The Evolution of Web-based Medical Information on Sore Throat
Author Information
Author(s): Vincenzo Currò, Paola Sabrina Buonuomo, Paola De Rose, Roberta Onesimo, Andrea Vituzzi, Alessandro D'Atri
Primary Institution: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Hypothesis
To monitor the evolution of Web page contents on sore throat over a 3 year period.
Conclusion
In 3 years, medical contents have not changed significantly despite the increase in the number of sites dealing with sore throat.
Supporting Evidence
- 18% of the monitored pages disappeared over the observation period.
- Most variations in content related to updates and references.
- Only 12.5% of the sites provided references.
- Only 33% of the sites specified the date of creation or last update.
Takeaway
The information about sore throats on the internet hasn't really improved over three years, even though there are more websites now.
Methodology
Two medical doctors independently evaluated 34 Web pages on sore throat using a metasearch engine and compared them to a gold standard.
Potential Biases
The evaluation may be biased due to the subjective nature of the independent assessments by the two doctors.
Limitations
The study was limited in terms of the observation period, the number of monitored sites, and the unique medical issue considered.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on web pages aimed at parents seeking medical information about sore throats.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p>0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website