The objective of this peripheral nerve stimulation consensus guideline is to add to the current family of consensus practice guidelines and incorporate a systematic review process. The published literature was searched from relevant electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science from database inception to March 29, 2021. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies that described peripheral nerve stimulation in patients in terms of clinical outcomes for various pain conditions, physiological mechanism of action, surgical technique, technique of placement, and adverse events. Twenty randomized controlled trials and 33 prospective observational studies were included in the systematic review process. There is Level I evidence supporting the efficacy of PNS for treatment of chronic migraine headaches via occipital nerve stimulation; chronic hemiplegic shoulder pain via stimulation of nerves innervating the trapezius, supraspinatus, and deltoid muscles; failed back surgery syndrome via subcutaneous peripheral field stimulation; and lower extremity neuropathic and lower extremity post-amputation pain. Evidence from current Level I studies combined with newer technologies facilitating less invasive and easier electrode placement make peripheral nerve stimulation an attractive alternative for managing patients with complex pain disorders. Peripheral nerve stimulation should be used judiciously as an adjunct for chronic and acute postoperative pain following adequate patient screening and positive diagnostic nerve block or stimulation trial.

Media coverage on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been extensive, yet large gaps remain in our understanding of the role of social media platforms during worldwide health crisis. The purpose of this study was to assess the most viewed YouTube videos on COVID-19 for medical content. We coded video characteristics, source, and medical content of the 113 most-widely viewed videos about COVID-19. Seventy-nine (69.9%) videos were classified as useful, and 10 (8.8%) videos were classified as misleading. Independent users were more likely to post misleading videos than useful videos (60.0% vs 21.5%, P = 0.009). News agencies were more likely to post useful videos than misleading videos (72.2% vs 40.0%, P = 0.039). Useful videos were more likely to present any information on prevalence or incidence (79.7% vs 20.0%, P < 0.001), as well as information on outcomes or prognosis (84.8% vs 30.0%, P < 0.001) compared to misleading videos. The World Health Organization contributed one useful video (1.3%), while no videos from the Center for Disease Control were included. Although YouTube generally is a useful source of medical information on the COVID-19 pandemic, increased efforts to disseminate accurate information from reputable sources is desired to help mitigate disease spread and decrease unnecessary panic in the general population.

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Introduction: Although the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has been reported, the proportion of patients with CIPN who report chronic moderate-to-severe neuropathy or chronic painful neuropathy remains poorly understood, despite its significant impact on patients’ quality of life and treatment outcomes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of chronic (≥3 months) moderate-to-severe CIPN or painful CIPN among patients diagnosed with CIPN. Estimates from each study were transformed using a double-arcsine transformation and pooled in a meta-analysis using an inverse variance heterogeneity model. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on geographical region, sex, chemotherapy regimen, primary cancer type, and funding source; metaregression analysis was conducted based on study design, human development index (HDI), and publication year. Results: 76 studies from 29 countries, encompassing 13 635 patients with CIPN, were included. Among patients diagnosed with CIPN, the pooled prevalence of those reporting chronic moderate-to-severe CIPN or painful CIPN was estimated at 47.76% (95% CI 37.50 to 58.08; 95% prediction interval 24.68–71.84). Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies ( I² =97.45%; 95% CI for I ² 97.15 to 97.72). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients treated with platinum-based agents and taxanes had the highest prevalence of chronic moderate-to-severe CIPN or painful CIPN (44.47% and 55.68%, respectively), and among primary cancers, those with breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and lung cancer reported the highest prevalence of chronic moderate-to-severe CIPN or painful CIPN (61.31%, 53.55%, and 50.85%, respectively). Study design, HDI, and publication year were non-significant moderators of prevalence estimates. Based on our Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation assessment, the certainty of evidence was considered “very low.” Sensitivity analysis restricted to studies explicitly measuring painful CIPN (40.78%; 95% CI 29.08 to 52.74) or moderate-to-severe CIPN (49.04%; 95% CI 37.16 to 60.95) yielded similar prevalence estimates. Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive global estimate of the prevalence of chronic moderate-to-severe CIPN or painful CIPN, highlighting its significant burden on patients worldwide. The variation in prevalence across geographical regions, chemotherapy regimens, and primary cancers underscores the need for tailored management strategies and further research to address potential disparities.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in patient pain medicine education has the potential to revolutionize pain management. By harnessing the power of AI, patient education becomes more personalized, interactive, and supportive, empowering patients to understand their pain, make informed decisions, and actively participate in their pain management journey. AI tailors the educational content to individual patients’ needs, providing personalized recommendations. It introduces interactive elements through chatbots and virtual assistants, enhancing engagement and motivation. AI-powered platforms improve accessibility by providing easy access to educational resources and adapting content to diverse patient populations. Future AI applications in pain management include explaining pain mechanisms, treatment options, predicting outcomes based on individualized patient-specific factors, and supporting monitoring and adherence. Though the literature on AI in pain medicine and its applications are scarce yet growing, we propose avenues where AI may be applied and review the potential applications of AI in pain management education. Additionally, we address ethical considerations, patient empowerment, and accessibility barriers.