Understanding Hip Pain Through Social Media: An Initial Overview of an International Web-Based Survey

Abstract

Background

We aimed to understand the adult experience of hip pain through a web-based REDCap platform via social media. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of collecting patient-reported data through social media in people with hip pain while outlining the contents of the survey and analyzing the demographics of the sample population.

Methods

The survey link was active from October 1, 2023, to May 1, 2024, and available on social media platforms. Respondents provided consent prior to survey participation. Responses were anonymous, and only unique, fully complete surveys were analyzed. The comprehensive hip survey included demographic and overall health reporting, as well as hip-specific diagnoses, hip-specific functional measures, and mental health outcomes.

Results

Six hundred twenty-seven surveys were initiated, with 509 surveys completed. Twenty-six countries were represented with most responses originating from the United States (72.1%, n = 367), United Kingdom (10%, n = 51), Canada (5.5%, n = 28), and Australia (4.1%, n = 21). Ninety-three percent of respondents were women, with a mean age of 39 (range: 18-77). Top diagnoses reported were hip dysplasia (60.9%, n = 310), femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (45.2%, n = 230), Perthes disease (6.4%, n = 33), and osteoarthritis (6.3%, n = 32). Seventy-one percent (n = 366) reported previous hip surgery, with hip arthroscopy (60.7%, n = 222), periacetabular osteotomy (50.3%, n = 184), and total hip arthroplasty (24.3%, n = 89) being the most reported procedures.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing social media for a comprehensive web-based survey to gather patient-reported outcomes from individuals with various sources of hip pain internationally.