A systematic review of the quality of information on the treatment of anxiety disorders on the internet |
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Authors: | Jonathan C Ipser Sarah Dewing Dan J Stein |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa |
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Abstract: | A vast amount of information describing health interventions is available on the Internet. This paper describes the systematic
retrieval and quality assessment of websites containing information on the treatment of anxiety disorders. Separate searches
were conducted for information on generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic
stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. The Google, Yahoo, and MSN search engines yielded 540 results,
110 of which were eligible for inclusion. Sixty-seven unique websites were identified. The DISCERN scale was used to evaluate
quality of content. The authors also compared the websites in terms of popularity, readability, and a range of technical criteria.
Websites were generally of poor to moderate quality. Higher-quality scores were obtained for websites whose authors attributed
their sources and provided a clear statement of the purpose of the website. The paper closes by considering limitations of
the review and possible future research avenues. |
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Keywords: | |
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