Quality of medical information about menorrhagia on the worldwide web

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the quality of medical information on the management of menorrhagia on the worldwide web.

Design and procedures: An on-line search of the Internet, locating relevant web sites by using key phrases 'heavy periods' and 'patient information' in seven search engines. Quality was defined as the extent to which the characteristics of a web page satisfied its stated and implied objectives. Assessment focused on credibility and content of each web page. Source, currency and editorial review process assessed credibility and hierarchy and accuracy of evidence assessed content of the web pages.

Main outcome measures: Rate of compliance with preset criteria for quality of health information on the Internet.

Results: Nine relevant web pages were located, none of which complied with all of the criteria for quality. Seven of these pages displayed the source and five showed the currency of the information, while none described an editorial review process. Four web pages displayed a hierarchy of evidence and one web page depicted all the criteria for accuracy of its contents.

Conclusion: None of the web pages provided complete information to women on heavy periods according to the quality criteria. This makes it difficult for the user without medical knowledge to determine which web page is credible and useable and which should be ignored or rejected. There is a need to be vigilant about the quality of information on the Internet.