Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology
Published in: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology 6/2012

01-12-2012 | Clinical Investigation

Analysis of the Quality of Information Obtained About Uterine Artery Embolization From the Internet

Authors: Aniket N. Tavare, Ali Alsafi, Mohamad S. Hamady

Published in: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology | Issue 6/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

The Internet is widely used by patients to source health care–related information. We sought to analyse the quality of information available on the Internet about uterine artery embolization (UAE).

Materials and Methods

We searched three major search engines for the phrase “uterine artery embolization” and compiled the top 50 results from each engine. After excluding repeated sites, scientific articles, and links to documents, the remaining 50 sites were assessed using the LIDA instrument, which scores sites across the domains of accessibility, usability, and reliability. The Fleisch reading ease score (FRES) was calculated for each of the sites. Finally, we checked the country of origin and the presence of certification by the Health On the Net Foundation (HONcode) as well as their effect on LIDA and FRES scores.

Results

The following mean scores were obtained: accessibility 48/60 (80%), usability 42/54 (77%), reliability 20/51 (39%), total LIDA 110/165 (67%), and FRES 42/100 (42%). Nine sites had HONcode certification, and this was associated with significantly greater (p < 0.05) reliability and total LIDA and FRES scores. When comparing sites between United Kingdom and United States, there was marked variation in the quality of results obtained when searching for information on UAE (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In general, sites were well designed and easy to use. However, many scored poorly on the reliability of their information either because they were produced in a non–evidence-based way or because they lacking currency. It is important that patients are guided to reputable, location-specific sources of information online, especially because prominent search engine rank does not guarantee reliability of information.
Literature
1.
Baker L, Wagner TH, Singer S, Bundorf MK (2003) Use of the Internet and e-mail for health care information: results from a national survey. JAMA 289(18):2400–2406PubMedCrossRef
2.
3.
Smart JM, Burling D (2001) Radiology and the internet: a systematic review of patient information resources. Clin Radiol 56(11):867–870PubMedCrossRef
4.
Eysenbach G, Diepgen TL (1998) Towards quality management of medical information on the internet: evaluation, labelling, and filtering of information. Br Med J 317(7171):1496–1500CrossRef
5.
Purcell GP, Wilson P, Delamothe T (2002) The quality of health information on the internet. Br Med J 324(7337):557–578CrossRef
6.
Culver JD, Gerr F, Frumkin H (1997) Medical information on the Internet: a study of an electronic bulletin board. J Gen Intern Med 12(8):466–470PubMedCrossRef
7.
Chestnutt IG (2002) The nature and quality of periodontal related patient information on the world-wide web. Br Dent J 193(11):657–659; discussion 643PubMedCrossRef
8.
Soot LC, Moneta GL, Edwards JM (1999) Vascular surgery and the Internet: a poor source of patient-oriented information. J Vasc Surg 30(1):84–91PubMedCrossRef
9.
Impicciatore P, Pandolfini C, Casella N, Bonati M (1007) Reliability of health information for the public on the World Wide Web: systematic survey of advice on managing fever in children at home. Br Med J 314(7098):1875–1879CrossRef
10.
Bower H (1996) Internet sees growth of unverified health claims. Br Med J 313(7054):381CrossRef
11.
Abara E, Narushima M, Abara EO Patterns of computer and Internet usage among urology patients in two rural Northern Ontario communities. Can Urol Assoc J 4(1):37-41
12.
Diaz JA, Griffith RA, Ng JJ, Reinert SE, Friedmann PD, Moulton AW (2002) Patients’ use of the Internet for medical information. J Gen Intern Med 17(3):180–185PubMedCrossRef
13.
14.
Eysenbach G, Kohler C (2002) How do consumers search for and appraise health information on the world wide web? Qualitative study using focus groups, usability tests, and in-depth interviews. Br Med J 324(7337):537–573CrossRef
15.
Miller F, Mortel R, Mann W, Jahshan A (1976) Selective arterial embolization for control of hemorrhage in pelvic malignancy: femoral and brachial catheter approaches. Am J Roentgenol 126(5):1028–1032
16.
Royal College of Radiologists and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Joint Working Party (2009) Uterine artery embolization for fibroids: a review of current outcomes
17.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2007) Heavy menstrual bleeding. (NICE guideline CG44 [Excellence NIfHaC]). London, UK
18.
Hehenkamp WJ, Volkers NA, Birnie E, Reekers JA, Ankum WM (2008) Symptomatic uterine fibroids: treatment with uterine artery embolization or hysterectomy—Results from the randomized clinical Embolisation versus Hysterectomy (EMMY) Trial. Radiology 246(3):823–832PubMedCrossRef
19.
Edwards RD, Moss JG, Lumsden MA, Wu O, Murray LS, Twaddle S et al (2007) Uterine-artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids. N Engl J Med 356(4):360–370PubMedCrossRef
20.
Manyonda IT, Bratby M, Horst JS, Banu N, Gorti M, Belli AM (2011) Uterine artery embolization versus myomectomy: impact on quality-of-life—results of the FUME (fibroids of the uterus: myomectomy versus embolization) trial. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol [Epub July 20]
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
Sajid MS, Shakir AJ, Baig MK (2011) Information on the Internet about colorectal cancer: Patient attitude and potential toward Web browsing. a prospective observational study. Can J Surg 54(5):339–343PubMedCrossRef
30.
Kuttner R (2008) Market-based failure—A second opinion on U.S. health care costs. N Engl J Med 358(6):549–551PubMedCrossRef
31.
Relman AS (2007) Medical professionalism in a commercialized health care market. JAMA 298(22):2668–2670PubMedCrossRef
32.
Eysenbach G (2000) Towards ethical guidelines for e-health: JMIR theme issue on eHealth ethics. J Med Internet Res 2(1):E7PubMedCrossRef
33.
Soobrah R, Clark S (2011) Your patient information website: how good is it? Colorectal Dis [Epub August 29]
34.
Donnelly J, Kaaihue M (2011) Maintaining relationships with your patients by maximizing your online presence. J Med Pract Manage 27(1):57–59PubMed
35.
Donnelly J, Kaaihue M. Maintaining relationships with your patients by maximizing your online presence. J Med Pract Manage 27(1):57–59
36.
Peterson G, Aslani P, Williams KA (2003) How do consumers search for and appraise information on medicines on the Internet? A qualitative study using focus groups. J Med Internet Res 5(4):e33PubMedCrossRef
37.
Jadad AR, Gagliardi A (1998) Rating health information on the Internet: navigating to knowledge or to Babel? JAMA 279(8):611–614PubMedCrossRef
38.
Gagliardi A, Jadad AR (2002) Examination of instruments used to rate quality of health information on the internet: chronicle of a voyage with an unclear destination. Br Med J 324(7337):569–573CrossRef
39.
Kim P, Eng TR, Deering MJ, Maxfield A (1999) Published criteria for evaluating health related web sites: review. Br Med J 318(7184):647–649CrossRef
40.
Wilson P (2002) How to find the good and avoid the bad or ugly: a short guide to tools for rating quality of health information on the internet. Br Med J 324(7337):598–602CrossRef
41.
Bernstam EV, Shelton DM, Walji M, Meric-Bernstam F (2005) Instruments to assess the quality of health information on the World Wide Web: what can our patients actually use? Int J Med Inform 74(1):13–19PubMedCrossRef
42.
Roshan A, Agarwal S, England RJ (2008) Role of information available over the internet: what are the parents of children undergoing tonsillectomy likely to find? Ann R Coll Surg Engl 90(7):601–605PubMedCrossRef
43.
Patel U, Cobourne MT (2011) Orthodontic extractions and the Internet: quality of online information available to the public. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 139(2):e103–e109PubMedCrossRef
44.
San Norberto EM, Taylor J, Salvador R, Revilla A, Merino B, Vaquero C The quality of information available on the internet about aortic aneurysm and its endovascular treatment. Rev Esp Cardiol 64(10):869–875
45.
Ansani NT, Vogt M, Henderson BA, McKaveney TP, Weber RJ, Smith RB et al (2005) Quality of arthritis information on the Internet. Am J Health Syst Pharm 62(11):1184–1189PubMed
46.
Thompson AE, Graydon SL (2009) Patient-oriented methotrexate information sites on the Internet: a review of completeness, accuracy, format, reliability, credibility, and readability. J Rheumatol 36(1):41–49PubMed
47.
Meric F, Bernstam EV, Mirza NQ, Hunt KK, Ames FC, Ross MI et al (2002) Breast cancer on the world wide web: cross sectional survey of quality of information and popularity of websites. Br Med J 324(7337):577–581CrossRef
48.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2010) Uterine artery embolisation for fibroids: guidance (NICE guideline IPG367). London, UK
49.
Volkers NA, Hehenkamp WJ, Smit P, Ankum WM, Reekers JA, Birnie E (2008) Economic evaluation of uterine artery embolization versus hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: results from the randomized: EMMY trial. J Vasc Interv Radiol 19(7):1007–1016: quiz 1017PubMedCrossRef
50.
Dutton S, Hirst A, McPherson K, Nicholson T, Maresh M (2007) A UK multicentre retrospective cohort study comparing hysterectomy and uterine artery embolisation for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids (HOPEFUL study): main results on medium-term safety and efficacy. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 114(11):1340–1351CrossRef
51.
Freed MM, Spies JB (2010) Uterine artery embolization for fibroids: a review of current outcomes. Semin Reprod Med 28(3):235–341PubMedCrossRef
52.
Royal College of Radiologists and British Society for Interventional Radiology (2007) BFCR (07)11—Interventional radiology: responsibility for patients
53.
Voogt MJ, Arntz MJ, Lohle PN, Mali WP (2011) Lampmann LE (2011) Uterine fibroid embolisation for symptomatic uterine fibroids: a survey of clinical practice in Europe. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 34(4):765–773PubMedCrossRef
54.
Kravitz RL, Melnikow J (2001) Engaging patients in medical decision making. Br Med J 323(7313):584–585CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Analysis of the Quality of Information Obtained About Uterine Artery Embolization From the Internet
Authors
Aniket N. Tavare
Ali Alsafi
Mohamad S. Hamady
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 0174-1551
Electronic ISSN: 1432-086X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-012-0345-9

Other articles of this Issue 6/2012

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology 6/2012 Go to the issue

Letter to the Editor

Successful Removal of a Trapped Biliary Metallic Stent Delivery Catheter Using the Percutaneous Approach

Case Report

Fracture and Collapse of Balloon-Expandable Stents in the Bilateral Common Iliac Arteries Due to Shiatsu Massage

Clinical Investigation

Endovascular Mechanical Recanalisation After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Anterior Circulation Stroke: The Impact of a New Temporary Stent

Clinical Investigation

Percutaneous Transsplenic Access to the Portal Vein for Management of Vascular Complication in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Technical Note

Chemosaturation with Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion for Unresectable Isolated Hepatic Metastases from Sarcoma

Review Article

Interventional Radiology of Male Varicocele: Current Status