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Pediatric Otolaryngology

(037) Analyzing Online Parenting Forum Discussions of Acute Otitis Media Treatment

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Julia E. Canick, MD

    Resident
    New York University
    New York, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Nicholas A. Waring, BS

    Medical Student
    Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
    New York, New York, United States

  • Alexander Chern, MD

    Fellow
    Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University
    Baltimore, Maryland, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • HB

    Hayley Born, MD, MS

    Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, NY, USA

Disclosure(s):
Julia E. Canick, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Nicholas A. Waring, BS: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Alexander Chern, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common pediatric ailment. In an age of widespread social media use, misinformation and medical mistrust are more prevalent than ever. Study objectives were to analyze content of online parenting forum posts and assess quality and reliability of advice given to parents seeking treatment for children with AOM.

Methods: The search term “ear infection” was queried in three parenting forums: whattoexpect.com (WTE), babycenter.com (BC), and reddit.com/r/NewParents. Two independent reviewers evaluated posts pertaining to AOM within a one-year span. Post content was categorized by diagnosis and treatment suggestions for AOM. Quality and reliability were scored using a validated quality instrument (modified DISCERN scale).

Results: 100 posts each from WTE and BC, as well as 28 posts from Reddit, were included. 15.8% of posts asked whether a child had AOM, and 41.2% asked how to treat an ear infection, while 2.2% of posts asked whether to see a doctor. 13.6% of posts featured parents expressing mistrust in their pediatricians. 14.5% featured a parent recommending antibiotics, 26.8% featured a parent recommending supportive care, and 18% featured recommendations of a remedy not proven to be effective in the scientific literature. Mean modified DISCERN scores were 1.05 (WTE), 1.065 (BC), and 1.071 (Reddit).

Conclusions: There is large variation in how parents counsel each other among online forums, and the quality of advice given on these forums is low. This represents an opportunity for otolaryngologists to disseminate accurate and accessible information to parents regarding AOM.