A survey of Canadian websites providing information about female urinary incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent health issue that has significant detrimental effects on quality of life. The Internet offers a unique vehicle for incontinent women to access information that could facilitate conservative self-help therapy. An evaluation of Canadian websites offering female UI information was conducted to determine their quality and readability.


METHODS
We evaluated websites using published general quality criteria for health sites and a quality assessment tool compiled by the authors for specific UI information derived from published, peer-reviewed clinical practice guidelines. Three health care professionals reviewed sites for quality, Canadian content, and interactivity. The readability of health information was also evaluated.


RESULTS
Fifty-six Canadian sites (18 professional, 22 organizational, 16 commercial) were evaluated. Significant agreement was found among the raters' evaluations on all measures. For all sites, the mean scores were general quality, 9/14; specific UI quality, 30/122; reading ease, 37/100; grade level, 10.9. The median score for Canadian content was high, but for interactivity it was low. The only significant difference between site types was for general quality (F [2,165]=3.38, P=0.036). Post hoc Tukey's tests showed a significant difference between organizational and commercial sites, with organizational sites having higher general quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Canadian websites providing female UI information have moderately high general quality, low specific UI information quality, minimal interactivity, and more than minimal Canadian content. The reading level of most sites is too high for average consumers. A webliography of the best sites has been developed to guide patients.
Farrell
Karen D
KD
School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
Robinson
Lynne M
LM
School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
Baydock
Sandra A
SA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB.
Farrell
Scott A
SA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
Irving
Linda E
LE
Urogynaecology Clinic, IWK Health Centre, Halifax NS.
O'Connell
Colleen M
CM
Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
D002170:Canada; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D007255:Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D020407:Internet; D014549:Urinary Incontinence; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress