title: The quality of online antidepressant drug information: an evaluation of English and Finnish language Web sites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Internet is a frequently used source of drug information, including among people with mental disorders. Online drug information may be narrow in scope, incomplete, and contain errors of omission.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of online antidepressant drug information in English and Finnish.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Web sites were identified using the search terms antidepressants and masennuslääkkeet in English and Finnish, respectively. Included Web sites (14 English, 8 Finnish) were evaluated for aesthetics, interactivity, content coverage, and content correctness using published criteria. All Web sites were assessed using the Date, Author, References, Type, Sponsor (DARTS) and DISCERN quality assessment tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  English and Finnish Web sites had similar aesthetics, content coverage, and content correctness scores. English Web sites were more interactive than Finnish Web sites (P<.05). Overall, adverse drug reactions were covered on 21 of 22 Web sites; however, drug-alcohol interactions were addressed on only 9 of 22 Web sites, and dose was addressed on only 6 of 22 Web sites. Few (2/22 Web sites) provided incorrect information. The DISCERN score was significantly correlated with content coverage (r=0.670, P<.01), content correctness (r=0.663, P<.01), and the DARTS score (r=0.459, P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No Web site provided information about all aspects of antidepressant treatment. Nevertheless, few Web sites provided incorrect information. Both English and Finnish Web sites were similar in terms of aesthetics, content coverage, and content correctness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Marjo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prusti
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehtineva
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä
authors.forename: J Simon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004346:Drug Information Services; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005387:Finland; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007802:Language; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents