Evaluation of Chronic Pain‐Related Information Available to Consumers on the Internet. Issue 6 (8th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bailey, S. Jeffrey; LaChapelle, Diane L.; LeFort, Sandra M.; Gordon, Allan; Hadjistavropoulos, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Pain medicine. Volume 14:Issue 6(2013)
• Page Start: 855
• Page End: 864
• Publication Date: 2013-04-08
• Subjects: Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Analgesics -- Periodicals; Pain -- Periodicals; Pain Management -- Periodicals; Douleur -- Périodiques; Douleur -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Analgésiques -- Périodiques; Analgésique; Soulagement de la douleur; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.047205
• DOI: 10.1111/pme.12087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-2375

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pme12087-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective.</title> <p>Recent surveys suggest more than one third of patients utilize the Internet to seek information about chronic pain (CP) and that 60% of patients feel more confident in the information provided online than provided by their physician. Unfortunately, the quality of online information is questionable. For example, some Websites make unsubstantiated claims while others may have covert motives (i.e., product advertisement). This article presents two studies that utilized a well‐validated tool to evaluate the quality of online CP‐related information.</p> </sec> <sec id="pme12087-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design.</title> <p>A Website search was conducted by entering the most commonly used pain‐related search terms into the three most commonly used search engines in North America. In study 1, the first 50 Websites from each search were evaluated using a consumer‐focused evaluation tool—the DISCERN. In study 2, 21 clients with CP used the DISCERN to rate a random selection of Websites from among the 10 highest scoring and five lower scoring sites from Study 1, and answered open‐ended questions regarding the DISCERN and Websites.</p> </sec> <sec id="pme12087-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results.</title> <p>Ratings indicated that Websites ranged substantially in quality, with many providing incomplete and incorrect information, and others providing accurate and detailed information. The majority of the Websites provided low‐quality information. Client ratings of the Websites were consistent with those of the researchers.</p> </sec> <sec id="pme12087-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions.</title> <p>Overall, these findings speak to the risks associated with clients making CP‐related treatment choices based on information obtained online without first evaluating the Website.</p> </sec> </abstract>