title: Content quality of ophthalmic information on the internet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known whether information about eye conditions on the Internet is complete and accurate to support patient or layman decision making.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality of content modules about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was analyzed on 20 web sites. Content analysis covered 72 criteria in 11 groups. Each single criterion was rated with '1' or '0' (yes/no answer).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interrater reliability between two observers was almost perfect (kappa = 0.86). On average, 25.6% (+/-15.6) of the criteria were fulfilled. In the categories diagnostic procedures, therapy, preventive checkups, prevention and prognosis of AMD, only 12.7, 18.3, 20.0, 25.0 and 30.0%, respectively, of the required content was given.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows, based upon the example of university eye hospitals, that the full potential to provide laymen with firsthand and up-to-date information has by far not yet been achieved. Further research is needed on how the Internet influences the communication between patient and ophthalmologist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. schalnus@schalnus.com
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schalnus
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aulmann
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hellenbrecht
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hägele
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ohrloff
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lüchtenberg
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008268:Macular Degeneration; D015588:Observer Variation; D009885:Ophthalmology; D011786:Quality Control; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities