Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients
Background: Most patients with epilepsy want to learn as much as possible about the disease, and many have turned to the internet for information. Patients are likely to use information obtained from the internet to control their epilepsy, but little is known about the accuracy of this information....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Chinese Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.cmj.org/article.asp?issn=0366-6999;year=2015;volume=128;issue=24;spage=3324;epage=3328;aulast=Liu |
| _version_ | 1811273421079707648 |
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| author | Jian-Ming Liu Ru-Xiang Xu Yong-Sheng Hu Lian-Kun Ren Hui Qiao Hu Ding Zhi-Liang Liu |
| author_facet | Jian-Ming Liu Ru-Xiang Xu Yong-Sheng Hu Lian-Kun Ren Hui Qiao Hu Ding Zhi-Liang Liu |
| author_sort | Jian-Ming Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Most patients with epilepsy want to learn as much as possible about the disease, and many have turned to the internet for information. Patients are likely to use information obtained from the internet to control their epilepsy, but little is known about the accuracy of this information. In this survey, we have assessed the feasibility and usability of internet-based interventions for the treatment of epilepsy.
Methods: Data were collected from an internet search. Different search terms were used to obtain general information on epilepsy together with information about medication, types of epilepsy, treatment, women′s health, and other information. The accuracy of the information was evaluated by a group of experts.
Results: A total of 1320 web pages were assessed. The majority were websites related to health. A large number (80.2%) of web pages contained content related to the search term. A significant number of web pages 450/1058 (42.5%) claimed to provide information from a credible source; however, only 206/1058 (19.5%) of the information was accurate and complete; 326/1058 (30.8%) was accurate but incomplete; 328/1058 (31.0%) was correct but nonstandard, and 198/1058 (18.8%) was inaccurate. The authenticity of the information was not significantly different between the two search engines (χ2 = 0.009, P = 0.924). No significant difference was observed in the information obtained from a specialist or nonspecialist source (χ2 = 7.538, P = 0.057). There was also no correlation between the quality of the information and the priority (χ2 = 6.880, P = 0.076).
Conclusions: Searching for information about epilepsy on the internet is convenient, but the information provided is not reliable. Too much information is inaccurate or for advertisement purposes, and it is difficult for patients to find the useful information. Turning to the internet for medical knowledge may be harmful. Physicians should be aware that their patients may search for information on the internet and guide them to safe, reputable websites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:58:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31b2df7d9aa64caa99e36a2e23013a28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0366-6999 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:58:50Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chinese Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-31b2df7d9aa64caa99e36a2e23013a282022-12-22T03:13:06ZengWolters KluwerChinese Medical Journal0366-69992015-01-01128243324332810.4103/0366-6999.171425Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy PatientsJian-Ming LiuRu-Xiang XuYong-Sheng HuLian-Kun RenHui QiaoHu DingZhi-Liang LiuBackground: Most patients with epilepsy want to learn as much as possible about the disease, and many have turned to the internet for information. Patients are likely to use information obtained from the internet to control their epilepsy, but little is known about the accuracy of this information. In this survey, we have assessed the feasibility and usability of internet-based interventions for the treatment of epilepsy. Methods: Data were collected from an internet search. Different search terms were used to obtain general information on epilepsy together with information about medication, types of epilepsy, treatment, women′s health, and other information. The accuracy of the information was evaluated by a group of experts. Results: A total of 1320 web pages were assessed. The majority were websites related to health. A large number (80.2%) of web pages contained content related to the search term. A significant number of web pages 450/1058 (42.5%) claimed to provide information from a credible source; however, only 206/1058 (19.5%) of the information was accurate and complete; 326/1058 (30.8%) was accurate but incomplete; 328/1058 (31.0%) was correct but nonstandard, and 198/1058 (18.8%) was inaccurate. The authenticity of the information was not significantly different between the two search engines (χ2 = 0.009, P = 0.924). No significant difference was observed in the information obtained from a specialist or nonspecialist source (χ2 = 7.538, P = 0.057). There was also no correlation between the quality of the information and the priority (χ2 = 6.880, P = 0.076). Conclusions: Searching for information about epilepsy on the internet is convenient, but the information provided is not reliable. Too much information is inaccurate or for advertisement purposes, and it is difficult for patients to find the useful information. Turning to the internet for medical knowledge may be harmful. Physicians should be aware that their patients may search for information on the internet and guide them to safe, reputable websites.http://www.cmj.org/article.asp?issn=0366-6999;year=2015;volume=128;issue=24;spage=3324;epage=3328;aulast=LiuEpilepsy; Health Information; Internet; Self-management |
| spellingShingle | Jian-Ming Liu Ru-Xiang Xu Yong-Sheng Hu Lian-Kun Ren Hui Qiao Hu Ding Zhi-Liang Liu Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients Chinese Medical Journal Epilepsy; Health Information; Internet; Self-management |
| title | Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients |
| title_full | Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients |
| title_fullStr | Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients |
| title_short | Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients |
| title_sort | chinese internet searches provide inaccurate and misleading information to epilepsy patients |
| topic | Epilepsy; Health Information; Internet; Self-management |
| url | http://www.cmj.org/article.asp?issn=0366-6999;year=2015;volume=128;issue=24;spage=3324;epage=3328;aulast=Liu |
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