Online Questions About Clubfoot Surgery: Content Analysis and Development of a Patient Education Resource.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clubfoot affects approximately 2 in 1,000 newborns globally. The Ponseti Method, the standard method of casting and bracing, often ends with Achilles tenotomy. More invasive procedures, such as posteromedial release, are typically reserved for complex or recurrent cases. Prior studies indicate that parents frequently turn to the internet to understand clubfoot treatments, though no studies have examined specific questions or the credibility of websites. This study identifies the most common online questions about clubfoot surgeries, assesses the credibility and types of sources answering them, and offers a handout of suggested resources.

Methods

We extracted 1,207 question-website pairs from Google's "People Also Ask" feature using keywords on clubfoot surgeries.

SUBMITTER: Vicioso C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12775962 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature