Quality Of Online Health Information Research Articles

Contents analysis of thyroid cancer-related information uploaded to YouTube by physicians in Korea: endorsing thyroid cancer screening, potentially leading to overdiagnosis

BackgroundThyroid cancer overdiagnosis is a major public health issue in South Korea, which has the highest incidence rate. The accessibility of information through the Internet, particularly on YouTube, could potentially impact excessive screening. This study aimed to analyze the content of thyroid cancer-related YouTube videos, particularly those from 2016 onwards, to evaluate the potential spread of misinformation.MethodsA total of 326 videos for analysis were collected using a video search protocol with the keyword “thyroid cancer” on YouTube. This study classified the selected YouTube videos as either provided by medical professionals or not and used topic clustering with LDA (latent dirichlet allocation), sentiment analysis with KoBERT (Korean bidirectional encoder representations from transformers), and reliability evaluation to analyze the content. The proportion of mentions of poor prognosis for thyroid cancer and the categorization of advertising content was also analyzed.ResultsVideos by medical professionals were categorized into 7 topics, with “Thyroid cancer is not a ‘Good cancer’” being the most common. The number of videos opposing excessive thyroid cancer screening decreased gradually yearly. Videos advocating screening received more favorable comments from viewers than videos opposing excessive thyroid cancer screening. Patient experience videos were categorized into 6 topics, with the “Treatment process and after-treatment” being the most common.ConclusionThis study found that a significant proportion of videos uploaded by medical professionals on thyroid cancer endorse the practice, potentially leading to excessive treatments. The study highlights the need for medical professionals to provide high-quality and unbiased information on social media platforms to prevent the spread of medical misinformation and the need for criteria to judge the content and quality of online health information.

Comparative Assessment of Online Written Health Information on Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in English and Hindi Language Webpages

Objectives: To assess and compare the overall quality of online written information on the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in English and Hindi language webpages. Also, correlates of the quality of online health information were explored. Methods: First 50 links obtained on Google search in both English and Hindi language were screened, and a total of 86 (45 English, 41 Hindi) webpages providing patient-oriented information on the treatment of ED were analysed. Content quality and reliability were assessed using the DISCERN scale and the JAMA benchmark criteria respectively. Additionally, aesthetics, interactivity, and readability were evaluated. Results: The DISCERN score indicative of content quality was significantly higher for English webpages compared to Hindi webpages. English webpages were more likely to meet disclosure and attribution JAMA criteria for the reliability of medical information. English webpages with HONcode certification were more likely to have better content quality than those without it. However, none of the Hindi web pages analyzed were HONcode certified. Conclusion: English language webpages provided better overall quality of information on treatment of ED as compared to Hindi language. HONcode label might be used as a proxy indicator of better content quality for online resources informing on ED treatment by laypersons. There is a need to develop and popularize the usage of HONcode or other similar online health information quality accreditation systems for webpages in non-English languages like Hindi.

ChatGPT as a Source of Patient Information for Lumbar Spinal Fusion and Laminectomy: A Comparative Analysis Against Google Web Search.

Retrospective Observational Study. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, in providing patient information for lumbar spinal fusion and lumbar laminectomy in comparison with the Google search engine. ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot with seemingly unlimited functionality, may present an alternative to a Google web search for patients seeking information about medical questions. With widespread misinformation and suboptimal quality of online health information, it is imperative to assess ChatGPT as a resource for this purpose. The first 10 frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the search terms "lumbar spinal fusion" and "lumbar laminectomy" were extracted from Google and ChatGPT. Responses to shared questions were compared regarding length and readability, using the Flesch Reading Ease score and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. Numerical FAQs from Google were replicated in ChatGPT. Two of 10 (20%) questions for both lumbar spinal fusion and lumbar laminectomy were asked similarly between ChatGPT and Google. Compared with Google, ChatGPT's responses were lengthier (340.0 vs. 159.3 words) and of lower readability (Flesch Reading Ease score: 34.0 vs. 58.2; Flesch-Kincaid grade level: 11.6 vs. 8.8). Subjectively, we evaluated these responses to be accurate and adequately nonspecific. Each response concluded with a recommendation to discuss further with a health care provider. Over half of the numerical questions from Google produced a varying or nonnumerical response in ChatGPT. FAQs and responses regarding lumbar spinal fusion and lumbar laminectomy were highly variable between Google and ChatGPT. While ChatGPT may be able to produce relatively accurate responses in select questions, its role remains as a supplement or starting point to a consultation with a physician, not as a replacement, and should be taken with caution until its functionality can be validated.

Man Versus Machine: Can Artificial Intelligence Distinguish Between the Quality of Online Health Information on Social Media?

BACKGROUND: ChatGPT is a popular artificial intelligence service offered by OpenAI. It’s utility in assessing quality of online medical information has been investigated by Golan and Ripps et. al. In July 2023, ultimately concluding that ChatGPT was unable to discern poor from high quality information. However, this study focused on information from websites generated from a Google search. To the author’s knowledge, there has been no evaluation of the ability of ChatGPT to stratify the quality of online medical information from social media videos. Two previous studies, by Dhami and Wescott et. al. In May 2023 and Rehman et. al. In 2021, identified differences via manual calculation of DISCERN scores between physician and non-physician Tik-Tok videos on the topic of hidradenitis suppurativa. This study aims to identify whether ChatGPT can distinguish between physician and non-physician health videos pertaining to hidradenitis suppurativa on Tik-Tok via DISCERN score. METHODS: A similar methodology to Dhami and Wescott et. al. was used in an attempt to capture the same population of videos. A new Tik-Tok account was created to eliminate any previous search bias. The term “#hidradenitissuppurativa” was searched in July, 2023. Videos were filtered by “most-liked.” Inclusion criteria consisted of videos posted prior to October 25, 2022, that did not satisfy the exclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria consisted of videos in a language other than English, duplicated videos, videos that did not offer health advice, or videos deemed irrelevant to hidradenitis suppurativa by the author. Videos included were transcribed by the website TokScript (https://script.tokaudit.io) or by the author if transcripts were not available by that method. ChatGPT was prompted to evaluate transcripts based on the DISCERN criteria, which were copied directly from the Discern Instrument website “Rating this question” pop-up. Each of the 16 question criteria were submitted to ChatGPT separately. Transcriptions were provided to ChatGPT and a DISCERN score was generated. A Shapiro-Wilk test was performed on the sample of DISCERN scores to determine normality. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed between physician and non-physician DISCERN scores. RESULTS: Of 377 Tik Tok videos returned with the search, 43 satisfied inclusion criteria (11.4%). Of these, 19 (44.2%) were produced by a physician and 24 (55.8%) by a non-physician. Aggregate DISCERN scores were not normally distributed (Shapiro-Wilk p < 0.0002). Physician produced videos had a mean DISCERN score of 41.87 with an interquartile range of 26-57. Mean DISCERN score for non-physician produced videos was 24.56 with an interquartile range of 16-30.5. Mann-Whitney U test returned a p < 0.0006. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that ChatGPT may have the capacity to distinguish high from low quality social media videos to some extent based on the DISCERN score. More evaluation is necessary to elucidate the boundaries of utilizing ChatGPT in this fashion. This has the potential to suggest that polishing this utilization may automate this process in the future, saving valuable time for human researchers in this field.

Evaluation of YouTube Information Quality About Pes Planus.

The aim of this study was to measure the quality of information about "flatfoot" and "pes planus" presented online on the social media site YouTube and to determine the trends of viewers to medical information on YouTube. "Flatfoot and pes planus" was typed into the YouTube search module. From the search results, videos with 50,000 views or more, longer than 45 seconds, and containing information about flatfoot and pes planus disease were selected. DISCERN and JAMA scoring, daily average views, number of likes, and number of comments were collected from 53 videos that met the criteria. The profession of the sharer was evaluated in terms of the information quality of the sharing and the orientation of the audience. The mean number of views per day of the examined videos was 2,047. The mean video presentation time was 8 minutes 50 seconds. The mean JAMA score was 2 of 4 and the mean DISCERN score was 38.16 of 75. According to the DISCERN score according to the professions, the video quality was moderate for doctors (41.44 ± 12.99), moderate for physiotherapists (41.91 ± 9.04), poor for coaches (32.78 ± 7.87), poor for patients (34.50 ± 5.32), and weak for others (34.89 ± 14.00). According to the Spearman correlation between DISCERN score and mean daily viewing, significant relationships were found for the doctors (P = .0102) and others groups (P = .0033); however, no significant relationships were observed for the physiotherapists group (P = .1073), the flatfoot patients group (P = .5363), and the coaches group (P = .9111). There were significant relationships between like and comment counts in all groups (doctors, P = .0088; coaches, P = .0069; physiotherapists, P = .0007; others, P =.0018; and patients, P = .0066). Looking at previous studies, it was observed that the quality of online health information was historically inadequate. Likewise, in our study on YouTube, we found that the quality of flatfoot and pes planus information was poor to moderate.

COVID-19 symptoms, internet information seeking, and stigma influence post-lockdown health anxiety.

With the lifting of Zero-COVID policies in China, rapid transmission of the virus has led to new challenges for patients' health anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and health anxiety, as well as the mediation paths between them in individuals infected with COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022, following the relaxation of anti-COVID measures in China. A validated online questionnaire was used to collect data from COVID-19 patients on the number and severity of symptoms, health anxiety, internet health information-seeking behavior (IHISB), and perceived stigma. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediation model in which COVID-19 symptoms would affect health anxiety via IHISB and perceived stigma. Overall, 1,132 participants (women, 67.6%) were included, with a mean (SD) age of 28.12 (10.07) years. Participants had an average of seven COVID-19 symptoms, with cough (91.3%), nasal congestion (89.1%) and fatigue (87.8%) being the most common. The number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms, IHISB, perceived stigma, and health anxiety were positively correlated with each other after adjusting for covariates (r ranging from 0.10 to 0.81, all p < 0.05). IHISB (effect = 0.14, p < 0.001) and perceived stigma (effect = 0.04, p < 0.001) fully mediated the relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and health anxiety. Interventions for health anxiety reduction during and after pandemics should target improving the quality of online health information, enhancing individuals' online healthy literacy, and reducing stigma.

Assessing Patterns in Childhood Obesity Patient Education: A Quality of Online Health Information and Google Trends Analysis.

Background: Childhood obesity (CO) is rapidly increasing in prevalence and developing into a health crisis of developed nations. The condition is associated with increased risk of developing various comorbidities later in life. Current treatment algorithms primarily target family education. Thus, this study aims to understand the quality of information online regarding CO and common comorbidities, determine the readability of online information, and report patterns in public interest over time using Google Trends. Methods: Four validated quality of information tools and 6 readability tools were implemented across 36 websites derived from 4 Google searches. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the associations between Google Trends' relative search volumes (RSVs) and biennial BMI-based cumulative proportion of CO. Results: Results showed variable information quality among the websites as scores ranged from "fair" to "very poor." Using six readability formulas, no website scored at or below the sixth grade reading level recommended by the American Medical Association. Google Trends' RSVs for the term "Childhood Obesity" were repeatedly increased in the months that fall in the US academic school year (October-November and February-May), and decreased within months in the US vacation periods (December-January and June-September). Search volumes were also negatively correlated with CO and pediatric type 2 diabetes prevalence. Conclusions: In summary, while Google Trends analysis showed that schools may play a role in increasing interest and awareness online, quality of information and readability analysis displayed that the information and its accessibility are far too variable to be reliable.

Digital health information on surgical treatment options for overactive bladder is underrepresented

PurposeDigital health information gains growing importance in the medical landscape. Despite its opportunities, there is a risk of patient misinformation which may adversely influence the patient–physician relationship. This investigation aimed to identify and compare differences in the content and quality of online health information on overactive bladder (OAB) between different digital platforms.MethodsThe platforms Google search, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube were searched for the keyword OAB. The search result links were classified as useful or misleading, advertisement and personal experience. Information regarding the organization of the source and available content on treatment modalities was collected. Descriptive analysis was applied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate heterogeneity regarding the distribution of information depending on the source. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe source with the highest quantity of useful content was YouTube (100%) and Google (100%), whereas LinkedIn included mostly misleading content (73%). YouTube and Google provided the greatest variety of health information and were dominated by professional associations. Surgical procedures for treating OAB were only described in 32% and 48% of Google and YouTube results, respectively. On Google, sacral neuromodulation and OnabotulinumtoxinA were described in 26% and bladder augmentation in only 16% of the search results. In contrast, alternative medicine was present in 76%.ConclusionsA large gap in the information on surgical treatments of OAB could be identified independently from the utilized source. In contrast, conservative treatments and alternative medicine dominate the current informational sources.

Exploring the Use of Facet Joint Injections Through Instagram.

Facet joint injection (FJI) is a minimally invasive procedure used to relieve pain and inflammation in the facet joints of the spine. In light of the growing presence of social media, it is essential to comprehend its effects on the healthcare industry. Little is known about how FJI is discussedon Instagram. Thepurpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and production sources of FJI-related posts on Instagram. This study provides a descriptive analysis of Instagram posts with the keywords #facetjointinjection, #facetjointinjections,#facetinjection, #facetinjections, #facetblock, and #facetblocks onMarch 1, 2023. The results were categorized by source into four groups; posts created by healthcare professionals (surgeon/non-surgeon), medical organizations, patients, or not otherwise specified. The content was categorized by type (educational and patient/physician experience) and user influence (number of followers and posts). The search resulted in 2718 posts. Most post uploaders were mainly physicians (43.1%, n = 275). The distribution of remaining Instagram users with FJIs posts was as follows: 27.1% (n=173) patients, 16.3% (n=104) medical organizations, and 13.4% (n=86) not otherwise specified. Among theposts, 1136 (41.7%) were from accounts created by patients, 1015 (37.3%) by physicians, 441 (16.2%) by medical organizations, and 126 (4.6%) were unspecified.The analysis showed a significant difference in the distribution of posts among patients and physicians, as well as patients and other unspecified groups (p<0.05). The reported side effectswere as follows: pain around the injection site (36%), swelling (17%), weight gain (15%), and anxiety (32%). This study demonstrates that physicians are widely present on social media. However, when searching for posts about facet joint interventions, posts written by patients are more likely to be seen by the public. The results of this article emphasize the impact physicians have on online platforms and the need to raise FJI awareness on Instagram. Due to a lack of information and their anxiety about the unknown, patients have voiced hesitation about undergoing FJIs. To address this issue, it is the responsibility of physicians to enhance the accessibility of accurate information for patients in order to alleviate their anxiety. Additionally, reputable pain medicine societies and qualified specialists should upload credible posts on facet joint interventions that include accurate information, high-quality images and videos, and proper scientific commentary, with the aim of enhancing the quality of online health information.

Assessment of readability and quality of patient education materials specific to nocturnal enuresis

Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis (NE), is a common childhood disease. Families increasingly turn to free online resources for health education in order to navigate treatment options. We aim to determine the readability and quality of online health information that families may encounter when searching for information on pediatric NE. The search term 'bedwetting' was queried in commonly used search engines. Included articles were further categorized as institutional/reference, commercial, non-profit/charitable, or personal. An online readability platform calculated 3 commonly used readability assessments as well as a consensus score. Quality was assessed by two independent pediatric urologists using a validated DISCERN instrument. Differences in readability were further assessed by article category type. 36 websites were reviewed, 3 did not include treatment options and were not included in quality assessment. 55.6% of the articles were categorized as institutional/reference, 27.8% as non-profit/charitable, 11.1% as personal, and 5.6% as commercial. The average, standard deviation, and range of readability level were as follows: overall consensus score=9.56±2.09, FK Grade Level Formula score=9.38±2.17 (range 5.8-14.1), SMOG Index score=8.89±1.79 (range 6.4-12.9), and the GF Index score=11.86±2.34 (range 8.4-16.9). The overall consensus score, 9.56, correlates to a 9th-grade reading level. 16 articles were considered to be of 'good' quality, 12 of 'fair' quality, and 5 of 'poor' quality; according to the DISCERN scoring. There was no statistically significant difference in readability scores across website categories. Two articles included the outdated treatment option of intranasal DDAVP. These findings are concordant with the increasing body of literature demonstrating that patient education materials are too difficult to read. Pediatric urologists should be aware of the readability and quality of available online content for common clinical presentations. They can ensure that institutional articles online are useful to patients by participating in the development and design of these materials. We demonstrated that online articles that families encounter via a search engine query for bedwetting are written at a higher level than recommended and the majority are of 'fair' quality. There is much room for improvement for institutions to provide high quality, readable content that supports the needs of families seeking information on NE.

AB107. SOH23ABS_014. Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction: an analysis of the readability and quality of online patient information

Background: Currently, patients use the internet for health information relating to surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the readability and quality of online health information relating to acromioclavicular joint reconstruction. We hypothesize that the information will be of poor quality and be too difficult to read for the average patient.

The design and evaluation of a nudge‐based interface to facilitate consumers' evaluation of online health information credibility

AbstractEvaluating the quality of online health information (OHI) is a major challenge facing consumers. We designed PageGraph, an interface that displays quality indicators and associated values for a webpage, based on credibility evaluation models, the nudge theory, and existing empirical research concerning professionals' and consumers' evaluation of OHI quality. A qualitative evaluation of the interface with 16 participants revealed that PageGraph rendered the information and presentation nudges as intended. It provided the participants with easier access to quality indicators, encouraged fresh angles to assess information credibility, provided an evaluation framework, and encouraged validation of initial judgments. We then conducted a quantitative evaluation of the interface involving 60 participants using a between‐subject experimental design. The control group used a regular web browser and evaluated the credibility of 12 preselected webpages, whereas the experimental group evaluated the same webpages with the assistance of PageGraph. PageGraph did not significantly influence participants' evaluation results. The results may be attributed to the insufficiency of the saliency and structure of the nudges implemented and the webpage stimuli's lack of sensitivity to the intervention. Future directions for applying nudges to support OHI evaluation were discussed.

Development and testing of the health information website evaluation tool on neck pain websites – An analysis of reliability, validity, and utility

ObjectiveOnline health information contributes to patient education and knowledge on disease management. The aims of this study were to design the Health Information Website Evaluation Tool (HIWET) to evaluate the quality of online information, and to investigate the reliability, validity, and utility of HIWET. MethodsHIWET was developed by a literature search and small-scale pilot testing. Upon development, psychometric properties of HIWET were evaluated on 20 neck pain websites. Reliability was analysed using Intra class correlation coefficient (ICC). Validity was analysed using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. Utility was analysed using an independent samples t-test. ResultsHIWET demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability (0.94 (0.98–0.99), p < .001) and fair inter-rater reliability (0.55 (0.88–0.10), p = .04). HIWET demonstrated validity with strong correlation against DISCERN (r = 0.656, n = 20, p = .002) and LIDA (r = 0.564, n = 20, p = 0.010). HIWET was time-efficient when compared to three comparison tools combined. ConclusionHIWET is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the qualities of online health information. Practical implications: HIWET has the advantages of being a simple, quick to use and freely accessible tool. It can be implemented into clinical practice, education, and research to evaluate quality of online health information.

Readability and quality of online patient health information on parotidectomy.

Complications of parotidectomy can have a massive impact on patients' quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the readability and quality of online health information on parotidectomy. The search terms 'parotidectomy', 'parotid surgery', 'parotidectomy patient information' and 'parotid surgery patient information' were parsed through three popular search engines. The websites were analysed using readability scores of the Flesch Reading Ease test and the Gunning Fog Index. The DISCERN instrument was used to assess quality and reliability. The average Flesch Reading Ease score was 50.2 ± 9.0, indicating that the materials were fairly difficult to read, the Gunning Fog Index score showed that the patient health information was suitable for an individual above 12th grade level, and the DISCERN score indicated that the online patient health information had fair quality. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference in Flesch Reading Ease and DISCERN tool scores according to website category (p < 0.05). Current online patient health information on parotidectomy is too difficult for the public to understand, and it exceeds the reading levels recommended by Health Education England and the American Medical Association.

Avaliação da acurácia da informação em sites sobre leishmaniose visceral: uma estratégia de enfrentamento da desordem informacional

ABSTRACT New Information and Communication Technologies are increasingly present in the daily lives of people and institutions globally. The information they convey may need to be updated, complete, correct, or deliberately untrue. We live in a context of information mayhem. Health-related information like this can harm individuals and society. Some alternatives have been put forward to address this issue. This article discusses how online health information quality assessment and website certification can serve in confronting information disorder. It presents a methodology for assessing the accuracy of online information following the updated and scientifically proven information from evidence-based medicine. It analyzes the case of visceral leishmaniasis: one of the most prevalent neglected diseases in the world. Following this method, a tool with indicators was built, and the websites of international non-governmental organizations and the Ministries of Health of Brazil and India were evaluated. The results show that all the evaluated websites obtained at most 50% compliance with the indicators used.

Generalized pustular psoriasis: Quality and readability of online health information.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a multisystem disease with potentially life-threatening adverse effects. As patients increasingly seek health information online, and as the landscape for GPP changes, the quality of online health information (OHI) becomes progressively more important. This paper is the first of its kind to examine the quality, comprehensiveness and readability of online health information for GPP. Similar to pre-existing studies evaluating OHI, this paper examines 5 key search terms for GPP- 3 medical and 2 laymen. For each search term, the results were evaluated based on HONcode accreditation, an enhanced DISCERN analysis and a number of readability indices. Of the 500 websites evaluated, 84 (16.8%) were HONcode-accredited. Mean DISCERN scores of all websites were 74.9% and 38.6% for website reliability and treatment sections, respectively, demonstrating key gaps in comprehensiveness and reliability of GPP-specific OHI. Additionally, only 4/100 websites (4%) analysed for readability were written at the NIH-recommended sixth-grade level. Academic websites were significantly more difficult to read than governmental websites. This further exacerbates the patient information gap, particularly for patients with low health literacy, who may already be at higher risk of not receiving timely medical care.

Online Information Related to Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Google Search Analysis.

Introduction While Google is frequently used to access internet-based health resources, the quality of online health information remains variable. Our purpose was to assess suggested resources identified through Google search features for common symptoms related to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods Two searches were performed. The first, labeled "symptom-related," included the terms "hand numbness," "hand tingling," and "hand falling asleep." The second, labeled "CTS-specific," included "carpal tunnel syndrome," "carpal tunnel surgery," and "carpal tunnel release." A novel feature of Google's search engine is to display similar searches made by other users ("People Also Ask" snippet). For each search, the first 100 results snippets and the associated website links were recorded. A list of unique questions was compiled and classified into 1 of 3 categories using the Rothwell classification: fact, policy, or value. Questions were also classified based on the diagnoses suggested by the query. Website authorship was determined, and the corresponding links were categorized by two independent reviewers. Results The "symptom-related" searches yielded 175 unique questions and 130 unique website links, and the "CTS-specific" searches yielded a total of 243 questions and 179 unique links. For "symptom-related" searches, 65% of questions suggested a diagnosis, with CTS being suggested as a diagnosis for only 3% of questions. In contrast, CTS was suggested by 92% of questions in "CTS-specific" searches. In both searches, nearly 75% of questions were classified as "facts." Commercial websites were the most common in both searches. Conclusion Google searches for common symptoms of median nerve compression rarely yield information related to CTS.

Internet Health Information on Patient’s Decision-Making: Implications, Opportunities and Challenges

The accessibility of online health information has changed the decision-making process for patients concerning their health. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding the quality and reliability of the information available on the Internet. The Internet has emerged as the dominant global source of health-related information, with a significant proportion of individuals utilizing it to retrieve information on nutrition, diseases, symptoms, and treatment options. However, the unregulated nature of online health information poses challenges in terms of assessing its credibility and accuracy. Increasingly, patients are actively engaged in healthcare decision-making, empowered by the information they acquire online. Consequently, a paradigm shift from the traditional physician-centric model to a more collaborative and patient-centered approach has occurred. Patients now have access to an expanded array of healthcare professionals and possess the ability to make informed decisions regarding their treatment and care. Nonetheless, the variability in quality of online health information and patients' limited capacity to effectively evaluate it can give rise to misunderstandings, misinformation, and an elevated propensity for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. Furthermore, patients' reliance on online information can impact the patient-physician relationship, with discrepancies between online findings and physician diagnoses leading to dissatisfaction and conflicts. Barriers obstructing effective patient-physician communication on online health information include patient's apprehension about challenging physicians, perceived resistance from physicians themselves, and difficulties in comprehending and articulating the information sourced online. Addressing these barriers and enhancing the patient-physician relationship can yield positive outcomes, including timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and shared decision-making. While Internet use brings advantages such as increased accessibility to healthcare providers and enhanced patient empowerment, it also introduces certain disadvantages. The prevalence of misinformation and disinformation on the Internet engenders risks, contributing to confusion and a lack of trust in healthcare institutions. Additionally, patients may encounter challenges in interpreting and prioritizing the information they find online, which can result in heightened anxiety and uncertainty regarding their health. This review critically examines the impact of Internet use on patient decision-making and its effect on the patient-physician relationship.

Evaluating online health information quality using machine learning and deep learning: A systematic literature review.

Due to the large volume of online health information, while quality remains dubious, understanding the usage of artificial intelligence to evaluate health information and surpass human-level performance is crucial. However, the existing studies still need a comprehensive review highlighting the vital machine, and Deep learning techniques for the automatic health information evaluation process. Therefore, this study outlines the most recent developments and the current state of the art regarding evaluating the quality of online health information on web pages and specifies the direction of future research. In this article, a systematic literature is conducted according to the PRISMA statement in eight online databases PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, ACM, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library, Emerald Insight, and Web of Science to identify all empirical studies that use machine and deep learning models for evaluating the online health information quality. Furthermore, the selected techniques are compared based on their characteristics, such as health quality criteria, quality measurement tools, algorithm type, and achieved performance. The included papers evaluate health information on web pages using over 100 quality criteria. The results show no universal quality dimensions used by health professionals and machine or deep learning practitioners while evaluating health information quality. In addition, the metrics used to assess the model performance are not the same as those used to evaluate human performance. This systemic review offers a novel perspective in approaching the health information quality in web pages that can be used by machine and deep learning practitioners to tackle the problem more effectively.

Assessing the Quality of Online Health Information and Trend Data for Colorectal Malignancies

IntroductionPatients often refer to the internet to learn about different health conditions. This study aims to assess the landscape of online health information on malignant colorectal conditions, focusing on the popularity, quantity, and quality of internet resources pertaining to these conditions. This information can be used as a guide for surgeons to supplement patient information at the time of surgical evaluation and to help design optimal online health information. MethodsThe terms “colon cancer,” “rectal cancer,” “anal cancer,” and “colorectal cancer” were searched using the Google search engine. The number of search results or “hits” obtained per search term was recorded and the first 50 websites for each search term were reviewed. Included websites did not have a password requirement, were in English, and were free. Quality assessments were performed using the DISCERN instrument, and mean DISCERN scores were compared using analysis of variance. The popularity of each search term was determined using Google Trends, which generates a relative search volume score. ResultsA total of 431 million hits were obtained for the term “colon cancer,” 72.5 million for “rectal cancer,” 244 million for “anal cancer,” and 194 million for “colorectal cancer.” Mean DISCERN scores for reviewed websites ranged between 39.7 and 40.6, and were thus within the “fair” category. There were no significant differences in mean DISCERN scores across search terms (P = 0.5). Colon cancer had the highest relative search volume score (61.8), followed by colorectal cancer (43.4/100), rectal cancer (42.5/100), and anal cancer (41.7/100). ConclusionsAlthough there is a large amount of online information on malignant colorectal conditions, the quality of the available information is inadequate. Clinician guidance to resources aimed at higher quality from guidance of the DISCERN tool may be of value for patient education.