Analysis and perception of Instagram posts referring to diastasis recti abdominis, exercise and sports-related content: a mixed-method study protocol

ObjectivesThis study will evaluate the health information posted in Instagram (IG) concerning in diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), exercise and sports, and it will explore how IG content is perceived and impacts the daily lives of women with DRA. MethodsA convergent parallel mixed methods design will be used. Through an observational study, public IG posts content written in English language will be descriptively analysed and reviewed using the QUality Evaluation Scoring Tool (QUEST) criteria. We will extract data on exercise and sport suggestions for women with DRA, along with any proposed indications and contraindications. Eligible women with a diagnosis of DRA will be recruited via a worldwide e-survey using Qualtrics, and invited to take part to one-to-one interviews via Microsoft Teams. Semi-structured interviews will aim to explore their IG use and their perceptions on information related to DRA, exercise, and sports. Descriptive and thematic analysis will be conducted. ImplicationsThe availability and quality of information on social media are becoming increasingly important aspects of patient care. For sports medicine and womens health clinicians, the findings of the present study will give an overview of DRA content that are easily accessible to women, underscoring the related posts characteristics. Furthermore, results could impact clinical practice by providing clinicians with a better understanding of patients perceptions and beliefs from IG DRA content, with the ultimate aim of better engaging with them and dispelling any potential misconceptions.