Top

World Journal of Surgery

Published in:

01-06-2007

Filling a Void: Thyroid Cancer Surgery Information on the Internet

Authors: Heather Yeo, Sanziana Roman, Mamie Air, Christina Maser, Tara Trapasso, Barbara Kinder, Julie Ann Sosa

Published in: World Journal of Surgery | Issue 6/2007

Abstract

Background

Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing, making it an important public health issue. Many patients use the Internet for health-related decisions. Our purposes were to measure the quality of thyroid cancer surgery information on the Internet, and to identify quality predictors.

Methods

The 50 most popular thyroid cancer websites from Google, Yahoo, and MSN were identified. A novel 55-point instrument based on current clinical practice guidelines was designed and used by a Delphi panel of 5 “blinded” endocrine surgeons to assess website information. Each website was independently evaluated by two surgeons. Quality was related to website demographic data using the Student’s t-test, chi-square, and ANOVA analyses.

Results

Inter-rater reliability for quality scores was excellent (κ = 0.81). Mean (% of overall quality) score was 21 (38%), and mean score for surgical content was low at 3.5 (29%). Only 50% of sites discussed indications for surgery; 8% length of surgery/anesthesia; 42% the role of lymphadenectomy; 44% recurrent laryngeal nerve injury/hoarseness and 42% hypoparathyroidism as potential complications; 16% recovery; and 20% recommendations for choosing a thyroid surgeon. Only 38% were updated within 2 years. On univariate analysis, no significant associations were found between surgical quality score and website country of origin, currency, sponsorship, authorship, oversight, or references.

Conclusions

Thyroid cancer surgery websites on the Internet are incomplete and outdated. No predictors of quality were identified. Significant improvement is needed in regulating information about thyroid cancer surgery on the Internet, and surgeons may contribute to this effort.

Available only for authorised users

Boberg EW Gustafson DH, Hawkins RP, et al. (1995) Development, acceptance, and use patterns of a computer-based education and social support system for people living with AIDS/HIV infection. Comput Hum Behav 11:289–311CrossRef

Legare F, O’Connor AM, Graham ID, et al. (2003) The effect of decision aids on the agreement between women’s and physicians’ decisional conflict about hormone replacement therapy. Patient Educ Couns 50:211–221PubMedCrossRef

Stalmeier PF, Roosmalen MS, Verhoef LC, et al. (2005) The decision evaluation scales. Patient Educ Couns 57:286–293PubMedCrossRef

Ford P (2000) Is the Internet changing the relationship between consumers and practitioners? J Healthcare Qual 22:41–43

Worldwide Internet Users Will Top 1 Billion in 2005. In Computer Industry Almanac I, ed. Vol 2005; 2005

Baker SR, Barry M, Chaudhry H, et al. (2006) Women as radiologists: are there barriers to entry and advancement? J Am Coll Radiol 3:131–134PubMedCrossRef

Forkner-Dunn J (2003) Internet-based patient self-care: the next generation of health care delivery. J Med Internet Res 5:e8PubMedCrossRef

Krane D. Number of “Cyberchondriacs”—U.S. adults who go online for health information—increases to estimated 117 million. July 28, 2005;5

Wirtz V, Cribb A, Barber N (2006) Patient-doctor decision-making about treatment within the consultation—a critical analysis of models. Soc Sci Med 62:116–124PubMedCrossRef

10.

McRoy SW, Liu-Perez A, Ali SS (1998) Interactive computerized health care education. J Am Med Inform Assoc 5:347–356PubMed

11.

Ruland CM, Bakken S (2002) Developing, implementing, and evaluating decision support systems for shared decision making in patient care: a conceptual model and case illustration. J Biomed Inform 35:313–321PubMedCrossRef

12.

Elwyn G, Edwards A, Mowle S, et al. (2001) Measuring the involvement of patients in shared decision-making: a systematic review of instruments. Patient Educ Couns 43:5–22PubMedCrossRef

13.

Sheridan SL, Harris RP, Woolf SH (2004) Shared decision making about screening and chemoprevention. a suggested approach from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Am J Prev Med 26:56–66PubMedCrossRef

14.

Health On the Net Winter 2004–2005 Survey Responses. http://www.hon.ch/Survey/Survey2005/res.html. Accessed January 6, 2006

15.

Berland GK, Elliott MN, Morales LS, et al. (2001) Health information on the Internet: accessibility, quality, and readability in English and Spanish. JAMA 285:2612–2621PubMedCrossRef

16.

Sullivan D. Nielsen NetRatings Search Engine Ratings. http://www.searchenginewatch.com/reports/print.php/34701_2156451. Accessed July 27, 2005

17.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Thyroid Carcinoma; 2005

18.

AACE/AAES medical/surgical guidelines for clinical practice: management of thyroid carcinoma. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. American College of Endocrinology. Endocr Pract 2001;7:202–220

19.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi medical guidelines for clinical practice for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules. Endocr Pract 2006;12:63–102

20.

Singer PA, Cooper DS, Daniels GH, et al. (1996) Treatment guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and well-differentiated thyroid cancer. American Thyroid Association. Arch Intern Med 156:2165–2172PubMedCrossRef

21.

Hoffman J Awash in information, patients face a lonely, uncertain road. NY Times (Print). Aug 14, 2005:A1, A18, A19

22.

Wills CE, Holmes-Rovner M (2003) Patient comprehension of information for shared treatment decision making: state of the art and future directions. Patient Educ Couns 50:285–290PubMedCrossRef

23.

Pautler SE, Tan JK, Dugas GR, et al. (2001) Use of the internet for self-education by patients with prostate cancer. Urology 57:230–233PubMedCrossRef

24.

NCCN 2006 Clincal Practice Guidelines in Oncology, http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp?button=I+Agree`#site, Sept. 13, 2006

25.

McHenry CR. (2002) Patient volumes and complications in thyroid surgery. Br J Surg 89:821–823PubMedCrossRef

26.

Sosa JA, Bowman HM, Tielsch et al. (1998) The importance of surgeon experience for clinical and economic outcomes from thyroidectomy. Ann Surg 228:320–330

Title: Filling a Void: Thyroid Cancer Surgery Information on the Internet
Authors: Heather Yeo
Sanziana Roman
Mamie Air
Christina Maser
Tara Trapasso
Barbara Kinder
Julie Ann Sosa
Publication date: 01-06-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: World Journal of Surgery / Issue 6/2007
Print ISSN: 0364-2313
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2323
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9010-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Filling a Void: Thyroid Cancer Surgery Information on the Internet

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 6/2007

Delay from Symptom Onset Increases the Conversion Rate In Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis

Early Postoperative Oral Feeding Accelerates Upper Gastrointestinal Anastomotic Healing in the Rat Model

Delay from Symptom Onset Increases the Conversion Rate in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis

Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Two Mastectomy Techniques

Peritoneal Perforation of Liver Hydatid Cysts: Clinical Presentation, Predisposing Factors, and Surgical Outcome

Gallstone Ileus: Diagnosis and Management