An assessment of anti-obesity drug therapy information available on websites in Brazil / Análise das informações sobre o tratamento farmacológico da obesidade disponibilizadas em sítios da Internet, no Brasil

AUTOR(ES)

Emília Vitória da Silva

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Despite the convenience and low cost of access to the Internet, the quality of webpage contents cannot be guaranteedhence the importance of studies aimed at evaluating healthrelated information shared through this medium. The purpose of the present analytical infodemiological study was to assess the quality of information on anti-obesity drug therapy available on websites in Brazil. Using the search engines Google and AltaVista, a sample of webpages was retrieved, to which two instruments were subsequently applied: one, more generic, investigated the presence of technical quality criteria (TQC), while the other, more specific, evaluated content accuracy and comprehensiveness. Both instruments were developed and validated for the present study. TQC frequency was low among most pages evaluated: only 39% of these stated authorship, 69% disclosed the institution responsible for publishing, 48% displayed the date of publication, and 14% referred to the supporting literature. No pages reported the hierarchy of evidence. The scores expressing the presence of TQC ranged from 3 to 22 (mean 9.4), with a potential maximum score of 36. The accuracy and comprehensiveness of information were unsatisfactory: among the 38 web pages evaluated, relevant information on anti-obesity drug therapy accounted for no more than onethird of the content in 23; accuracy scores ranged from 4 to 11 (mean 2.82), with a potential maximum score of 30. The results revealed that in Brazil webpages carrying information on anti-obesity drug therapy are of poor quality and are unsuitable as sources of information for the lay public. Further infodemiological studies designed to evaluate webpages addressing other health-related topics should widen the knowledge base on the quality of health information available online in Brazil. Such evaluation might be conducted by Drug Information Centers in partnership with healthcare professional organizations. The data thus obtained should aid healthcare professionals in providing guidance to patients seeking highquality information on the Internet.

ASSUNTO(S)

acesso à informação internet informática em saúde agentes antiobesidade medical informatics access to information indicadores de qualidade quality indicators evaluation internet anti-obesity agents avaliação ciencias da saude

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