Public perceptions of meniscus tears: Evaluating knowledge gaps and the role of education

Meniscus tears are common, occurring acutely during sports or as degenerative tears with aging. Limited information exists about the public's understanding of these injuries and their management.

This study aimed to evaluate the public's baseline understanding of meniscus tear management and assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve their understanding.

Level III, Cross-Sectional Study.

A 33-question survey on meniscus anatomy, injury risk, diagnosis, treatment, and surgical expectations was distributed online to adults aged 18+ over 5 months from the beginning of July. An educational video and handout were provided to improve baseline knowledge. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, McNemar's test, and a paired t-test to measure pre- and post-intervention changes.

Baseline surveys from 245 participants showed 66.9% were women, 69.4% were aged 18-29, and 63.7% were white. 46.1% held a bachelor's degree, and 90.2% had limited knowledge of meniscus tears. 76% believed surgery was necessary, 84% thought degenerative tears were repairable, and 65% didn't understand the link to osteoarthritis. Most expected over 3 months for recovery. Higher scores were associated with male gender, healthcare experience, and prior knowledge (p < 0.05). Post-intervention, correct responses rose from 45.3% to 75% (p < 0.001) among 118 participants.

Significant misconceptions about meniscus tears were identified. An educational intervention notably improved knowledge of meniscus anatomy, its link to osteoarthritis, and treatment options. This underscores the importance of education in aligning patient expectations with current medical practices to enhance care quality.