Abstract
BackgroundAmid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), to manage their opioid withdrawal. Kratom has also been reported to relieve anxiety, improve stamina, and heighten physical performance. Given that kratom is not authorized for sale by Health Canada, many have turned to online retailers to purchase kratom due to its easy accessibility online. This study investigated the quality of consumer health information provided on the websites of online vendors selling kratom to consumers in Canada.MethodsFollowing searches on Google.ca using search terms designed to simulate the information-seeking behaviour of a typical patient-user online, eligible websites were assessed using the 16-question DISCERN instrument, a tool designed to assess the quality of consumer health information. Searches were conducted on March 27, 2020 and only websites presenting information in English were included.ResultsA total of 200 webpages were identified; after screening based on eligibility criteria and combining different webpages that belonged to the same website, 51 websites were found to be eligible. The mean summed DISCERN score across all 51 websites was 36.95 (SD = 2.44) out of 75, which reflects poor quality consumer health information across the subset of websites. The overall quality of websites was poor, as 78% (n = 40) of vendors received a score of 2 or less out of 5.ConclusionsIndividuals who seek information about kratom online are frequently exposed to poor quality consumer health information. Those looking to purchase kratom online are not provided with the critical information necessary to make an informed decision regarding its use, such as the complete details about the risks and side effects or a description of how kratom affects the body. Given the growing interest in kratom, knowledge of the quality of information available can lead to improved dialogue between healthcare providers and patients.
Highlights
Amid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), to manage their opioid withdrawal
Canada is in the midst of an opioid crisis; over 15,000 Canadians have lost their lives in opioid-related deaths from 2016 to 2019 [1, 2]
Given the severity of the opioid crisis, many individuals have turned to alternative therapies, including natural health products as they are commonly considered to be safer alternatives by the average consumer [3, 4]
Summary
Amid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), to manage their opioid withdrawal. Kratom has been reported to relieve anxiety, improve stamina, and heighten physical performance. Given the severity of the opioid crisis, many individuals have turned to alternative therapies, including natural health products as they are commonly considered to be safer alternatives by the average consumer [3, 4]. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is one herbal natural health product commonly used to remedy opioid withdrawal, improve stamina, increase sexual performance, and/or relieve anxiety and chronic pain [6,7,8]. Others may be using kratom for perceived health-related benefits
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