COVID-19 pandemic information on Brazilian websites: credibility, coverage, and agreement with World Health Organization. Quality of COVID-19 online information in Brazil

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To assess the credibility and the quality content of COVID-19 pandemic information on Brazilian websites. METHODS: We performed Google searches and screened the first 45 websites. The websites were categorized as academic, commercial, government, hospital, media, nongovernmental organizations, and professionals. The credibility was assessed by JAMA benchmark criteria and HONCODE. A checklist with WHO information about COVID-19 was developed to assess the quality content. For each website, the level of agreement with WHO information was categorized into "total," "partial," or "disagreement". RESULTS: A total of 20 websites were analyzed. None of the websites had HONCODE certification. Six websites (30%) met none of the four JAMA criteria and only one website (5%) fulfilled all the four criteria. Only 11 out of 20 websites showed overall coverage >50% for the checklist. Overall, 70% (14/20) of the websites had at least 50% total agreement with WHO items. The government websites presented more disagreement with the WHO items than media websites in the overall quality content analysis. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 information on Brazilian websites have a moderate-to-low credibility and quality, particularly on the government websites.

Therapeutic ultrasound associated with copaiba oil reduces pain and improves range of motion in patients with knee osteoarthritis / Ultrassom terapêutico associado ao óleo de copaíba reduz a dor e melhora amplitude de movimento de pacientes com osteoartrite de joelho

Abstract Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects millions of Brazilians.Therapeutic ultrasound has been used in its treatment, either alone or associated with drugs. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ultrasound (US) associated with Copaiba oil (CO) on knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients were divided into three different groups: US, US+CO, CO.Ten treatment sessions were held twice a week, 30 minutes each.Pain intensity was assessed through the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Range of Motion (ROM) by goniometry, and muscle strength was assessed by means of the Medical Research Council Scale. Statistical analysis was performed by Cohen's d test, student's t test and ANOVA, considering p<0.05 as significant. Results: Pain reduced in all groups.The US+CO group (d = -3.50) presented larger effect size when compared to the other groups. Regarding ROM, the largest effect size was observed in the US+CO group for flexion (d = 0.86) and extension (d = 0.97) in comparison with the remainder groups. Muscle strength increased in the US (d = 1.54) and US+CO (d = 1.60) groups for flexion.Regarding extension, the US group presented the largest effect size (d = 1.80). Conclusion: Therapeutic ultrasound associated with copaiba oil is a practical and effective therapy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Resumo Introdução: A osteoartrite é uma doença que afeta milhões de brasileiros. O ultrassom terapêutico tem sido utilizado em seu tratamento tanto sozinho, quanto associado a fármacos. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do ultrassom (US) associado ao óleo de copaíba (OC) em pacientes com osteoartrite de joelho. Métodos: Os pacientes foram distribuídos em 3 grupos distintos: US, US+OC e OC. Foram realizadas 10 sessões de tratamento, duas vezes por semana durante 30 minutos. A intensidade da dor foi avaliada pela Escala Visual Analógica da Dor (EVA), amplitude de movimento ADM pela goniometria e força muscular pelo Score Medical Research Council. A análise estatística foi feita pelo Teste T de Student e ANOVA e a magnitude do efeito (d), considerando p<0,05 como valores significativos. Resultados: A dor foi atenuada em todos os grupos, sendo apresentada uma magnitude maior do efeito para o grupo US+OC (d = -3,50) quando comparado aos demais grupos. Em relação a ADM a magnitude do efeito foi maior no grupo US+OC (d= 0,86) para a flexão e extensão (d = 0,97) quando comparados com os outros grupos. Na variável força muscular os grupos US (d= 1,54) e US+OC (d = 1,60) foram mais eficazes no movimento de flexão e na extensão, o grupo US exibiu o maior tamanho de efeito (d = 1,80) quando comparados aos demais grupos. Conclusão: O ultrassom terapêutico associado ao óleo de copaíba é uma terapia efetiva e prática para o tratamento de doenças inflamatórias, tais como a osteoartrite.