The quality of orthognathic surgery information on social media: A scoping review

Introduction: Orthognathic surgery combined with orthodontic treatment is commonly undertaken to address facial and dental disharmony. Content uploaded onto social media platforms can be an important source of healthcare information. This scoping review aimed to collate and synthesize data from studies that investigated the quality of information communicated through these platforms.

Methods: Five databases and grey literature were searched, with no restrictions on location and year published. The PCC (Population, Concept, Context) framework was adopted to select eligible studies. Inclusion criteria included literature that assessed the quality of information on orthognathic surgery in relation to orthodontic treatment in the context of social media.

Results: A total of 12 cross-sectional studies satisfied the selection criteria. The most investigated social media platform was YouTube. The quality of information on all platforms examined was found to be poor to moderate. The most popular content featured patients sharing their treatment experiences, but these often lacked clinically relevant information, focusing mainly on satisfaction with treatment, outcomes and their supervising healthcare professionals. In contrast, healthcare professionals provided content that contained better quality information but had lower views and engagement. The least frequently mentioned topics were found to be complications and their duration, costs, and postoperative expectations. Certain search terms such as "#jawsurgery", "#surgeryfirst" and "#genioplasty" appeared to resonate more with the public. There was heterogeneity across the methodologies and quality of information instruments used.

Conclusions: Information communicated through social media platforms regarding orthognathic surgery was of poor to moderate quality. Orthodontic professionals should be aware of the limitations of health information on these online platforms and guide individuals to more accurate sources.