Patient Questions Surrounding Posterior Nasal Nerve Ablation for Chronic Rhinitis

Abstract

Abstract Objective In‐office ablation of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN) has emerged as an effective treatment option for chronic rhinitis patients. This study explored questions patients commonly search online regarding this therapy and the quality of content available. Study Design A retrospective analysis of online search criteria and sources was performed with subsequent analysis of results. Setting Search and data acquisition was in September of 2023. Methods Most common search terms related to cryotherapy and radiofrequency neurolysis of the PNN were identified with associated People Also Ask (PAA) questions. Questions were categorized and organized into subtopics and sources evaluated using readability and quality metrics. Results A total of 255 unique PAA questions and 175 unique websites were identified. The most common subtopics were related to facts about chronic rhinitis (26.7%) and rhinitis treatment options (25.1%). Nearly a quarter (24.3%) of websites were from commercial sources. Quality metrics indicate difficult‐to‐read and low‐quality materials. Conclusion Existing online resources need improvement to provide patients material that is easier to read. Physicians counseling patients should be aware of these areas for adequate shared decision making.

Keywords

• chronic rhinitis
• cryotherapy
• Google Trends
• patient education
• posterior nasal nerve ablation
• radiofrequency neurolysis