Producing an information leaflet to help patients access high quality drug information on the Internet: a local study.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a patient information leaflet (PIL) to help local patients meet their drug information needs using the Internet, and to perform a preliminary evaluation of this tool.


METHODS
Development--a cross-sectional survey of the drug information needs of local patients using a semi-structured questionnaire; assessment of websites offering free, consumer-orientated medicines information using set criteria; identification of consensus criteria to evaluate the quality of health-related on-line information; evaluation--views on a draft patient information leaflet from a focus group.


RESULTS
Those surveyed felt that being directed to high-quality websites and being provided with assessment criteria for on-line information would be useful. The three websites fulfilling most of the set quality criteria were Surgery Door (www.surgerydoor.co.uk), InteliHealth (www.intelihealth.com) and medlineplus (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus). The six most frequently cited assessment criteria were currency, authorship, commerciality, relevance, links and attribution. A draft leaflet was constructed listing the above three websites and six criteria along with tips on how to search the Internet effectively. A focus group reacted favourably.


CONCLUSIONS
The Internet is a source of drug information--an information leaflet may help to guide local patients through its variable information quality.
Coleman
Bridget
B
Pharmacy Department, Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, London, UK. bridget.coleman@whittington.nhs.uk
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom