Qualitative Assessment of Atopic Dermatitis-Related Websites

Kim, Ja Kyoung; Kim, Jeong Hee; Lim, Dea Hyun; Son, Byong Kwan

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the current status of Internet websites dealing with atopic dermatitis and to evaluate the quality of their contents using an evaluation tool.
METHODS
The words "atopic dermatitis" were searched with the four most commonly used Internet search engines between July and August of 2005. The searched websites included commercial medical instrument, oriental medicine, community (i.e., health portal), and medical institution sites. However, we assessed with the evaluation tool, the quality of the contents of only those sites that provided some description of atopic dermatitis-related symptoms, doctor consultations, and treatment and management.
RESULTS
A total of 104 web sites were searched. Among them, commercial medical nstrument sites were the most common [53 sites (51%)], followed by oriental medicine sites [28 sites (26.9%)]. The quality of each of these 82 site's contents was analyzed. At the community sites, the purpose of the site's existence was clearer, but the reliability of information was relatively poor, as compared with the other site types. Among the various types of informations on atopic dermatitis, treatment and management, of the greatest interest to users, showed only a low-accuracy rating on the qualitative assessment.
CONCLUSION
Commercial medical instrument sites predominated among the four types of site that providing atopic dermatitis-related information in internet. Having assessed the quality of contents of all of the four types of site, we showed that the accuracy of complementary alternative medical information was low. In this regard, it is deemed necessary to formulate a standard for finding and managing correct information.