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

Objectives This 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. Methods A 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. Implications The availability and quality of information on social media are becoming increasingly important aspects of patient care. For sports medicine and women’s 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. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences under the Cardiff Metropolitan University Ethics Framework. Project Reference Number: Sta-7673; approved on 30/06/2023. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present work will be contained in the final manuscript.