The nature and quality of periodontal related patient information on the world-wide web

Abstract

Background The internet provides a potentially invaluable source of health education material for members of the public. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the nature and quality of periodontal-related patient information on the world-wide web. Methods The search term ' "gum disease" AND "patient information" ' was entered into three common internet search engines. The top 50 sites identified by each search engine were downloaded and assessed for authorship, content, accord with accepted dental practice, currency, and references to peer reviewed data. Results The search term returned in excess of 3,615 hits across the three search engines. Of the top 150 identified, 68 were deemed relevant to patients seeking information on periodontal disease. Of these, 17 were duplicated either within or between search engines, therefore the following analysis is based on the remaining 51 sites. The majority of sites (25) were authored by individual dental practitioners, with sites originating in the USA predominating (80%). Information on the aetiology, signs and symptoms, and treatment options for periodontal disease was provided by 38, 38, and 29 sites respectively. This information was deemed in accordance with conventional periodontal practice in 27, 33, and 23 cases respectively. Only seven sites indicated the currency of the information and five provided peer-reviewed references for further reading. The rank order identified by the search engines meant that sites providing comprehensive and authoritative information, were not readily differentiable from sites whose primary objective was promoting attendance at specific dental practices. Conclusions Judicious and active support from professionals is required to aid patients' interpretation of the information identified and to direct them to the most instructive sites.

Internet information on xerostomia: what should patients expect?

“…To the best of our knowledge, studies investigating Web‐based information on oral medicine and dentistry have been so far scarce and dealt with either head and neck cancer (López‐Jornet and Camacho‐Alonso, ; Ni Riordain and McCreary, ) leukoplakia (López‐Jornet and Camacho‐Alonso, ), orthodontic treatment (Jiang, ; Antonarakis and Kiliaridis, ; Patel and Cobourne, ; Aldairy et al , ; Livas et al , ) temporomandibular disorders (Türp et al , ; Park et al , ), mouth guards (Magunacelaya and Glendor, ), or periodontal diseases (Chestnutt, ). A wide variety of validation tools has been used in the aforementioned studies, for example JAMA benchmarks, DISCERN, HON seal, LIDA, FRES, Flesch‐Kinkaid Grade Level, Fog Scale Level, as well as personal scoring systems, making it difficult to compare the results and thus draw specific conclusions.…”

Perceptions of how the Internet has impacted on dentistry

“…8,14 This was reinforced by some respondents having difficulties finding information for their own use or having discovered information, being sufficiently concerned about its accuracy, to be discouraged from referring patients to the Internet. However, despite these reservations, 40.4% agreed or strongly agreed that the Internet was a useful source of information for patients.…”

“…7 The first study of dental information for patients on the Internet concluded that judicious and active support from professionals would be required to aid patients' interpretation of periodontal-related patient information sites. 8 It has also recently been shown that a good deal of the Internet derived information on common oral pathologies is beyond the average UK reading age. 9 As the NHS develops its information technology strategy in relation to dentistry, information is required on how best to harness the undoubted benefits of the Internet, to improve the delivery of dental care and facilitate the promotion of oral health.…”

The use of the Internet to access oral health‐related information by patients attending dental hygiene clinics

“…It is interesting that the majority of patients who sought oral health information found the information useful. However, the information jungle that is the Internet, implies that patients need judicious guidance in sorting useful from less useful information (8), and dental hygienists must be prepared to discuss issues raised by patients concerning information they obtained on‐line. In addition, it is the duty of oral health professions to appreciate the knowledge base of their patients.…”

“…While there is a considerable body of research on the impact of the Internet‐based patient education material as it relates to medicine in general (6), the implications for dental care are unknown (7). The first study of the quality of dental information for patients on the Internet concluded that judicious and active support from professionals would be required to aid patients’ interpretation of periodontal‐related patient information sites (8). In mid‐2004, 61% of the adult population in the UK, claimed to have accessed the Internet (9).…”