scholarly journals Evaluating the quality of patient information on appendicitis using the modified EQIP tool (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahi Ghani ◽  
Ka Siu Fan ◽  
Ka Hay Fan ◽  
Lorenzo Lenti ◽  
Dimitri Raptis
Keyword(s):  
Patient Information ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Health Seeking

BACKGROUND Appendicitis is a common surgical problem amongst the young adult population, who are likely to use the Internet to obtain medical information. This information may determine the health-seeking behaviour of an individual and may delay medical attention. Little is known regarding the quality of patient information on appendicitis on the Internet as this has not been previously studied. OBJECTIVE Our objective for this study was to evaluate the quality the quality of information found on the top searched websites that aim to provide patient information regarding appendicitis. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of information on appendicitis available online using 4 search terms in google ‘appendicitis’ ‘appendix’, ‘appendectomy’ and ‘appendicectomy’. The top 100 websites of every search term were assessed using the validated ’Ensuring Quality Information for Patients’ (EQIP) tool (Score 0-36). RESULTS A total of 119 websites met the eligibility criteria for evaluation. The overall median EQIP score for all websites was 20 (Interquartile range 18-22). More than half the websites originated from the USA (53%). 45% of all websites originated from hospitals, though 43% of these did not mention qualitative risks from surgery. Incidence rates were only provided for complications and mortality in 13% and 3% of all websites respectively. CONCLUSIONS The assessment of the quality and readability of websites concerning appendicitis by the EQIP tool indicates that most sites online were of poor credibility, with minimal information regarding complication rates and mortality. To improve education and awareness of appendicitis, there is an immediate need for more informative and patient-centred websites that are more compatible with international quality standards.

scholarly journals 1273 Appendicitis and Patient Information: A Systematic Analysis of Websites Using the EQIP Tool

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
K S Fan ◽  
S Ghani ◽  
K H Fan ◽  
L Lenti ◽  
D Raptis
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Health Seeking

Abstract Background Appendicitis is a common surgical problem amongst the young adult population, who are likely to use the Internet to obtain medical information. This information may determine the health-seeking behaviour of an individual and may delay medical attention. This study aims to study the quality of patient information on appendicitis on the Internet as it has not been previously studied. Method A systematic review of health information on appendicitis available online is conducted using 4 search terms via Google: ‘appendicitis’ ‘appendix’, ‘appendectomy’ and ‘appendicectomy’. The top 100 websites of each search term were assessed using the validated ’Ensuring Quality Information for Patients’ (EQIP) tool (score 0-36). Only websites containing health information intended for the general public were included. Results A total of 119 websites met the eligibility criteria for evaluation. The overall median EQIP score for all websites was 20 (interquartile range 18-22). More than half the websites originated from the USA (53%). 45% of all websites originated from hospitals but 43% of these did not mention qualitative risks from surgery. Incidence rates were only provided for complications and mortality in 13% and 3% of all websites, respectively. Conclusions The assessment of the quality and readability of websites concerning appendicitis by the EQIP tool indicates that most sites online were of poor credibility, with minimal information regarding complication rates and mortality. To improve education and awareness of appendicitis, there is an immediate need for more informative and patient-centred websites that are more compatible with international quality standards.

scholarly journals Patients’ Use of the Internet to Find Reliable Medical Information About Minor Ailments: Vignette-Based Experimental Study

10.2196/12278 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. e12278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Kwakernaak ◽  
Just A H Eekhof ◽  
Margot W M De Waal ◽  
Elisabeth A M Barenbrug ◽  
Niels H Chavannes
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Mcnemar Test ◽  
Minor Ailments

Background Little is known about the exact process of how patients search for medical information on the internet and what they retrieve. There is especially a paucity of literature on browsing for information on minor ailments, a term used for harmless diseases that are very common in the general population and thus have a significant impact on health care. Objective This vignette-based experimental study aimed to explore what kind of Web-based search strategies are applied and how search strategies, demographic characteristics, and the quality of the visited websites relate to finding the right diagnosis. Additional goals were to describe how searching on the Web influences one’s perception of the severity of the potential diagnosis and whether or not the participants would discuss the information they found on the internet with their doctors. Methods Out of 1372 survey participants, 355 were randomly sampled, and 155 of them were recruited and assigned to one of four clinical scenarios. Each search term they used was classified as one of three search strategies: (1) hypothesis testing, (2) narrowing within the general hypothesis area, and (3) symptom exploration. The quality of the websites used was determined by using the DISCERN instrument. To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the participants before and after the internet search, a McNemar test was used. Chi-square tests were used to describe which factors are related to the chosen search strategy. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was constructed to predict which factors are related to finding a sound diagnosis after searching the internet for health information. Results Most participants (65.8%, 102/155) used the symptom exploration strategy. However, this depends on the assigned scenario (P<.001) and the self-estimated severity score of the symptoms before the internet search (P=.001). A significant relation was found between choosing an accurate diagnosis and age (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.98) and the clinical scenario, as well as the use of high-quality websites (OR 7.49, 95% CI 1.85 to 30.26). Browsing the internet did not lead to a statistically significant change in participants’ beliefs about the severity of the condition (McNemar test, P=.85). Most participants (65%) shared their retrieved information with their physician and most of them (75%) received a positive response. Conclusions Our findings suggest that most patients use a symptom-based approach; however, if patients expect the potential diagnosis to be severe, they tend to use a hypothesis verification strategy more often and are therefore prone to certain forms of bias. In addition, self-diagnosing accuracy is related to younger age, the symptom scenario, and the use of high-quality websites. We should find ways to guide patients toward search strategies and websites that may more likely lead to accurate decision making.

scholarly journals Patients’ Use of the Internet to Find Reliable Medical Information About Minor Ailments: Vignette-Based Experimental Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Kwakernaak ◽  
Just AH Eekhof ◽  
Margot WM De Waal ◽  
Elisabeth AM Barenbrug ◽  
Niels H Chavannes
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Mcnemar Test ◽  
Minor Ailments

BACKGROUND Little is known about the exact process of how patients search for medical information on the internet and what they retrieve. There is especially a paucity of literature on browsing for information on minor ailments, a term used for harmless diseases that are very common in the general population and thus have a significant impact on health care. OBJECTIVE This vignette-based experimental study aimed to explore what kind of Web-based search strategies are applied and how search strategies, demographic characteristics, and the quality of the visited websites relate to finding the right diagnosis. Additional goals were to describe how searching on the Web influences one’s perception of the severity of the potential diagnosis and whether or not the participants would discuss the information they found on the internet with their doctors. METHODS Out of 1372 survey participants, 355 were randomly sampled, and 155 of them were recruited and assigned to one of four clinical scenarios. Each search term they used was classified as one of three search strategies: (1) hypothesis testing, (2) narrowing within the general hypothesis area, and (3) symptom exploration. The quality of the websites used was determined by using the DISCERN instrument. To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the participants before and after the internet search, a McNemar test was used. Chi-square tests were used to describe which factors are related to the chosen search strategy. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was constructed to predict which factors are related to finding a sound diagnosis after searching the internet for health information. RESULTS Most participants (65.8%, 102/155) used the symptom exploration strategy. However, this depends on the assigned scenario (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001) and the self-estimated severity score of the symptoms before the internet search (<italic>P</italic>=.001). A significant relation was found between choosing an accurate diagnosis and age (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.98) and the clinical scenario, as well as the use of high-quality websites (OR 7.49, 95% CI 1.85 to 30.26). Browsing the internet did not lead to a statistically significant change in participants’ beliefs about the severity of the condition (McNemar test, <italic>P</italic>=.85). Most participants (65%) shared their retrieved information with their physician and most of them (75%) received a positive response. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that most patients use a symptom-based approach; however, if patients expect the potential diagnosis to be severe, they tend to use a hypothesis verification strategy more often and are therefore prone to certain forms of bias. In addition, self-diagnosing accuracy is related to younger age, the symptom scenario, and the use of high-quality websites. We should find ways to guide patients toward search strategies and websites that may more likely lead to accurate decision making.

The reliability of the Internet for patient-centred education for surgical procedures

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-203
Author(s):  
Ca Slinger ◽  
I Smillie
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Procedures ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Ease Score

Background There is increasing use of the Internet by patients as an educational tool prior to a surgical procedure. However, the quality of information is highly variable, and it is imperative that as clinicians, we are aware of the information available to ensure that consent is valid and avoid unrealistic expectations. Our aim is to assess the quality of medical information available on the Internet related to common surgical procedures. Methods Analysis of the quality of patient information on 10 websites for six common surgical conditions ( n = 54 following exclusions) was assessed using the DISCERN questionnaire and, for readability, using the Flesch reading ease test. Results There was high variation in the DISCERN score from 1.34 to 4.4 (mean 2.75). Overall, poor quality of patient information is available. Consistent scoring below 55 on Flesch reading ease score suggests a reading level beyond the majority of the patient population. Conclusion The majority of patient-centred health education on the Internet is poor. Therefore, improved verbal and written information during consultation combined with local, national and international websites is important to meet patient’s expectations and avoid issues regarding consent.

The Quality of Medical Information on the Internet

1998 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 1663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Medical Information ◽  
The Internet

A Quality Assessment of Online Patient Information Regarding Rhinoplasty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eamon Shamil ◽  
Gabriela Di Scenza ◽  
Shahi Abdul Ghani ◽  
Ka Siu Fan ◽  
Suthaharan Ragulan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Outcome Management ◽  
Balanced Information ◽  
Unrealistic Expectations

AbstractThere is a large demand for online patient information for patients considering rhinoplasty. While there are many resources available, the quality and content of the information provided are unknown. This study aimed to assess the quality of the most popular information available online, using the “Ensuring Quality Information for Patients” (EQIP) tool to evaluate the content, structure, and readability of patient information on websites. Search terms including nose operation, nose job, nose reshaping, nose tip surgery, rhinoplasty, septorhinoplasty, were identified using Google AdWords and Trends. Unique links from the first 10 pages for each term were identified and evaluated with websites written in English and for general non-medical public use were included. 295 websites met the eligibility criteria with a median overall EQIP score of 17. Only 33% contained balanced information on the risks and benefits. Bleeding and infection risk was only mentioned in 29% and 27% of websites, respectively. Two percent described complication rates of the procedures and only 20% of articles explained further surgery may be required to achieve patient cosmetic or functional satisfaction. Information regarding rhinoplasty available online is currently of poor quality. The lack of effective risk counselling, possible outcome management, and complications may likely lead to unrealistic expectations of rhinoplasty. It is crucial the risks of surgery are communicated to the patient to ensure they can make an informed decision. Improved education through online resources would likely help to promote more realistic patient expectations.

scholarly journals Interoperability in Healthcare

2017 ◽  
pp. 689-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Cardoso ◽  
Fernando Marins ◽  
César Quintas ◽  
Filipe Portela ◽  
Manuel Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
High Availability ◽  
Heterogeneous Information ◽  
Multi Agent

With the advancement of technology, patient information has been being computerized in order to facilitate the work of healthcare professionals and improve the quality of healthcare delivery. However, there are many heterogeneous information systems that need to communicate, sharing information and making it available when and where it is needed. To respond to this requirement the Agency for Integration, Diffusion, and Archiving of medical information (AIDA) was created, a multi-agent and service-based platform that ensures interoperability among healthcare information systems. In order to improve the performance of the platform, beyond the SWOT analysis performed, a system to prevent failures that may occur in the platform database and also in machines where the agents are executed was created. The system has been implemented in the Centro Hospitalar do Porto (one of the major Portuguese hospitals), and it is now possible to define critical workload periods of AIDA, improving high availability and load balancing. This is explored in this chapter.

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.

Tu1083 Systematic Assessment of Quality of Patient Information on Colorectal Cancer Screening on the Internet

2015 ◽  
Vol 148 (4) ◽  
pp. S-783
Author(s):  
Elisabeth H. Schreuders ◽  
Elisabeth J. Grobbee ◽  
Ernst J. Kuipers ◽  
Manon C. Spaander ◽  
Sander Veldhuyzen van Zanten
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Screening ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Systematic Assessment

scholarly journals Erratum to: Quality of patient information on the internet for the treatment of anal fistula and anal fissure

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 1185-1185
Author(s):  
F. Scott ◽  
A. Sehgal ◽  
H. M. Joshi ◽  
T. M. Yeung ◽  
M. P. Gosselink
Keyword(s):  
Anal Fissure ◽  
Anal Fistula ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
The Internet
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