'Prostate Cancer' Information on the Internet: Fact or Fiction?

DISCERN score Health on the Net seal Internet information quality JAMA Benchmarks Prostate cancer

Journal

Current urology
ISSN: 1661-7649
Titre abrégé: Curr Urol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101471188

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jan 2020
Historique:
received: 13 12 2018
accepted: 14 02 2019
entrez: 31 1 2020
pubmed: 31 1 2020
medline: 31 1 2020
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

In today's information era, patients often seek information regarding health using the internet. We assessed reliability and validity of internet information regarding 'prostate cancer'. Search term 'prostate cancer' used on Google website (June 2017). Critical analysis was performed on first 100 hits using JAMA benchmarks, DISCERN score, Health on the Net. 33 500 000 hits returned. Top 100 hits were critically analyzed. Ten links [duplicate links (n = 7), book reviews (n = 1), dead sites (n = 2)] were excluded, therefore 90 were analyzed. Subcategories assessed included: commercial (53.33%), university/medical center (24.44%), government (13.33%); non-governmental/ non-profit organizations (8.89%). Sub-type of information content assessed included: factual (74.44%), clinical trials (18.89%); stories (5.56%); question and answer (1.11%). Website rated as HONcode seal positive (14,44%) or seal negative (85,56%). Website content based on JAMA benchmarks: 0 benchmarks (4.44%), 1 benchmark (16.67%), 2 benchmarks (34.44%), 3 benchmarks (27.78%), 4 benchmarks (16.67%). DISCERN score rated: 'low' score (16-32) = 12 websites (13.33%), 'moderate' score (33-64 points) = 68 websites (75.56%), 'high' score (≥ 65 points) = 10 websites (11.11%). Critical assessment of 'Prostate Cancer' information on the internet, showed that overall quality was observed to be accurate, however majority of individual websites are unreliable as a source of information by itself for patients. Doctors and patients need to be aware of this 'quality vs quantity' discrepancy when sourcing PCa information on the internet.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND/AIMS OBJECTIVE
In today's information era, patients often seek information regarding health using the internet. We assessed reliability and validity of internet information regarding 'prostate cancer'.
METHODS METHODS
Search term 'prostate cancer' used on Google website (June 2017). Critical analysis was performed on first 100 hits using JAMA benchmarks, DISCERN score, Health on the Net.
RESULTS RESULTS
33 500 000 hits returned. Top 100 hits were critically analyzed. Ten links [duplicate links (n = 7), book reviews (n = 1), dead sites (n = 2)] were excluded, therefore 90 were analyzed. Subcategories assessed included: commercial (53.33%), university/medical center (24.44%), government (13.33%); non-governmental/ non-profit organizations (8.89%). Sub-type of information content assessed included: factual (74.44%), clinical trials (18.89%); stories (5.56%); question and answer (1.11%). Website rated as HONcode seal positive (14,44%) or seal negative (85,56%). Website content based on JAMA benchmarks: 0 benchmarks (4.44%), 1 benchmark (16.67%), 2 benchmarks (34.44%), 3 benchmarks (27.78%), 4 benchmarks (16.67%). DISCERN score rated: 'low' score (16-32) = 12 websites (13.33%), 'moderate' score (33-64 points) = 68 websites (75.56%), 'high' score (≥ 65 points) = 10 websites (11.11%).
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Critical assessment of 'Prostate Cancer' information on the internet, showed that overall quality was observed to be accurate, however majority of individual websites are unreliable as a source of information by itself for patients. Doctors and patients need to be aware of this 'quality vs quantity' discrepancy when sourcing PCa information on the internet.

Identifiants

pubmed: 31998052
doi: 10.1159/000499271
pii: cur-0013-0200
pmc: PMC6977000
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

200-208

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2020 by S. Karger AG, Basel.

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Auteurs

Yusuf Moolla (Y)

Department of Oncology, Klerksdorp Hospital, Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex, Klerksdorp, North West Province.

Ahmed Adam (A)

Department of Urology, Helen Joseph Hospital & Department of Paediatric Urology, Rahima Moosa Mother & Child (Coronation) Hospital, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Marlon Perera (M)

Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, VIC and Department of Surgery, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.

Nathan Lawrentschuk (N)

Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, and Olivia-Newton John Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, and Department of Surgical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Classifications MeSH