What do people search online about sciatica? What answers do they get from Dr. Google? A mixed analysis of Italian web-based data.
Massimo Esposto, Matteo Cioeta, Giuseppe Giovannico and 2 others
PMID 40697525WHAT IT FOUND
Top Italian web pages on sciatica are hard to read and rarely cite science.
They push rest and drugs while missing key guidelines like exercise and avoiding routine imaging. Clinicians must actively correct these online misconceptions during patient education.
Key findings
01None of the analyzed web pages referenced an identifiable scientific article, and credibility scores were low.
02Content was poorly readable, with most pages rated 'almost incomprehensible' for people with elementary education.
03Guideline recommendations for risk stratification, explaining imaging necessity, and specific medication risks were not mentioned by any of the web pages.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only analyzed Italian web pages, so results may not apply to other languages or countries. It focused only on Google search results, ignoring social media and AI chatbots. The search data reflected one month's activity, so trends might vary over time. The analysis did not assess the strength of the guideline recommendations mentioned.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and received no specific funding for this work.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume patients are searching for 'sciatica' using the clinical term 'spine-related leg pain'; they use lay terms like 'remedies' and 'inflammation'. Also, do not expect patients to find credible, easy-to-read guidance online, as the top results were neither scientifically referenced nor accessible to most educational levels.