Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39149540›Full record

ArticlePEC innovation2024

Potential misinformation in websites on carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ria Goyal, Grace Corrier, David Ring, Amirreza Fatehi, Sina Ramtin

Abstract readAddress
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PEC innovation, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ria GoyalDepartment of Surgery and Perioperative Care Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Grace CorrierDepartment of Surgery and Perioperative Care Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
David RingDepartment of Surgery and Perioperative Care Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Amirreza FatehiDepartment of Surgery and Perioperative Care Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Sina RamtinDepartment of Surgery and Perioperative Care Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: We sought to evaluate the potential reinforcement of misconceptions in websites discussing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: After removing all cookies to limit personalization, we entered "carpal tunnel syndrome" into five search engines and collected the first 50 results displayed for each search. For each of the 105 unique websites, we recorded publication date, author background, and number of views. The prevalence of potential reinforcement and/or reorientation of misconceptions for each website was then scored using a rubric based on our interpretation of the best current evidence regarding CTS. The informational quality of websites was graded with the DISCERN instrument, a validated tool for assessing online health information. Results: Every website contained at least one potentially misleading statement in our opinion. The most common misconceptions reference "excessive motion" and "inflammation." Greater potential reinforcement of misinformation about CTS was associated with fewer page views and lower informational quality scores. Conclusions: Keeping in mind that this analysis is based on our interpretation of current best evidence, potential misinformation on websites addressing CTS is common and has the potential to increase symptom intensity and magnitude of incapability via reinforcement of unhelpful thoughts regarding symptoms. Innovation: The prevalence of patient-directed health information that can increase discomfort and incapability by reinforcing common unhelpful thoughts supports the need for innovations in how we develop, oversee, and evolve healthy online material.

Indexed as

Carpal tunnel syndromeMedian nerveMisinformationWebsite

Identifiers

PMID39149540
PMCPMC11325073

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.