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Internet information quality for ten common foot and ankle diagnoses

  • Jeremy T. Smith, MD

      Affiliations

    • Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, United States
    • ,
  • Olivia L. Pate, MD

      Affiliations

    • Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, United States
    • ,
  • Daniel Guss, MD

      Affiliations

    • Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, United States
    • ,
  • Jared T. Lee, MD

      Affiliations

    • Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, United States
    • ,
  • Christopher P. Chiodo, MD

      Affiliations

    • Harvard Medical School, Chief Foot and Ankle Surgery Service, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States
    • ,
  • Eric M. Bluman, MD, phD

      Affiliations

    • Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Brigham Foot and Ankle Center 1153 Centre Street, 5th Floor, Suite 56, Boston, MA 02130, United States. Tel.: +1 617 983 7202.

Received 24 June 2011; received in revised form 31 October 2011; accepted 12 November 2011. published online 07 December 2011.
Corrected Proof

Abstract 

Background

Patients use the Internet regularly to access health-related information. This study's goal was to assess the quality and content of Internet-based information for common foot and ankle diagnoses.

Methods

We identified the ten most common foot and ankle diagnoses in our academic foot and ankle practice. Ten websites for each diagnosis were identified using two large Internet search engines. A custom grading form was used to determine website quality, based upon the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) principles, and information content. Four independent reviewers graded each website.

Results

One hundred thirty-six unique websites were reviewed. Average HON score was 62.4 (range, 52.3–68.8) and content score was 49.7 (range, 33.8–62.1) out of a maximum of 100. Interobserver variability was low.

Conclusions

The overall quality of Internet information for common foot and ankle diagnoses is variable, raising concerns about what information is currently available to patients.

Keywords: Computer, Webpage, Content, Orthopaedic, Internet, Quality, World wide web

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PII: S1268-7731(11)00125-1

doi:10.1016/j.fas.2011.11.002

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