Orthodontic-related posts on Instagram: are they evidence based?

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Social Media Analysis
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Instagram is a popular platform for sharing health information, including orthodontics.
• The quality and evidence base of orthodontic content on social media platforms are not well understood.
• Assessing the scientific rigor of online orthodontic information is crucial for patient safety and informed decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of orthodontic-related evidence-based posts on Instagram.
• To assess the quality of scientific studies cited in these orthodontic posts.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analysis of 1600 Instagram posts identified via eight orthodontic hashtags.
• Posts were analyzed for content type, engagement, and citation of scientific evidence.
• Cited articles were retrieved and their study quality was assessed independently and in duplicate.

Main Results:

• Only 25 out of 1600 analyzed posts cited scientific evidence.
• The majority of posts were treatment descriptions or marketing, with limited educational content.
• Cited studies were predominantly narrative reviews and epidemiological studies, with a significant proportion rated as moderate to low quality.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant lack of evidence-based orthodontic content on Instagram.
• The scientific literature cited in orthodontic posts is often of moderate to low quality.
• A collaborative effort is needed among orthodontists, professional organizations, and social media platforms to enhance the quality and credibility of online orthodontic information.