scholarly journals Public Health and Online Misinformation: Challenges and Recommendations

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 433-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Briony Swire-Thompson ◽  
David Lazer
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Modern Context ◽  
Formal Health Care

The internet has become a popular resource to learn about health and to investigate one's own health condition. However, given the large amount of inaccurate information online, people can easily become misinformed. Individuals have always obtained information from outside the formal health care system, so how has the internet changed people's engagement with health information? This review explores how individuals interact with health misinformation online, whether it be through search, user-generated content, or mobile apps. We discuss whether personal access to information is helping or hindering health outcomes and how the perceived trustworthiness of the institutions communicating health has changed over time. To conclude, we propose several constructive strategies for improving the online information ecosystem. Misinformation concerning health has particularly severe consequences with regard to people's quality of life and even their risk of mortality; therefore, understanding it within today's modern context is an extremely important task.

DOZ047.115: Quality and readability of esophageal atresia information on the Internet

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B R O’Connor ◽  
E Doherty ◽  
F Friedmacher ◽  
L Vernon ◽  
T S Paran
Keyword(s):  
Esophageal Atresia ◽  
Oesophageal Atresia ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Ease Score ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Google Search

Abstract Introduction Increasingly in pediatric surgical practice, patients, their parents, and surgeons alike use the Internet as an easily and quickly accessible source of information about conditions and their treatment. The quality and reliability of this information may often be unregulated. We aim to objectively assess the online information available relating to esophageal atresia and its management. Methods We performed searches for ‘oesophageal atresia’ and ‘esophageal atresia’ using the Google, Yahoo, and Bing engines to encompass both European and American spellings. We assessed the first 20 results of each search and excluded duplicates or unrelated pages. The DISCERN score and the Health on the Net Foundation Code (HONcode) toolbar were utilized to assess the quality of information on each website. We evaluated readability with the Flesch reading ease (FRE) and the Flesch–Kincaid grade (FKG). Results Of the original 120 hits, 61 were excluded (51 duplicates, 10 unrelated). Out of 59 individual sites reviewed, only 13 sites were HONcode approved. The mean overall DISCERN score was 52.55 (range: 22–78). The mean DISCERN score for the search term ‘oesphageal atresia’ was 57 (range: 22–78) in comparison to 59.03 for ‘esophageal atresia’ (range: 27–78). Google search had the lowest overall mean DISCERN score at 54.83 (range: 35–78), followed by Yahoo at 58.03 (range: 22–78), and Bing with the highest overall mean score of 61.2 (range: 27–78). The majority of websites were graded excellent (≥63) or good (51–62), 43% and 27%, respectively; 20% were scored as fair (39–50), with 10% being either poor (27–38) or very poor (≤26). In terms of readability, the overall Flesch Reading Ease score was 33.02, and the overall Flesch–Kincaid grade level was 10.3. Conclusions The quality of freely available online information relating to esophageal atresia is generally good but may not be accessible to everyone due to being relatively difficult to read. We should direct parents towards comprehensive, high-quality, and easily readable information sources should they wish to supplement their knowledge about esophageal atresia and its management.

scholarly journals Betegpreferenciák az egészségügyi célú internethasználatban

2018 ◽  
Vol 159 (51) ◽  
pp. 2175-2182
Author(s):  
Zsuzsa Varga ◽  
Tamás Horváth
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Medical Society ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Smartphone Applications ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of Internet ◽  
Monitoring Devices

Abstract: Introduction: More sophisticated implementation of the Internet in healthcare improves medical services innumerably. To better understand the patients’ preferences for health-related use of Internet is warranted. Aim: Our aim was to determine the patients’ health-related Internet use. Method: Patients attending our private clinic between October 2016 and April 2017 were surveyed. Results: 208 questionnaires have been evaluated. Most patients use Internet daily, primarily on mobiles. The majority have already searched for health-related information online, 19% do regularly. 53% are satisfied with online contents and open to websites recommended by physicians. 32% of patients have already communicated with doctors online and 93% are satisfied doing so. 8% of patients use health-related smartphone applications regularly, 6% use other Internet-based health-monitoring devices. 60% of patients have already chosen a physician based on web information, while 17% do regularly. 82% of respondents have not yet shared health-related information on the Internet. Conclusions: The Internet is widely used by patients seeking information about their health, yet they are dissatisfied with the quality. Many patients are open to recommendations offered by physicians regarding sources of online information. Online communication between physician and patient might increase patient satisfaction. There is no breakthrough in the use of health-related websites, mobile apps or devices in Hungary. The demand for such service could be considered moderate. Additionally, online patient forums are not specifically popular. The medical society in Hungary should accept that physician selection by patients depends more increasingly upon information made available online. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(51): 2175–2182.

scholarly journals High tibial osteotomy: A review of the readability and quality of patient information on the internet

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-328
Author(s):  
Matthew Clark ◽  
Ian Colin Baxter ◽  
Matthew Hampton ◽  
Robert D Sandler ◽  
Andrew Legg
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
High Tibial Osteotomy ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Tibial Osteotomy ◽  
Common Procedure ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a common procedure performed for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (OA). Patients are increasingly using the internet to research surgical procedures to help aid decision making. Our aim was to assess the readability and quality of information available to patients online relating to HTO. Methods: A systematic review of three search engines Google, Bing, and Yahoo using the search terms "high tibial osteotomy" and "tibial osteotomy" separately was performed. The first three pages of results for each search engine were analyzed. Readability was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease Scale (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade level (FKGL) and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook formula (SMOG). Quality was assessed with the DISCERN questionnaire, JAMAbenchmarks and the presence of Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONCode). Results: Twenty-four webpages were included after duplicates (n=42) and exclusions (n=24).The overall readability was low, with a mean FRES of 53.2 (SD: 9.1), FKGL 10.7 (SD: 1.8),SMOG 10.4 (SD: 1.5). Quality was also low with a mean DISCERN score of 42 (SD: 12.3).None of the webpages fulfilled all of the JAMA benchmarking criteria and only 2/24 (8.3%)webpages possessed HONCode certification. Conclusion: The overall online information available to patient’s considering HTO is of lowreadability and quality. Improving the quality and readability of patient information online willbenefit informed patient decision making before HTO surgery.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EDUCATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (34) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Jevtić ◽  
Milan S. Dajić
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact

Social networks are a way of creating a virtual identity and entering into relationships with strangers in a series of interactions that were not known to a man before the existence of the Internet. Mobile phones and the virtual world often create a personality of a person that is not the same in the real world. It can be said that technology has changed the course of humanity and human consciousness and contributed to many changes in the mentality of society, especially among the youth. Children are often overwhelmed by materialism and jealousy, which further encourages them to become an unconscious, immoral and unambitious population. One of the negative effects of social networks is the abuse of privacy, which is also becoming a growing problem everywhere in the world and should not be ignored. However, a positive attitude should be maintained when it comes to social networks, because they facilitate communication, access to information and learning, greater availability of services and free advertising of some products or services. High school students use the Internet intensively every day, and the work raises the question of whether they use it constructively or destructively. The research was conducted in 2019, the population of high school students was observed and 100 students were included on the territory of Belgrade, Niš and Vitina.

scholarly journals Online Information About Periviable Birth: Quality Assessment (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriane F Haragan ◽  
Carly A Zuwiala ◽  
Katherine P Himes
Keyword(s):  
Medical Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
Treatment Choices ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Google Search

BACKGROUND Over 20,000 parents in the United States face the challenge of participating in decisions about whether to use life support for their infants born on the cusp of viability every year. Clinicians must help families grasp complex medical information about their baby’s immediate prognosis as well as the risk for significant long-term morbidity. Patients faced with this decision want supplemental information and frequently seek medical information on the Internet. Empirical evidence about the quality of websites is lacking. OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the quality of online information available about periviable birth and treatment options for infants born at the cusp of viability. METHODS We read a counseling script to 20 pregnant participants that included information typically provided by perinatal and neonatal providers when periviable birth is imminent. The women were then asked to list terms they would use to search the Internet if they wanted additional information. Using these search terms, two reviewers evaluated the content of websites obtained via a Google search. We used two metrics to assess the quality of websites. The first was the DISCERN instrument, a validated questionnaire designed to assess the quality of patient-targeted health information for treatment choices. The second metric was the Essential Content Tool (ECT), a tool designed to address key components of counseling around periviable birth as outlined by professional organizations. DISCERN scores were classified as low quality if scores were 2, fair quality if scores were 3, and high quality if scores were 4 or higher. Scores of 6 or higher on the ECT were considered high quality. Interreviewer agreement was assessed by calculated kappa statistic. RESULTS A total of 97 websites were reviewed. Over half (57/97, 59%) were for-profit sites, news stories, or personal blogs; 28% (27/97) were government or medical sites; and 13% (13/97) were nonprofit or advocacy sites. The majority of sites scored poorly in DISCERN questions designed to assess the reliability of information presented as well as data regarding treatment choices. Only 7% (7/97) of the websites were high quality as defined by the DISCERN tool. The majority of sites did not address the essential content defined by the ECT. Importantly, only 18% of websites (17/97) indicated that there are often a number of reasonable approaches to newborn care when faced with periviable birth. Agreement was strong, with kappa ranging from .72 to .91. CONCLUSIONS Most information about periviable birth found on the Internet using common search strategies is of low quality. News stories highlighting positive outcomes are disproportionately represented. Few websites discuss comfort care or how treatment decisions impact quality of life.

Accuracy of Medical Marijuana Claims Made by Popular Websites

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-464
Author(s):  
Katelyn D. Boatwright ◽  
Morgan L. Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Medical Marijuana ◽  
Online Marketing ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Medical Claims ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Quality Evidence

Background With increasing popularity of marijuana, consumers are likely turning to the internet for information regarding medical marijuana. Accuracy of medical marijuana claims is a significant concern because consumers change their medication management based on information from a single website. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and quality of medical marijuana claims on popular websites. Methods : Commonly used websites containing claims regarding medical marijuana were selected by utilizing three online marketing tools that rank websites based on number of views, number of visitors, and visitor engagement. Once the top ten most popular websites were selected, medical claims regarding marijuana were reviewed for accuracy and quality using evidence-based tools. Results Seventy-six percent of claims made by websites were inaccurate and were based on low-quality evidence. Of the medical marijuana claims reviewed, 10% of websites made appropriate cause and effect conclusions. Furthermore, approximately 3% of the medical marijuana claims were written by a healthcare professional. Conclusion The findings show there is misleading and inaccurate information readily available to consumers online.

Finding the evidence for practice in social work

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Cargill
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Efficient Search ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
Answerable Question

© 2013, IGI Global. The revolution in information technologies, in particular the growth of the Internet and greater access to computers, has given social workers unprecedented access to information resources. Researching such resources is crucial and it needs to be done efficiently. Planning an efficient search requires knowing which databases and other resources to use, knowing how to formulate an answerable question, identifying terms that inform the question, selecting the appropriate methodological filters, and being able to critically appraise evidence for its quality and relevance. This chapter, therefore, outlines some of the research sources available to social workers, it looks at some principles for finding information for practice in social work, and it outlines some criteria for evaluating the quality of that information.

A cross-sectional study on quality of diabetes information identified from the Internet (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingchun Fan ◽  
Jean Craig ◽  
Na Zhao ◽  
Fujian Song
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Search Engine ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Content Coverage ◽  
Google Search

BACKGROUND Increasingly people seek health information from the Internet, in particular, health information on diseases that require intensive self-management, such as diabetes. However, the Internet is largely unregulated and the quality of online health information may not be credible. OBJECTIVE To assess the quality of online information on diabetes identified from the Internet. METHODS We used the single term “diabetes” or equivalent Chinese characters to search Google and Baidu respectively. The first 50 websites retrieved from each of the two search engines were screened for eligibility using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included websites were assessed on four domains: accessibility, content coverage, validity and readability. RESULTS We included 26 websites from Google search engine and 34 from Baidu search engine. There were significant differences in website provider (P<0.0001), but not in targeted population (P=0.832) and publication types (P=0.378), between the two search engines. The website accessibility was not statistically significantly different between the two search engines, although there were significant differences in items regarding website content coverage. There was no statistically significant difference in website validity between the Google and Baidu search engines (mean Discern score 3.3 vs 2.9, p=0.156). The results to appraise readability for English website showed that that Flesch Reading Ease scores ranged from 23.1 to 73.0 and the mean score of Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level ranged range from 5.7 to 19.6. CONCLUSIONS The content coverage of the health information for patients with diabetes in English search engine tended to be more comprehensive than that from Chinese search engine. There was a lack of websites provided by health organisations in China. The quality of online health information for people with diabetes needs to be improved to bridge the knowledge gap between website service and public demand.

The Content and Quality of Publicly-Available Online Information About Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Coyle Soltys ◽  
Kimi Spilo ◽  
Mary C Politi
Keyword(s):  
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia ◽  
Diaphragmatic Hernia ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Pregnancy Termination ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Support Resources ◽  
Internet Searches

BACKGROUND Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) diagnosis in an infant is distressing for parents. Parents often feel unable to absorb the complexities of CDH during prenatal consultations and use the Internet to supplement their knowledge and decision-making. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the content and quality of publicly-available, internet-based CDH information. METHODS We conducted internet searches across two popular search engines. Websites were included if they contained CDH information and were publicly available. We developed a coding instrument to evaluate websites. Two coders were trained, achieved interrater reliability, and rated remaining websites independently. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS Searches yielded 520 websites; 91 met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Most websites provided basic CDH information including describing the defect (94.1%), need for neonatal intensive care (83.5%) and surgical correction (86.8%). Few mentioned palliative care, decisions about pregnancy termination (14.2%), or support resources (23.1%). CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the variability of information about CDH on the internet. Clinicians should work to develop and/or identify reliable, comprehensive information about CDH to support parents.

Quality of information about mental disease on the Internet: A comparative and longitudinal study of entries form Baidu Encyclopedia and Wikipedia (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Ma ◽  
Lisha Jiang ◽  
Jianchen Luo ◽  
Linli Zheng ◽  
Meiou Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Mental Disease ◽  
Information Service ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Medical Network

BACKGROUND The Internet has evolved the approaches of medical information spread. Demands of online information searching on mental disease expanded. The Wikipedia and Baidu Encyclopedia are popular information source. Websites with information on mental disease have not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE The research aimed to estimate the quality of mental disease information on the internet and to evaluate all aspects including timeliness to value the information quality from Baidu Encyclopedia and Wikipedia to help users to make better choice. Besides, establishing a perfect relevant online health information examine and supervision system, in order to satisfy public self-help mental medical information service needs. METHODS We retrieved the entries on mental disease from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision Version 2016 codes on Wikipedia (in English) and Baidu Encyclopedia (in Chinese) in 2018 and 2021. Subject sites were accessed by DISCERN. The comparison between 2 engines as well as 3 years follow-up and timeliness were calculated. RESULTS The number of entries on mental disease we found in 2018 is 34 on Baidu Encyclopedia and 36 on Wikipedia and 37 entries on both Baidu Encyclopedia and Wikipedia in 2021. In 2018, the DISCERN score of Baidu Encyclopedia entries in section 1 and section 3 were lower than those of Wikipedia articles (11.21±4.57 vs 26.25±3.21, p<.001; 2.06±.74 vs 2.53±.94, p<.05). Significantly differences can also be found in total score and all sections in 2021 between 2 engines (total score, 26.29±11.03 vs 44.31±9.77, all 3 sections, p<.001). The DISCERN score of Wikipedia articles during 3 years showed significant increase (all 3 sections, p<.001; total, p<.001). The mean update interval varies greatly from Baidu Encyclopedia (824.79 days in 2018; 945.73 days in 2021) to Wikipedia (34.17 days in 2018;50.46 days in 2021) (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS Despite the general poor quality of mental disease entries in both two engines, Wikipedia expressed to be a better source of online mental disease information compared to Baidu Encyclopedia, with higher reliability, better treatment advice and shorter update interval. Our findings reflected the existing deficit of general website mental health information, suggested a reference for further and better medical network information order. Based on this foundation, it is essential to encourage people to seek professional help rather than believe the ambiguous source information from Internet. The quality of these entries has been improved during 3 years. This positive trend is encouraging that we can expect better online information service in the coming future.

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