Examination of Information Quality on Public Instagram Profiles Regarding Botulinum Toxin for Bruxism: A Study in São Paulo State, Brazil

TL;DR

This study examines the quality of Instagram posts in São Paulo about using botulinum toxin for bruxism and finds most lack scientific support.

Contribution

The study evaluates the scientific accuracy of Instagram content on botulinum toxin for bruxism in a specific geographic region.

Findings

61% of posts about botulinum toxin for bruxism did not align with scientific references.

Most content on bruxism and botulinum toxin on Instagram was rated as poor quality.

Bruxism and botulinum toxin are frequently discussed on public Instagram profiles in São Paulo.

Abstract

Currently, social media emerges as a swift and efficient channel for disseminating knowledge in dentistry; however, it is imperative to assess whether this information aligns with scientific evidence. This study aims to evaluate the quality of information found on public Instagram profiles in São Paulo State, Brazil, regarding the utilization of botulinum toxin (BTx) for bruxism treatment.

The data were categorized into three qualitative groups: information pertaining to bruxism diagnosis, treatment options for bruxism, and the application of BTx for bruxism. Following the selection of pertinent publications, 50 public profiles were included in the analysis. The publications were assessed utilizing the Global Quality Scale (GQS).

A total of 20,546 posts were tallied across the 50 profiles, with 230 relating to bruxism diagnosis, 166 discussing bruxism treatment options, and 78 mentioning the use of BTx for bruxism. Of these 78 posts addressing BTx for bruxism, 61% did not align with current scientific references, while 39% did. GQS analysis disclosed predominantly "poor quality" content (GQS = 2).

It is concluded that the themes of bruxism and BTx are frequently broached on public Instagram profiles, yet the quality of the available information is generally subpar and often lacks scientific substantiation.

Key words:Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Bruxism; Online Social Networking; Sleep Bruxism.

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