What Information Can the Lay Public Find About Osteoporosis Treatment? A Descriptive Study Coding the Content and Quality of Bisphosphonate Information on the Internet (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Fuzzell ◽  
Matthew J. Richards ◽  
Liana Fraenkel ◽  
Susan L. Stark ◽  
Mary C. Politi
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Osteoporosis Treatment ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Integrative Health ◽  
Treatment Information ◽  
Gastrointestinal Problems

BACKGROUND The US Preventative Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening and treatment with bisphosphonates in high risk populations. However, bisphosphonate use among individuals with osteoporosis remains low and has declined in recent years. The content and quality of information from outside sources may influence individuals’ bisphosphonate decisions. OBJECTIVE To assess the content and quality of osteoporosis treatment information available to the public by conducting an internet search and coding available bisphosphonate information. METHODS Nine search terms about osteoporosis and bisphosphonates were entered into four search engines. Two raters assessed websites for information about bisphosphonates, whether and how benefits and side effects were described and quantified, contraindications, and dosing instructions. Coders also assessed website interface and slant/balance of information. RESULTS 1044 websites were identified. 202 websites met inclusion criteria and were coded. The most common bisphosphonate benefit described was prevention of bone density loss (77.2% of websites). The most common side effects described were gastrointestinal problems (65.3%) and jaw osteonecrosis (60.4%). Most websites did not quantify bisphosphonate benefits (76.7%) or side effects (81.2%). Complementary/integrative health websites (p = .000) and pharmaceutical litigation websites (p = .000) were more often slanted against taking bisphosphonates, compared to all websites coded. General medical knowledge websites were more balanced than other websites (p = .05). CONCLUSIONS The quality of bisphosphonate information on the internet varies substantially. Providers counseling patients about osteoporosis treatment should inquire about patients’ baseline bisphosphonate knowledge. Providers can complement accurate information and address potential bisphosphonate misconceptions.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Most Viewed First 50 Videos on YouTube about Breast Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Isil Yurdaisik
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Common Cancer ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Common Cancer Type

Objective. Breast cancer is the most common cancer type among women worldwide. Today, health consumers search the Internet to gain health information about many diseases including breast cancer. YouTube™ is the second most commonly used website on the Internet. However, the quality and accuracy of health-related YouTube™ videos are controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the quality and accuracy of breast cancer-related videos on YouTube™. Material and Methods. “Breast cancer” keyword was entered into YouTube™ search bar, and after excluding advertisement, duplicate, and non-English videos, the first most viewed 50 videos were analyzed. Videos’ length, the number of views, comments, likes, and dislikes were recorded. DISCERN and JAMA scores and Video Power Index (VPI) values of the videos were calculated. All videos were evaluated by two independent radiologists experienced on breast cancer. The correlation between the two observers was also analyzed. Results. Of all videos, 14% were uploaded by physicians, 26% by health channels, 20% by patients, 10% by news channels, 2% by herbalists, 2% by blog channels, and 2% by nonprofit activism channels. The mean DISCERN score was calculated as 26.70±10.99 and the mean JAMA score as 2.23±0.97. The mean VPI value, which was calculated to determine the popularity of the videos, was found as 94.10±4.48. A strong statistically significant correlation was found between the two observers in terms of both DISCERN and JAMA scores. There was an excellent agreement between the two observers. Conclusion. The overall quality of the viewed videos was found as poor. Healthcare professionals should be encouraged to upload breast cancer-related videos with accurate information to promote patients for screening and direct them appropriately.

scholarly journals Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-418 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Treatment Adherence ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Optimal Response ◽  
The Past ◽  
Gastrointestinal Problems ◽  
The Impact

The safety and tolerability of antidepressants have improved considerably over the past two decades. Nevertheless, antidepressant side effects are still common and problematic. The majority of patients treated with contemporaty agents experience one or more bothersome side effects. These side effects often create barriers to achieving depressive remission, as well as to preventing relapse and recurrence. Clinicians tend to underestimate the prevalence of side effects, and as many as one quarter of patients discontinue their antidepressants because of difficult-to-tolerate side effects; others may continue on antidepressant therapy but experience diminished quality of life related to troublesome side effects. This article reviews the prevalence of side effects, the impact of side effects on treatment adherence, and methodological issues including the challenge of distinguishing side effects from residual depressive symptoms, discontinuation effects, and general medical problems. In addition, we address the most common side effects such as sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbance, apathy and fatigue, and offer strategies for management that may help patients achieve optimal response to pharmacotherapy

scholarly journals Model of the Processing and Selling Insurance Over the Internet

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Mihić ◽  
Branko Latinović ◽  
Tomislav Vujinović
Keyword(s):  
Insurance Companies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
State Tax ◽  
Automatic Search ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Insurance Price ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Modern Technologies

The growing demands in providing better services to customers, as well as reducing the cost of the insurance companies; while processing insurance quotes require the use of modern technologies such as the methodology of comparing prices and buying policies through the internet. There is a demand for providing a better customer’s quality of shopping, saving customers time and money and integrate all parameters in insurance companies that are important in calculating and creating insurance price. The current way of exchange - search as integration of data, such as an incident book, would be replaced by a modern automatic search of the database, and use processes that meet all insurance standards. The institutions such as insurance supervisor authorities, state tax office and other institutions will be able to access the data in real-time and receive relevant and accurate information about the insured, the vehicles and the policy.The research and developing model is based on study of regulation laid down by the Agency for supervision of insurance in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the collection of business data from insurance companies. Although tariffs and prices of vehicle insurance are unique for all insurance companies, there are differences in how the businesses are carried in insurance companies. [1]Based on these studies and research the new model is developed and proposed for further development and improvement, integration, processing and sale of insurance policies through the Internet.

The quality of snoring treatment information on the internet

2014 ◽  
Vol 271 (12) ◽  
pp. 3319-3323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vik Veer ◽  
Glen Alder ◽  
Umesh Ullal
Keyword(s):  
The Internet ◽  
Treatment Information

scholarly journals Evidence-based mental health and e-learning: a guide for clinicians

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine A. Smith ◽  
André Tomlin ◽  
Andrea Cipriani ◽  
John R. Geddes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Types Of Information

SummaryThe internet provides access to what is often a bewildering array of medical knowledge on mental health, some (but not all) of which is evidence based. As well as information for clinicians, there has been a dramatic increase in the variety and quality of information available for patients and carers. In this article we discuss the advantages and limitations of the types of information available, with suggested sites and strategies for assessing their relative merits.

scholarly journals Availability and Quality of Web Resources for Parents of Children With Disability: Content Analysis and Usability Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anabel Buteau-Poulin ◽  
Camille Gosselin ◽  
Andréa Bergeron-Ouellet ◽  
Jocelyne Kiss ◽  
Marie-Ève Lamontagne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Usability Study ◽  
Children With Disability ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Validated Instrument

BACKGROUND The internet is a valuable resource for parents of typical children, who are looking for information about their children’s growth and development and how to boost them. However, for parents of children with special needs, especially for non–English-speaking parents, there are anecdotal reports stating that specific and accurate information is not available on the internet. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the type of information available on the internet for French-speaking parents of children with disability as well as assess the quality of the information collected. METHODS We carried out a search of the existing relevant websites targeted at parents of children with disability. We used a validated instrument to extract structural, textual, and visual characteristics of these websites and evaluate their usability. RESULTS In all, 42 websites were analyzed; of these, the information had been validated by a trustworthy source in only 18 (43%) websites. Networking opportunities for parents were available in only 7 (17%) websites. Most websites provided information related to autism spectrum disorder (20/42, 42%) and learning disabilities (19/42, 45%), and only a few websites discussed other disability types such as behavorial disorders and developmental language disorders (4/42, 10% each). Community, social, and civic life (9/42, 22%); domestic life (12/42, 29%); and mobility (15/42, 36%) were the less frequently covered topics. With regard to the usability evaluation, 22 of the 42 (52%) websites received a global score <70%, whereas 20 (48%) scored ≥70% CONCLUSIONS Although the internet is an infinite source of information, it is not necessarily actionable for parents of children with disability. Some information remains difficult to find online, and networking opportunities with other parents dealing with similar challenges are scarce.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicine in Healthcare-An Overview

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1200700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mosihuzzaman
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
The Family ◽  
The World

It is generally accepted by all concerned that modern pharmaceuticals will remain out of reach of many people and ‘health for all’ may only be realized by the use of adequately assessed herbal products. Mankind has been using herbal medicine for healing right from the beginning of human civilization. With the advent of ‘modern medicine’ herbal products have been looked down upon, especially by western societies. Yet, in recent times, use of herbal medicine for heathcare has increased steadily all over the world. However, serious concerns are being realized regarding the safety, claimed efficacy and quality of herbal products used as herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, health food and cosmetics. Although herbal products are generally considered safe due to their age-old usage, significant side effects have been reported for many herbal products, including herbal medicine. Accidental contamination and intentional adulteration are considered as primary reasons for the side effects. The historical perspective and the philosophy of herbal medical practice along with its present status in the light of present day science have been reviewed and included in the present article. Assurance of safety by identification of contaminants and assessment of toxicity has been outlined. Assessment of claimed efficacy of herbal medicine is difficult due to its holistic approach. Practical ways of assessing efficacy of herbal medicine by adapting the methodologies used for modern pharmaceutical are described. The maintenance of standard of herbal medicine has been stressed and pragmatic approaches of assuring quality of herbal medicine by using modern tools of fingerprinting the chemical profile of herbal medicine are discussed. As much of the traditional herbal medical knowledge is scattered around the world at the family and community levels, and more so in the indigeneous people, the knowledge base is continuously being lost and so needs immediate documentation. Difficulties in documentation due to concerns of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) have been highlighted.

scholarly journals Quality of Internet-Based Information on Gastrointestinal Diseases

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Tangri ◽  
Nilesh Chande
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Treatment Information ◽  
Internet Resources ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Institutional Websites

BACKGROUND: The Internet is becoming an increasingly common source of health information for patients.OBJECTIVE: To examine the quality of gastrointestinal disease- and symptom-related Internet sites that might be searched by patients.METHODS: A total of 120 websites were evaluated from July to November 2009 using the DISCERN instrument to determine the quality of content of health and treatment information.RESULTS: There was substantial variability in the quality of Internet resources regarding gastrointestinal diseases and their symptoms. Information-based and institutional websites were rated highest. Resources related to celiac disease, colon cancer and abdominal pain scored the highest.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quality of web-based resources was variable. Because patient education is important in the management of gastroenterological diseases, the increasing use of the Internet poses new opportunities and challenges for physicians.

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