Korean J Gynecol Oncol Colposc.  2002 Mar;13(1):66-73.

Evaluation of colposcopy information on the internet

• Kim YT
• Kim SH
• Kim JW
• Kim DK

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We are living in an expanding world of information by the advent of internet and an estimated 60 million people all over the world use the internet. It is easier than the past for anyone with some knowledge and efforts to access to the Internet. Not only medical professionals but also patients have the same capability of researching a medical topic via the internet. As medical professionals, we are concerned whether the medical information found on the Internet by patients is current and accurate. METHODS: To evaluate the accuracy and variability of colposcopy information retrieval from a patient perspective, we categorized and defined the information on the internet with a systematic study of it. We chose eight search engines available on the homepage of Explorer to search and analyze the informations in which the topic of Colposcopy could be found. Furthermore, we analyzed the information whether it contained peer-review or reference to evaluate its reliability. RESULTS: There was considerable variability among the numbers of URLs varied from 11 to 23300 when we tested the search engines using combinations of capitalization and spellings. Descriptions of information out of 181 sites from a search engine(Yahoo) were also evaluated into five types from diagnostic information to anecdotal one. For peer-review system, inaccurate or misleading information was found on web pages and it might lead patients to doubt and distrust medical specialists whose information was contradictory to their own. CONCLUSION: We should admit that the internet could have positive and potential power in partnership with medical professionals to educate patients, helping them to overcome their disease. We should take an active role in identifying the accurate medical information Web sites and evaluating the quality of them.

MeSH Terms

Colposcopy*
Humans
Information Storage and Retrieval
Internet*
Search Engine
Specialization