Breast cancer information on the internet: analysis of accessibility and accuracy

The Breast : Official Journal of the European Society of Mastology
E M QuinnH P Redmond

Abstract

Studies show internet sourced information often has poor accuracy. However, it is rapidly becoming a major source of patient information. Our aim was to assess accuracy of breast cancer-related information on the internet. The top five breast cancer-related search terms were identified using the commercial program "Wordtracker". These terms were searched using the search-engine "Google" and the top 100 webpages per topic analysed for applicability and accuracy of information. Overall 500 webpages were analysed. 42% were inapplicable to the question asked. Applicable accuracy rates were variable amongst the five terms: "breast cancer symptoms" 84%, "breast cancer care" 87%, "breast cancer stage" 88%, "breast cancer survival" 91% and "breast cancer signs" 78%. Educational websites were more likely to be accurate(p < 0.001) and interest group administered websites less likely to be accurate(p = 0.018) than other websites. Finding accurate breast cancer information on the internet is difficult due to large numbers of inapplicable unregulated websites preferentially returned via search engines.

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Citations

Jan 28, 2014·JAAPA : Official Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants·Gina M BergDavid Acuna
Jul 9, 2013·Journal of Cancer Education : the Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Education·Sonia Kim Anh Nguyen, Paris-Ann Ingledew
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