Assessment of Information Quality of Instagram Posts Related With Intensive Care

Information Quality of Intensive Care Posts on Instagram

Authors

  • Gürcan Güler Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Bursa
  • Yılmaz Apaydın Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Bursa. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0583-8198
  • Tuğçe Mert Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Bursa. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5686-0985
  • Ahmet Karaosman Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Bursa. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5802-3341

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71350/ajaic.11

Keywords:

Intensive care, Instagram, Information quality, Social media, DISCERN

Abstract

Background: Social media has become a prominent source of health information, yet the accuracy and reliability of content remain uncertain. Instagram, as a visually driven platform, is increasingly used for disseminating medical knowledge. This study aimed to assess the quality and reliability of Instagram posts related to intensive care, focusing on four commonly used hashtags: #entübasyon, #mekanikventilasyon, #sepsis, and #yoğunbakım.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed. On August 1, 2025, 200 posts were collected for each hashtag (#entübasyon, #mekanikventilasyon, #sepsis, and #yoğunbakım), yielding a total of 800 posts. Each post was analyzed as informative, non-medical, or advertisement-based. To evaluate informational quality and scientific reliability, the Modified DISCERN tool was applied by intensive care specialists. Mean scores were compared between posts shared by healthcare professionals and non-professionals using an independent samples t-test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Of 800 posts screened, 79 (9.9%) were excluded. Among the 721 analyzed posts, 472 (65.5%) were informative, 202 (28.0%) non-medical, and 47 (6.5%) advertisement-based. Informative content predominated under #entübasyon (95.1%) and #sepsis (92.9%), while #mekanikventilasyon (31.9%) and #yoğunbakım (35.4%) showed markedly lower proportions. Notably, advertisement content was observed exclusively in the #mekanikventilasyon group (25.8%). The mean Modified DISCERN score was 3.17 ± 1.23 for posts shared by healthcare professionals and 3.05 ± 1.18 for those by non-professionals, with no significant difference (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Instagram posts under intensive care–related hashtags often lack reliable scientific information, particularly within #mekanikventilasyon and #yoğunbakım. The presence of substantial non-medical and commercial content raises concerns regarding public access to trustworthy information. Expanding the contribution of healthcare professionals with evidence-based content may help mitigate misinformation and enhance public understanding of critical care.

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Published

30-09-2025

How to Cite

Güler, G., Apaydın, Y., Mert, T., & Karaosman, A. (2025). Assessment of Information Quality of Instagram Posts Related With Intensive Care: Information Quality of Intensive Care Posts on Instagram. The Anatolian Journal of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, 1(1), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.71350/ajaic.11

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): AJAIC

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Gürcan Güler, Yılmaz Apaydın, Tuğçe Mert, Ahmet Karaosman

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.