Accuracy and Completeness of Patient Information in Organic World‐Wide Web Search for Mohs Surgery: A Prospective Cross‐Sectional Multirater Study Using Consensus Criteria. Issue 11 (9th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, Christopher J.; Neuhaus, Isaac M.; Sobanko, Joseph F.; Veledar, Emir; Alam, Murad
• Is Part Of: Dermatologic surgery. Volume 39:Issue 11(2013)
• Page Start: 1654
• Page End: 1661
• Publication Date: 2013-10-09
• Subjects: Skin -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.477
• DOI: 10.1111/dsu.12344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-0512

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Many patients obtain medical information from the Internet. Inaccurate information affects patient care and perceptions. Objective: To assess the accuracy and completeness of information regarding Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) on the Internet. Methods: Prospective cross‐sectional Internet‐based study reviewing 30 consecutive organic results from three U.S. urban areas on "Mohs surgery" using Google. Text was assessed using a consensus‐derived rating scale that quantified necessary and additional or supplementary information about MMS, as well as wrong information. Websites were classified according to type of sponsor. Results: Ninety‐one percent of sites conveyed basic information about MMS. There was variation in the mean amount of additional information items (range 0–9) according to website type: 8.4, medical societies; 6.7, academic practices; 5.9, web‐based medical information resources; 4.7, private practices; and 4.4, other ( p < .001). Cumulatively, academic practices and professional societies (mean 7.42) provided more additional information than private practices and web‐based sources (mean 5.11, p < .001). There were no differences based on geographic location. Wrong items included misspelling Mohs (10%), indicating that only plastic surgeons could reconstruct (7%), and noting MMS was never cost‐effective (7%). Conclusions: High‐ranking websites provide basic information about MMS. Academic practice and professional society sites provide more‐comprehensive information, but private practice sites and web‐based medical information sources also provide additional information.