Quality of the patient-oriented information on thyroid cancer in the internet

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to analyse the readability and quality of patient education websites about thyroid cancer.MethodsYahoo!, Google and Bing were searched with their default settings using the keywords thyroid cancer, thyroid tumour, thyroid tumor, and thyroid malignancy for relevant websites. The first 50 websites obtained for each keyword and search engine were evaluated using validated Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), LIDA and DISCERN scores to assess readability, usability and reliability, and quality of information. Statistical analysis were done using non-parametric tests.ResultsThe analysis included 49 eligible websites selected out of 600 websites obtained from the search engines. Twenty-two (44.9%) web sites had obtained Health on the net foundation code of conduct (HON-code) certification. The included websites had a median FRES score of 55.3(range 25.3–85.3) and the LIDA reliability and usability scores were 22.0(range 14–30) and 39.0(range 28–50), respectively. The median DISCERN score was 48.0(range 33–63). A total DISCERN score of 50% or less (low score) was found in 28.5%(n = 14) of the websites. A significant association was found between LIDA usability and, reliability scores and DISCERN score (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively).ConclusionThe quality of the websites, readability and usability scores were moderate or low based on the criteria used. Access to quality information may help with better informed decisions on treatment, follow up and prognosis. As the internet use by the public is ever increasing, implementing measures to ensure the quality information without a bias should be considered a priority.     

How Do Patients Value the Benefit of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Cancer Treatment?

ObjectivesDue to the increasing cost of cancer treatment, the demand for value-based healthcare is increasing. Although several value frameworks have been developed recently in the field of oncology, the nononcological benefits of minimally invasive surgery have not been addressed. This study aimed to estimate how patients value nononcological benefits in minimally invasive cancer surgery.MethodsThe value that patients placed on various benefits of cancer surgery was termed throughout the study as patient value (PV). To quantize PVs for the benefits of cancer surgery, a one-tiered analytic hierarchy process model was constructed. The model includes 6 well-known surgical outcomes, including nononcological benefits. The study participants included 303 patients with cancer and family caregivers who participated in a questionnaire survey.ResultsThe PVs for “decreased operation time,” “reduced length of hospital stay,” and “improved cosmetic results” were 0.050, 0.044, and 0.045, respectively, whereas the PVs for “increased survival,” “prevention of disease recurrence,” and “avoidance of complications” were 0.366, 0.292, and 0.203, respectively. The PV placed on nononcological benefits from minimally invasive surgery was one-tenth (10.2%) of the total value.ConclusionsNononcological benefits arising from minimally invasive surgery were relatively small but nonnegligible. This value should be considered in the process of developing a value framework for cancer surgery and shared decision making.     

Quality assessment of YouTube videos intended to inform patients about retinal detachment surgery

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness, quality and reliability of YouTube videos that address retinal detachment surgery as a source of information and education for patients.MethodsPerforming a YouTube search using the keyword ‘retinal detachment surgery for patients’, the first 100 videos in the search results were included in the study. The number of views, age, number of likes, number of dislikes, number of comments, length, upload source, country of origin, type (patient information and education, patient experience), and surgical technique described (pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy) were recorded for all videos. The quality and accuracy of the information were evaluated by two independent ophthalmologists using the DISCERN, global quality and usefulness scoring systems.ResultsOf the top 100 videos, 77 met the inclusion criteria. When the videos were evaluated according to the source, 21 (27.3%) had been uploaded by physicians, 30 (39%) by private health institutions, 10 (13%) by health channels, eight (10.4%) by patients, seven (9.1%) by academia (university hospitals), and one (1.3%) by a pharmaceutical company. The mean DISCERN score was 53.36, the mean Global Quality score was 3.49, and the mean usefulness score was 3.86. There was a significant and strong correlation between the usefulness score and the global Quality and DISCERN scores. A significant and strong correlation was also found between the global quality score and the DISCERN score.ConclusionYouTube appears to be a platform with sufficiently informative videos in the area of retinal detachment surgery for patients. Healthcare professionals and professional and academic institutions should use this platform effectively to spread high quality information to patients and their families.     

Readability of Online Information on Celiac Disease: A Brief Report

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition characterized by an intolerance to dietary gluten for those with a genetic predisposition. The Internet has become a key source of information about CD as well as a gluten-free diet (GFD), although the quality is varied. There has been little investigation into the readability of online CD information. Keyword “celiac disease” was used for a search in the browser, Google Chrome. URLs of the first 100 English websites were recorded; sponsored or advertised websites were not included in the sample. Five recommended tests generated by Readable.io were utilized to assess the sample’s readability scores. Only one of the 100 websites received an acceptable reading score on two of the five reading assessments. Websites with extensions of .com or .org were equally likely to be written at the same unacceptable level. Informational websites on celiac disease may serve as an unintentional barrier for consumers seeking readable, online material on this health topic.     

Revising the Suspected-Cancer Guidelines: Impacts on Patients’ Primary Care Contacts and Costs

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the impact of revising suspected-cancer referral guidelines on primary care contacts and costs.MethodsParticipants had incident cancer (colorectal, n = 2000; ovary, n = 763; and pancreas, n = 597) codes in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink or England cancer registry. Difference-in-differences analyses explored guideline impacts on contact days and nonzero costs between the first cancer feature and diagnosis. Participants were controls (“old National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE]”) or “new NICE” if their index feature was introduced during guideline revision. Model assumptions were inspected visually and by falsification tests. Sensitivity analyses reclassified participants who subsequently presented with features in the original guidelines as “old NICE.” For colorectal cancer, sensitivity analysis (n = 3481) adjusted for multimorbidity burden.ResultsMedian contact days and costs were, respectively, 4 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-7) and £117.69 (IQR £53.23-£206.65) for colorectal, 5 (IQR 3-9) and £156.92 (IQR £78.46-£272.29) for ovary, and 7 (IQR 4-13) and £230.64 (IQR £120.78-£408.34) for pancreas. Revising ovary guidelines may have decreased contact days (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.74; 95% confidence interval 0.55-1.00; P = .05) with unchanged costs, but parallel trends assumptions were violated. Costs decreased by 13% (equivalent to −£28.05, −£50.43 to −£5.67) after colorectal guidance revision but only in sensitivity analyses adjusting for multimorbidity. Contact days and costs remained unchanged after pancreas guidance revision.ConclusionsThe main analyses of symptomatic patients suggested that prediagnosis primary care costs remained unchanged after guidance revision for pancreatic cancer. For colorectal cancer, contact days and costs decreased in analyses adjusting for multimorbidity. Revising ovarian cancer guidelines may have decreased primary care contact days but not costs, suggesting increased resource-use intensity; nevertheless, there is evidence of confounding.     

Abortion misinformation from crisis pregnancy centers in North Carolina

BackgroundThis study assessed the accuracy of medical information provided by crisis pregnancy centers in North Carolina.Study DesignWe performed a secondary data analysis of a “secret shopper survey” performed by a nonprofit organization. Reports from phone calls and visits to crisis pregnancy centers were analyzed for quality and content of medical information provided. Web sites of crisis pregnancy centers in the state were also reviewed.ResultsThirty-two crisis pregnancy centers were contacted. Nineteen of these were visited. Fourteen centers (44%) offered that they “provide counseling on abortion and its risks.” Inaccurate information provided included a link between abortion and breast cancer (16%), infertility (26%) and mental health problems (26%). Of the 36 Web sites identified, 31 (86%) provided false or misleading information, including 26 sites (72%) linking abortion to “post-abortion stress.”ConclusionsMany crisis pregnancy centers give inaccurate medical information regarding the risks of abortion. Overstating risks stigmatizes abortion, seeks to intimidate women and is unethical.     

Programa de cribado poblacional de cáncer colorrectal en Aragón. Primeros resultados

ObjectiveTo describe preliminary findings from the colorectal cancer screening programme in Aragon (Spain) to evaluate its implementation.MethodsWe have collected data from the first year of the program (2014) based on faecal occult blood immunochemical (FOBTi) test in patients 60-69 years old. We report “indicators” defined by the “Red Nacional de Cribado”.ResultsInvited population after exclusions: 12,518. Program participation rate: 45.28% (95%CI: 44.41-46.15). Inadequate tests: 0.21% (95%CI: 0.12-0.37); positive FOBTi test 10.75% (95%CI: 9.97-11.58) and colonoscopy acceptance 95.07% (95%CI: 93.04-96.52). Colonoscopy was appropriate and complete in 97.58% (95%CI: 95.98–98.55) of cases. The high- and low-risk adenoma detection rates were 14.7‰ (95%CI: 11.9-18.2) and 5.55‰ (95%CI: 3.9-7.8) respectively. The positive predictive value for any adenoma was 58.55% (95%CI: 54.49-62.49) and for invasive cancer was 5.36% (95%CI: 3.8-7.51).ConclusionThe indicator analysis of the ongoing programme suggests the programme is being implemented correctly in our community.     

The Reliability and Quality of YouTube Videos as a Source of Public Health Information Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination: Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundRecent emergency authorization and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines by regulatory bodies has generated global attention. As the most popular video-sharing platform globally, YouTube is a potent medium for the dissemination of key public health information. Understanding the nature of available content regarding COVID-19 vaccination on this widely used platform is of substantial public health interest.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the reliability and quality of information on COVID-19 vaccination in YouTube videos.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, the phrases “coronavirus vaccine” and “COVID-19 vaccine” were searched on the UK version of YouTube on December 10, 2020. The 200 most viewed videos of each search were extracted and screened for relevance and English language. Video content and characteristics were extracted and independently rated against Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct and DISCERN quality criteria for consumer health information by 2 authors.ResultsForty-eight videos, with a combined total view count of 30,100,561, were included in the analysis. Topics addressed comprised the following: vaccine science (n=18, 58%), vaccine trials (n=28, 58%), side effects (n=23, 48%), efficacy (n=17, 35%), and manufacturing (n=8, 17%). Ten (21%) videos encouraged continued public health measures. Only 2 (4.2%) videos made nonfactual claims. The content of 47 (98%) videos was scored to have low (n=27, 56%) or moderate (n=20, 42%) adherence to Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct principles. Median overall DISCERN score per channel type ranged from 40.3 (IQR 34.8-47.0) to 64.3 (IQR 58.5-66.3). Educational channels produced by both medical and nonmedical professionals achieved significantly higher DISCERN scores than those of other categories. The highest median DISCERN scores were achieved by educational videos produced by medical professionals (64.3, IQR 58.5-66.3) and the lowest median scores by independent users (18, IQR 18-20).ConclusionsThe overall quality and reliability of information on COVID-19 vaccines on YouTube remains poor. Videos produced by educational channels, especially by medical professionals, were higher in quality and reliability than those produced by other sources, including health-related organizations. Collaboration between health-related organizations and established medical and educational YouTube content producers provides an opportunity for the dissemination of high-quality information on COVID-19 vaccination. Such collaboration holds potential as a rapidly implementable public health intervention aiming to engage a wide audience and increase public vaccination awareness and knowledge.     

Utilisation des données du programme de médicalisation des systèmes d’information (PMSI) dans les études épidémiologiques : application à la Cohorte Enfant Scanner

BackgroundThe “Cohorte Enfant Scanner”, a study designed to investigate the risk of radiation-induced cancer after childhood exposure to CT (computed tomography) examinations, used clinical information contained in the “programme de médicalisation des systèmes d’information” (PMSI) database, the French hospital activities national program based upon diagnosis related groups (DRG). However, the quality and adequacy of the data for the specific needs of the study should be verified. The aim of our work was to estimate the percentage of the cohort's children identified in the PMSI database and to develop an algorithm to individualize the children with a cancer or a disease at risk of cancer from medical diagnoses provided by the DRGs database.MethodsOf the 1519 children from the “Cohorte Enfant Scanner”, who had had a CT scan in the radiology department of a university hospital in 2002, a cross linkage was performed with the DRGs database. All hospitalizations over the period 2002–2009 were taken into account. An algorithm was constructed for the items “cancer” and “disease at risk for cancer” on a sample of 150 children. The algorithm was then tested on the entire population.ResultsOverall, 74% of our population was identified in the DRGs database. The algorithm individualized cancer diagnoses with 91% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 86%; 97%) and 98% specificity (95%CI: 97%; 99%) and 86% positive predictive value (95%CI: 80%; 93%). For the diagnosis of disease at risk for cancer, the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value were respectively 91% (95%CI: 84%; 98%), 94% (95%CI: 92%; 95%) and 52% (95%CI: 43%; 61%).ConclusionThe DRG database identified with excellent sensitivity and specificity children with diagnoses of cancer or disease at risk for cancer. Hence, potential confounding factors related to the disease of the child can be taken into account for analyses performed with the cohort.     

The Effect of Presenting Information about Invasive Follow-Up Testing on Individuals’ Noninvasive Colorectal Cancer Screening Participation Decision: Results from a Discrete Choice Experiment

ObjectivesMany national colorectal cancer screening campaigns have a similar structure. First, individuals are invited to take a noninvasive screening test, and, second, in the case of a positive screening test result, they are advised to undergo a more invasive follow-up test. The objective of this study was to investigate how much individuals’ participation decision in noninvasive screening is affected by the presence or absence of detailed information about invasive follow-up testing and how this effect varies over screening tests.MethodsWe used a labeled discrete choice experiment of three noninvasive colorectal cancer screening types with two versions that did or did not present respondents with detailed information about the possible invasive follow-up test (i.e., colonoscopy) and its procedure. We used data from 631 Dutch respondents aged 55 to 75 years. Each respondent received only one of the two versions (N = 310 for the invasive follow-up test information specification version, and N = 321 for the no-information specification version).ResultsMixed logit model results show that detailed information about the invasive follow-up test negatively affects screening participation decisions. This effect can be explained mainly by a decrease in choice shares for the most preferred screening test (a combined stool and blood sample test). Choice share simulations based on the discrete choice experiment indicated that presenting invasive follow-up test information decreases screening participation by 4.79%.ConclusionsDetailed information about the invasive follow-up test has a negative effect on individuals’ screening participation decisions in noninvasive colorectal cancer screening campaigns. This result poses new challenges for policymakers who aim not only to increase uptake but also to provide full disclosure to potential screening participants.     

Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy Guided by Cardiac Monitoring During High-Risk Abdominal Surgery in Adult Patients: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Esophageal Doppler and Arterial Pulse Pressure Waveform Analysis

BackgroundSeveral minimally invasive techniques for cardiac output monitoring such as the esophageal Doppler (ED) and arterial pulse pressure waveform analysis (APPWA) have been shown to improve surgical outcomes compared with conventional clinical assessment (CCA).ObjectiveTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these techniques in high-risk abdominal surgery from the perspective of the French public health insurance fund.MethodsAn analytical decision model was constructed to compare the cost-effectiveness of ED, APPWA, and CCA. Effectiveness data were defined from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials. The clinical end points were avoidance of hospital mortality and avoidance of major complications. Hospital costs were estimated by the cost of corresponding diagnosis-related groups.ResultsBoth goal-directed therapy strategies evaluated were more effective and less costly than CCA. Perioperative mortality and the rate of major complications were reduced by the use of ED and APPWA. Cost reduction was mainly due to the decrease in the rate of major complications. APPWA was dominant compared with ED in 71.6% and 27.6% and dominated in 23.8% and 20.8% of the cases when the end point considered was “major complications avoided” and “death avoided,” respectively. Regarding cost per death avoided, APPWA was more likely to be cost-effective than ED in a wide range of willingness to pay.ConclusionsCardiac output monitoring during high-risk abdominal surgery is cost-effective and is associated with a reduced rate of hospital mortality and major complications, whatever the device used. The two devices evaluated had negligible costs compared with the observed reduction in hospital costs. Our comparative studies suggest a larger effect with APPWA that needs to be confirmed by further studies.     

The Obesity Paradox in Colorectal Cancer Surgery: An Analysis of Korean Healthcare Big Data, 2012–2013

Although it is well known that obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer, several studies have recently suggested that those who are overweight or class-one obese have better outcomes after surgery. However, the impact of obesity on the success of colorectal cancer surgery remains controversial. The medical records of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who were treated surgically from 2012 through 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Data from a total of 36,740 patients were provided by the Healthcare Big Data Hub of the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. Multivariate analyses suggested that hospital length of stay (LOS) was significantly associated with age, cancer stage, and body mass index. The odds ratios of spending more than 2 weeks in the hospital for the overweight or class-one obese groups compared to the normal weight group were 0.903 (95% confidence interval, 0.866–0.941) and 0.887 (95% confidence interval, 0.851–0.924), respectively, while that of the underweight group was 1.280 (95% confidence interval, 1.202–1.362). The “obesity paradox” applies to colorectal cancer, as indicated by decreased hospital LOS of overweight and obese patients. This result suggests that there is a protective effect of nutritional status in obese patients, which contributes to recovery from colorectal cancer surgery.     

The PillCam™ Colon Capsule for Colon Cancer Screening: Comparison Between the First- and Second-Generation Capsules

Abstract

Population-based screening for colorectal cancer is widely recommended, with conventional colonoscopy (CC) being considered the preferred modality. However, compliance with colonoscopy screening is low, ranging between 20% and 50%, and manpower capacity for performing CC is limited. Therefore, a new, minimally invasive diagnostic tool, the PillCam? Colon Capsule Endoscope (PCCE) was developed to become a desirable, patient-friendly, alternative strategy. This article will review the data regarding the 2 available generations of the PCCE.     

Nutrient-based dietary patterns and pancreatic cancer risk

PurposeFew data are available on the role of combinations of foods and/or nutrients on pancreatic cancer risk. To add further information on dietary patterns potentially associated to pancreatic cancer, we applied an exploratory principal component factor analysis on 28 major nutrients derived from an Italian case-control study.MethodsCases were 326 incident pancreatic cancer cases and controls 652 frequency-matched controls admitted to hospital for non-neoplastic diseases. Dietary information was collected through a validated and reproducible food frequency questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic variables and major recognized risk factors for pancreatic cancer were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) of pancreatic cancer for each dietary pattern.ResultsWe identified four dietary patterns—named “animal products,” “unsaturated fats,” “vitamins and fiber,” and “starch rich,” that explain 75% of the total variance in nutrient intake in this population. After allowing for all the four patterns, positive associations were found for the animal products and the starch rich patterns, the OR for the highest versus the lowest quartiles being 2.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–3.19) and 1.69 (95% CI, 1.02–2.79), respectively; an inverse association emerged for the vitamins and fiber pattern (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35–0.86), whereas no association was observed for the unsaturated fats pattern (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.71–1.78).ConclusionsA diet characterized by a high consumption of meat and other animal products, as well as of (refined) cereals and sugars, is positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk, whereas a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is inversely associated.     

Mathematical coupling may account for the association between baseline severity and minimally important difference values

ObjectiveTo generate anchor-based values for the “minimally important difference” (MID) for a number of commonly used patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and to examine whether these values could be applied across the continuum of preoperative patient severity.Study Design and SettingSix prospective cohort studies of patients undergoing elective surgery at hospitals in England and Wales. Patients completed questionnaires about their health and health-related quality of life before and after surgery. MID values were calculated using the mean change score for a reference group of patients who reported they were “a little better” after surgery minus the mean change score for those who said they were “about the same.” Pearson's correlation was used to examine the association between baseline severity and change scores in the reference group. Baseline severity was expressed in two ways: first in terms of preoperative scores and second in terms of the average of pre- and postoperative scores (Oldham's method).ResultsOf the 10 PRO measures examined, eight demonstrated a moderate or high positive association between preoperative scores and MID values. Only two measures demonstrated such an association when Oldham's measure of baseline severity was used.ConclusionIn general, there is little association between baseline severity and MID values. However, a moderate association persists for some measures, and it is recommended that researchers continue to test for this relationship when generating anchor-based MID values from change scores.     

Diet Quality among the Brazilian Population and Associated Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors: Analysis from the National Dietary Survey 2008-2009

BackgroundEvaluating diet quality is a way to monitor a population’s adherence to dietary guidelines.ObjectiveTo adapt the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) to the Brazilian population, to evaluate the validity and reliability of the adapted HEI-2015, and to assess diet quality of Brazilian adults as well as socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with diet quality.DesignIn this cross-sectional study, two dietary records from nonconsecutive days were used to obtain food intake information. The collected socioeconomic and demographic data included sex, age, education, per capita income, and residence area.Participants/settingA representative sample (n=27,760) of the Brazilian adult population participated in the Nutrition Dietary Survey 2008-2009.Main outcome measuresTotal and component scores for the adapted HEI-2015. The validity and reliability of the index were tested.Statistical analysis performedMean total and component scores were estimated for the adapted HEI-2015. Also, the proportion of subjects that achieved the maximum score for each component was calculated. Regarding validity and reliability analysis, principal components analysis examined the number of dimensions; Pearson correlations were estimated between total score, components, and energy, and Cronbach’s coefficient α was estimated. Diet quality was compared among socioeconomic and demographic categories.ResultsThe mean total score for the adapted HEI-2015 was 45.7 (95% CI: 45.4 to 46.0). Women had higher diet quality scores (46.4; 95% CI: 46.1 to 46.7) than men (44.9; 95% CI: 44.6 to 45.3). Age, education, and per capita income were directly associated with the adapted HEI-2015 total score. Greater than or equal to 50% of subjects received the maximum adapted HEI-2015 component scores for “total protein foods,” “seafood and plant proteins,” “fatty acids,” and “sodium.” In contrast, less than 30% of subjects received the maximum component scores for “total vegetables,” “dairy,” and “saturated fats.” Higher percentages of women received the maximum component scores for “total fruits,” “whole fruits,” “total vegetables,” “greens,” “dairy,” and “sodium,” whereas higher percentages of men received the maximum component scores for “total protein foods,” “seafood and plant proteins,” “fatty acids,” “added sugars,” and “saturated fats” components. Finally, validity analysis revealed weak correlations between component scores and energy and weak to moderate correlations with total scores; six dimensions were responsible for the total variance in diet quality and the standardized Cronbach’s coefficient α was .65 (unstandardized=.64).ConclusionsBrazilian adults have suboptimal diet quality as assessed by the adapted HEI-2015. Diet quality varied by socioeconomic and demographic factors. Results support the validity and the reliability of the index.     

老年人高血压脑出血微创穿刺引流术与内科保守治疗的临床观察

目的比较微创穿刺引流术与内科保守治疗老年人高血压脑出血的临床治疗效果。方法选择60例高血压脑出血的老年患者进行本临床研究,随机分为微创穿刺引流术组30例和内科保守治疗组30例;分别进行微创穿刺引流术与内科保守治疗,观察其临床治疗效果。结果微创穿刺引流术组治愈率(73.33%)明显高于内科保守治疗组(30.0%)(P<0.05);微创穿刺引流术组显效以上率(93.33%)明显高于内科保守治疗组(73.33%)(P<0.01)。结论微创穿刺引流术治疗老年人高血压脑出血较内科保守治疗疗效好。     

An exploratory study of older adults' comprehension of printed cancer information: is readability a key factor?

Printed cancer information often is written at or beyond high school reading levels, despite lower average literacy abilities of the public. The objectives of this exploratory study were twofold: (1) to evaluate older adults' comprehension of breast (BC), prostate (PC), and colorectal (CC) cancer information; and (2) to determine if comprehension of BC, PC, and CC information varies according to text readability. Comprehension of printed cancer resources was evaluated with 44 community-dwelling older adults using the Cloze procedure and recall questions. Participants' comprehension scores were compared with Simple Measure of Gobbledegook (SMOG) readability scores (相似文献   

Learning to DISCERN online: applying an appraisal tool to health websites in a workshop setting

This study examined the application of DISCERN-validated criteria for judging the quality of printed information on treatment-to online health information in a workshop setting. A survey was conducted amongst 57 participants attending DISCERN Online workshops. Participants were health information users-health care and information providers, consumers (patients/carers), and consumer representatives. Workshops involved using DISCERN to appraise a health website. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the workshop, and at 2 months follow-up. Responses revealed that participants accessed online health information for professional (85.7%) and personal (75%) reasons. Less than half (41%) had applied some form of quality criteria to online information prior to attending the workshop. Despite varying levels of expertise, participants found DISCERN and the supporting materials accessible. The majority (96.2%) agreed DISCERN would help users discriminate between high- and low-quality online treatment information, and would be applicable to a wide variety of such information. At follow-up, most (89.6%) reported that their attitude to consumer health information of all types had changed-mostly becoming more critical or systematic. It is possible that general schemes such as DISCERN will provide users with simple and flexible skills for dealing with the wide range of treatment information available.