Evaluation of Migraine Surgery Outcomes through Social Media

Abstract

Background:Social media have been used to study many aspects of health and human behavior. Although social media present a unique opportunity to obtain unsolicited patient-reported outcomes, its use has been limited in plastic and reconstructive surgical procedures, including migraine nerve surgery. The goal of this study was to utilize the most popular social media site, Facebook, to evaluate patients’ experience with migraine surgery.Methods:Six months of data regarding nerve surgery, nerve stimulators, and radiofrequency nerve ablation were collected from posts and comments written by members of 2 Facebook groups. Outcomes were classified by degree of resolution of symptoms.Results:A total of 639 posts related to migraine surgery. Of 304 posts commenting on postoperative success of nerve surgery, 16% reported elimination of headaches and 65% significant improvement (81% with complete or significant improvement), 5% partial improvement, 11% no change, and 3% worsening symptoms. Nerve surgery had a higher success rate than nerve stimulators and radiofrequency ablation. Nerve surgery was recommended by 90% of users.Conclusions:The 81% rate of complete or significant improvement of symptoms in this study is close to the 79% to 84% shown in current literature. Similar to the findings of a recent systematic review, surgery is more efficacious compared with nerve stimulators and ablation. This study adds to evidence favoring migraine surgery by removing evaluator bias and demonstrates that surgical outcomes and satisfaction data may be obtained from social media.

WeChat as a Platform for Baduanjin Intervention in Patients With Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in China: Retrospective Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, have been steadily applied in medical education [ 33 , 34 ]. Facebook has been used to study many aspects of health care, and it provides a convenient and easily accessible way to collect unsolicited and observational patient data [ 35 ]. An analysis of the content of COPD group chats on Facebook showed that COPD Facebook group members share specific disease-related experiences and request information regarding select self-management topics.…”

Intra‐arterial injection of lidocaine into middle meningeal artery to treat intractable headaches and severe migraine

“…There are data to support the acceptance of invasive options based on use of frontal migraine decompression surgeries of both supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves by an endoscopic or trans palpebral approach by migraine patients 52–54 . Patients were willing to accept an invasive procedure for treatment of severe migraines based on medical information and other patient recommendations and advice by their peers about their experience with migraine surgery 55 . Therefore, we expect that an invasive procedure will be accepted among patient community through education when scientific data supporting the effectiveness of treatment will be available.…”

“…[52][53][54] Patients were willing to accept an invasive procedure for treatment of severe migraines based on medical information and other patient recommendations and advice by their peers about their experience with migraine surgery. 55 Therefore, we expect that an invasive procedure will be accepted among patient community through education when scientific data supporting the effectiveness of treatment will be available. We anticipate performing additional research in decision analysis in the health care context combining evidence and semiquantitative assessment of value placed by patients on desired outcomes and risk to determine the optimal strategy under given circumstances 56 to establish the "best" treatment from the patient perspective.…”

Patient Experiences and Perceptions Associated with the Use of Desiccated Thyroid Extract

“…Patient-shared experiences in online health communities (i.e., social media and patient forums), as an easily accessible and efficient data source, have been widely used to assess treatment effects, adherence, and perceived quality of care from the end-user perspective [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Through these online health communities, patients have the opportunity to share their experiences, perceptions, feelings, and options with their peers.…”