% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 26 October 2018.
All research outputs
#15,523,434
of 25,385,509 outputs
Outputs from HSS Journal®
#234
of 493 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#186,381
of 341,021 outputs
Outputs of similar age from HSS Journal®
#2
of 5 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,385,509 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 37th percentile – i.e., 37% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 493 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 6.0. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 51% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 5 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has scored higher than 3 of them.