Posters

Assessment of the quality of internet information on LASIK surgery

Poster Details

First Author: D. Butu UNITED KINGDOM

Co Author(s):    Y. Chong   M. Ko   J. Awad   R. Cheong   A. Logeswaran        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the content and quality of online information pertaining to LASIK surgery.

Setting:

not applicable

Methods:

We analysed the first 50 and first 10 websites returned by the search engines “Google” and “Bing” respectively using the search term “Lasik Surgery”. Websites were categorized by type and assessed for quality and validity using the DISCERN quality criteria. We also noted the absence of presence of Health on Net Code (HONCODE), a health information quality assurance marker. Each website was evaluated by two independent reviewers.

Results:

A total of 50 unique websites were analyzed. Commercial sites were the majority (n=27 (54%)). 56 % of websites had a DISCERN score of less than 40 out of a maximum score of 80, with only 10 websites attaining excellent quality with scores greater than 60. The highest scoring website was academic website by the US FDA. The mean DISCERN score for all the websites was 41.0 with a standard deviation of 18.4. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.001) between the website categories. 36% of the variation in score was attributable to the website category. There were only 6 websites with HONCODE certification and the average DISCERN score was 56.8.4, which is 15 points higher than the overall average.

Conclusions:

Our results raise concerns about the quality of online information. HONCODE certified websites are likely to be of better quality. Patients should be specifically directed to websites of good information quality.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE