Robotic cystectomy and the Internet: separating fact from fiction.
BACKGROUND
Patients commonly use the Internet to acquire health information. While a large amount of health-related information is available, the accuracy is highly variable. We sought to evaluate the current web-based information that exists with regard to robotic cystectomy.


METHODS
Two common search engines (Google and Yahoo) were used to search the term "robotic cystectomy" and obtain the top 50 websites for each. These 100 sites were analyzed with regard to type of site, presence and accuracy of information on bladder cancer, and of information related to robotic cystectomy outcomes (surgical/oncologic, functional, and recovery). In addition, information taken from Intuitive Corp website was identified, as was the presence (or absence) and literature-based references.


RESULTS
Of the 100 sites, 61 were surgeon/provider sites, 23 links to articles, 8 news stories, 3 patient support sites, 3 meeting program, and 2 were the Intuitive site. Analysis of all 61 provider sites showed that 13% provided factually accurate information, 7% had both factual and erroneous information, and 80% had no information on bladder cancer. With regard to the purported benefits and outcomes of the robotic approach, a significant number of the sites had nonevidence-based claims with regard surgical/oncologic aspects (54%), functional recovery (26%), and surgical recovery (47%). Information taken directly from the Intuitive site was found on 33% sites, with 16% sites having a direct link. Only 4 provider sites (7%) had listed any references.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that surgeons provide the majority of Internet information but do not often present evidence-based information and often over-state claims and outcomes of the robotic approach. This highlights the need for providers to deliver factual and evidence-based information to the public, and not suggest untrue/unproven claims that seem to presently occur.
Pruthi
Raj S
RS
Division of Urologic Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. rpruthi@med.unc.edu
Belsante
Jim
J
Kurpad
Raj
R
Nielsen
Matthew E
ME
Wallen
Eric M
EM
D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D007255:Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D020407:Internet; D012371:Robotics; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery